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The
life of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is associated
with the small town of Bodhgaya. It is not
only an important Buddhist pilgrim center, but is also a significant
center for the study of Buddhism. One of the four holiest
cities of Buddhist faith, the Mahabodhi temple is the main
attraction of this town and is located near the spot where
Lord Buddha attained spiritual enlightenment. |
Places
associated with the life and times of Lord Buddha are located
inside the Mahabodhi complex including the Bodhi Tree and
a pond where according to legends, Lord Buddha meditated
for a few days.
Visited often
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Lamas from Dharamshala,
Bodhgaya is not merely a historical site but a vibrant center
of a living faith.
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The
history of this small town is associated with Buddhism since
ancient times. The area around Bodhgaya formed the part of
the first small kingdoms of India in the 7th century BC. It
came into limelight in the 6th century BC, when a local prince
Siddharth (also known as Gautam) renounced all material possession
and, after practicing rigorous penances for years, attained
Enlightenment or Nirvana under a Bodhi (Bo) tree here. After
gaining Enlightenment, Gautam became Buddha (The Enlightened
One) and spread his message of love and peace. To mark the
spot where Gautam Buddha had attained Enlightenment, the great
Mauryan ruler King Ashoka built a small shrine in the 3rd
century BC. |
Subsequent
rulers left their mark on this shrine, which finally took
the shape of the Mahabodhi temple that continues to stand.
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| Mahabodhi
Temple |
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main tourist attraction in Bodhgaya is the Mahabodhi
Temple, which is located at the place of Lord Buddha's
enlightenment. The temple has a 50m (170 ft) tower. The present
temple was restored around 1880. There have been several other
temples on this site. Parts of the intricately carved railings
to the south and west of the temple are very old. Some of
the railings are original and parts of the railings are reproductions. |
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The
inner sanctuary has a huge Buddha statue. This temple is
also sacred to the Hindus because Lord Buddha is believed
to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The
Bo Tree growing here is believed to be
the direct descendant of the original tree, under which
Buddha sat, meditated and attained enlightenment. A sapling
from the original tree was carried to Sri Lanka by Sanghamitra
(Emperor Ashoka's daughter), when Ashoka took Buddhism to
the island. The tree now flourishes in Anuradhapura in Sri
Lanka. A cutting of this tree was brought back to Bodhgaya,
when the original tree here died. A red sand stone under
the tree is said to be the Vajrasan, or diamond throne,
one on which the Buddha sat. Most countries with a large
Buddhist population have a temple or a monastery here, usually
built in a representative architectural style. The archaeological
museum houses a small collection of Buddha figurines, and
pillars that were discovered in the area. The Hindu Shankaracharya
Math has a temple here, and across the river are the Dungeshwari
and Suraya temples.
Chankaramana
marks the sacred spot of the Buddha's meditative exploration
during the third week after his enlightenment. It is believed
that wherever the Buddha put his feet a lotus sprang up.
Arimeshlochana is believed to be the spot
where the Buddha spent one week looking towards the great
Mahabodhi Tree out of gratitude, without twinkling his eyes.
The Buddha also spent one week in Ratnagar,
where it is believed that five colours came out of his body.
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| Festivlas |
Buddha
Purnima, the full moon
day in the month of Vaishaka, is the celebration of the birth
anniversary of Lord Buddha. On this occasion, prayers, sermons
and continuous recitations of Buddhist scriptures take place
in the monasteries. The statue of Buddha witnesses offerings
of incense, flowers, candles and fruits. The Bodhi tree, beneath
which Buddha received enlightenment, is also adorned with
garland and coloured flags.
Kalchakra
Puja, a festival of Tibetan rituals is one of the
largest gatherings of Buddhist monks and devotees that brings
forth thousands of participants from around the world.
Nyingma
Monlam Chenmo is celebrated in keeping with Buddhist
principles of simplicity and austerity. There is meditation
and recital of the scriptures and alms are distributed to
the poor. |
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best time to visit Bodhgaya is during winter (October-February). |
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The
nearest airport is at Patna, 198 kms away. |
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Gaya,
13 kms away, is a major railhead, with trains to almost all the major
cities of India. |
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Nearest
transport hub is Gaya (13 km), a major point on historical Grand Trunk
Road (connecting to New Delhi and Kolkata). |
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