History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Architecture, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Maha Bodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India
The Mahabodhi Temple (the "Great Awakening Temple"), also known as the Mahabodhi Mahavihar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bodh Gaya that commemorates the spot where the Buddha is claimed to have acquired enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located about 96 kilometers from Patna, Bihar, India. The site houses a descendent of the Bodhi Tree, under which Buddha attained enlightenment, and has long been a popular Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage destination. Emperor Asoka constructed the first temple in the 3rd century B.C., while the current temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. It dates from the late Gupta period and is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely of brick that is still surviving in India.
According to legend, Siddhartha Gautama, a young prince who witnessed the world's suffering and longed to end it, arrived on the forested banks of the Phalgu river near Gaya, India, during 589 BCE. He sat in spiritual practice under a peepul tree, later known as the Bodhi tree, there. Siddhartha acquired enlightenment and the answers he sought after three days and three nights, according to Buddhist texts. Emperor Ashoka established Mahabodhi Temple in that location around 260 BCE.
The Buddha then devoted the next seven weeks meditating and reflecting on his experience at seven different locations around the area. The ceremonies involving these seven weeks are commemorated in several places in the current Mahabodhi Temple.
Under the Bodhi tree, Buddha spent the first week. During the second week, the Buddha stood still and stared at the Bodhi tree nonstop. The Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya is linked to the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, who acquired enlightenment or perfect understanding while meditating under it. The temple was constructed just east of the Bodhi tree, which is said to be a direct descendent of the original Bodhi Tree. The Animeshlocha Stupa, or unblinking stupa or shrine, to the north-east of the Mahabodhi Temple complex, marks this location. A monument of Buddha stands nearby, his gaze fixed on the Bodhi tree. According to legend, the Buddha travelled back and forth between the Animeshlocha Stupa and the Bodhi tree. According to folklore, lotus flowers bloomed along this path, which is now known as Ratnachakrama (the jewel walk). He spent the fourth week in the north-east at Ratnagar Chaitya. The sixth week was spent at the Lotus pond. He stayed under the Rajyatna tree for the seventh week.
The current Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya consists of the 50-meter-high grand Temple, the Vajrasana, the sacred Bodhi Tree, and other six sacred sites of Buddha's enlightenment, all of which are surrounded by numerous ancient Votive stupas and are well-kept and protected by inner, middle, and outer circular boundaries. Outside the boundary, to the south, is a seventh sacred site, the Lotus Pond. The Lotus Pond and the temple area are both surrounded by two or three layers of circulation corridors, and the ensemble's total area is 5 meters below the surrounding land's level.
The Major Temple wall is fashioned in the classical repertoire of Indian temple architecture and rises at an average elevation of 11 meters. It has two entrances, one on the east and one on the north, and a low basement with honeysuckle and geese design moldings. A sequence of niches with Buddha images are located above this. Above that are moldings and chaitya niches, followed by the temple's curvilinear shikhara or tower, which is topped by amalaka and kalasha. Four sculptures of the Buddha are installed in little shrine chambers at the temple's four corners. Each shrine has a small tower built on top of it. The temple faces east and features a modest forecourt in the east with Buddha images in niches on either side. A gateway leads into a modest hall, beyond which is the sanctuary, which houses a golden statue of the seated Buddha (almost 5ft tall) holding the ground as a witness to his Enlightenment. The main hall, which is above the sanctuary and contains a shrine with a Buddha statue, is where senior monks assemble to meditate. Next to the Bodhi Tree is Vajrasana (the Diamond Throne), a polished sandstone platform linked to the main temple that was originally installed by Emperor Asoka to mark the site where Buddha sat and meditated.
The spot under the Bodhi Tree was previously ringed by a sandstone railing, but only a handful of the original pillars remain; they have carvings of sculpted human faces, animals, and artistic embellishments. A small shrine with a standing Buddha in the back and the Buddha's footprints (Padas) carved on black stone, dating from the 3rd century BC, when Emperor Asoka declared Buddhism to be the official religion of the state and installed thousands of such footprint stones all over his kingdom, is located further up the central path towards the main temple to the south. This Emperor was also responsible for the construction of the Temple's central path doorway, which was later renovated. A structure housing multiple Buddha and Bodhisattva statues is located further down the walk leading to the main temple. A memorial to a Hindu Mahant who lived on this spot in the 15th and 16th centuries stands opposite.
The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya has an antique railing as well. During the Sunga period, these are antique sandstone posts dating from around 150 BCE. Many scenes are identical with those of the contemporary Sunga railings at Bharhut (150 BCE) and Sanchi (115 BCE), while the reliefs at Sanchi Stupa No.2 are commonly thought to be the oldest of them. The railing was stretched throughout the next century, till the end of the Gupta dynasty (7th century), utilizing coarse granite engraved with exquisite foliate ornamentation, miniature figures, and stupas. Many pieces of the original railing have been demolished and are now housed in museums like the Indian Museum in Kolkata, while others have been replaced.
Numerous monks and followers can be seen prostrating themselves to the tree. It's a cleansing rite, and some monks have been known to perform up to 100,000 prostrations at once.
How to Reach Maha Bodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya, One of the Holiest site of Buddhism, Bihar, India
Maha Bodhi temple, located in center of Bodha Gaya which is one of the major pilgrimage center and tourist destination, of Bihar where people across the world visits around the year. It is very well connected with all major cities of India via road, rail and air network. Gaya has major railway junction just at 14 km from Bodh Gaya from where you can get train to almost all region of India. Gaya Airport and Patna Airport are the nearest airport at distance of 15 and 135 respectively from Bodh Gaya. From where you can get flight to all major cities of India and across the globe. You can find private taxi and public transport as well from both airport to reach to Boda Gaya. Bodh Gaya is located at just 14 km from Gaya, 127 km from Patna, 138 km from Aarah, 221 km from Ranchi, 255 km from Varanasi. You can get direct buses from Patna, Gaya, Ranchi etc. to reach Bodh Gaya.
