BODH GAYA

Bodhgaya (also written Bodh Gaya) in north-eastern India is the site of the Buddha's enlightment and the most important of four main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, it was known as the Bodhimanda (ground round the Bodhi-tree), and there was a large monastic settlement there. The main monastery of Bodhgaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra (Pali). Now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple became a World Heritage Site.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. Every year, millions of Buddhist pilgrims, mainly from Asian countries, flock to Bodhgaya to be inspired, dissipate negative karma and earn merit by visiting the holy site where the Buddha became the Buddha ("Enlightened One"). Several centuries after Buddha's passing away, the Maurya Emperor Ashoka (234-198 BC) contributed tremendously towards the revival, consolidation and spread of the original religion.

ATTRACTIONS

Mahabodhi Temple – World Heritage Site

The Mahabodhi Temple (literally meaning "Great Awakening Temple") is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment. Fahien first makes reference to the main temple and the Bodhi tree in 404-05 A.D. The sanctum carries a lofty pancharatha sikhara of a straight-edged pyramidal design, demarcated into seven storeys by bhumi-amalakas (amalakas occurring at the corners of the sikhara to denote storeys).

Inside the temple, in the main sanctum, there is a colossal image of the Buddha in sitting posture touching the earth by his right hand. The entire courtyard of the temple is studded with large number of votive stupas. The ancient railings, which surround the temple, are of the first century BC and are among the very interesting monuments of the century.

Bodhi Tree -

The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo, is a large and very old Sacred Fig tree, under which Siddhartha Gautama, achieved enlightenment. In religious iconography, the Bodhi tree is easily recognizable from its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed. It is of the species sacred fig (ficus religiosa). The Bodhi tree is also called as the Sri MahaBodhi. This tree is a frequent destination for pilgrims, being the most important of the four holy sites for Buddhists. The Bodhi Tree that exists today is not the exact one that shaded the Buddha's meditation 2,500 years ago, but it may well be a direct descendent.

In the 3rd century BC, Emperor Asoka's daughter Sanghamitta brought a branch of the Bodhi Tree to Sri Lanka and planted it in Anuradhapura, where it still grows today. According to one tradition, Asoka's wife destroyed the original Bodhi Tree out of jealousy over the time the emperor spent there.