The Mahabodhi Temple is located at Bodh Gaya, about 96 kms from Patna, India. The temple is built where, according to Buddhism, Gautama Siddhartha attained unsurpassed and supreme Enlightenment. Next to the temple is the holy Bodhi tree.
In 2002, the Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically nominated for the international World heritage program.
The temple towers over its surroundings.
History
Origins
According to Buddhist tradition, in approximately 500 BC, Gautama Siddhartha, wandering as a monk, reached the sylvan banks of Falgu river near the city of Gaya, India. There he sat in meditation under a Sacred Fig tree (Ficus religiosa), also called Bo or Peepul tree .
After three days and three nights of meditation, Siddharta attained enlightenment and insight, and the answers that he had sought. Enlightened by the new thought, he spent seven weeks at seven different spots in the vicinity meditating and considering his experience.
Buddhist tradition states that after the Enlightenment, Buddha stayed at Bodh Gaya for seven weeks in different places, in and around the present Mahabodhi Temple complex.
- The first week was spent under the Bodhi tree.
- During the second week, Buddha remained standing and uninterruptedly staring at the Bodhi tree for having helped him in his quest. This spot is marked as "Animeshloca Stupa" (the unblinking shrine), and is located in the north-east part of the Mahabodhi Temple complex. In this area, there now stands a statue of Buddha with his eyes fixed towards the Bodhi tree.
- The third week was spent in walking back and forth from the 'unblinking shrine spot' to the Bodhi tree. Lotus flowers are said to have sprung from the ground here, and the spot is called "Ratnachakarma" (jewel walk).
- The fourth week was spent by Buddha sitting cross-legged in "Abh-dhamma Naya" (deep meditation). At that time, it is said that Buddha’s body emitted dazzling light of different hues and colors, such as white, yellow, blue, red, and orange.
- Buddha is said to have spent the fifth week meditating under another tree.
- In the sixth week, the serpent king is said to have sheltered Buddha from a storm created by Maya.
- In the last and the seventh week, Buddha decided to preach and propagate the Enlightenment gained by him to save mankind from further suffering.
After seven weeks, Buddha travelled to Sarnath, where he began teaching Buddhism.
Construction
In approximately 250 BC, 250 years after the Enlightenment, Buddhist Emperor Ashoka visited Bodh Gaya with the intention of establishing a monastery. He also erected the diamond throne (called the Vajrasana), the Seat of Enlightenment. He is considered the founder of the Mahabodhi Temple.
Decline
Buddhism declined when the dynasties patronizing it declined, following White Hun and the early Islamic invasions such as that of Muhammad bin Qasim. A strong revival occurred under the Pala Empire in the northeast of the subcontinent (where the temple is situated). Mahayana Buddhism flourished under the Palas between the 8th and the 12th century. However, after the defeat of the Palas by the anti-Buddhist Hindu Sena dynasty, Buddhism's position again began to erode and became nearly extinct in India. During the 12th century AD, Bodh Gaya and the nearby regions were invaded by Muslim armies. During this period, the Mahabodhi Temple fell into disrepair and was largely abandoned. During the 16th century, a Hindu monastery was established near Bodh Gaya. Over the following centuries, the monastery's abbot or mahant became the area's primary landholder and claimed ownership of the Mahabodhi Temple grounds.
Restoration
In the 1880s, the new British government began to restore Mahabodhi Bodhi under the direction of Alexander Cunningham. In 1891, the Sri Lankan Buddhist leader Anagarika Dharmapala started a campaign to return control of the temple to Buddhists, over the objections of the mahant. The campaign was partially successful in 1949, when control passed to a temple management committee. The committee has nine members, a majority of whom (including the chairman) must be Hindu by law. Mahabodhi's first head monk under the management committee was Anagarika Munindra , a Bengali man who had been an active member of the Maha Bodhi Society.
Architectural style
The Mahabodhi Temple is one the earliest brick structures to have survived in eastern India. The temple is a fine example of brick architecture in India and reflects the artistic genius of the Indian people. The brick structures used in the construction of Mahabodhi Temple influenced architectural development in India for centuries. According to UNESCO citation, "the present temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely in brick from the late Gupta period".
The central tower, standing 55 meters high, is a 19th century renovation of the original tower which existed at the site. It is surrounded by four smaller towers, constructed in the same style.
The temple is surrounded by 2 meter high stone railings on all four sides. The railings are of two distinct types, both in style as well as the materials used. The older one, made of sandstone, are about 150 BC old, and the other, constructed from unpolished coarse granite, are believed to be of the Gupta period (300 AD – 600 AD). The older railings have scenes like Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, being bathed by elephants and Surya, the Hindu sun god, riding a chariot drawn by four horses. The newer railings have figures of Stupas (reliquary monuments or monuments constructed over holy relics) and Garudas (eagles). Lotus motifs are also common.
Management & Protection
Legal status Mahabodhi Temple is the property of the state government of Bihar, India. According to the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (1949), the state government is responsible for the protection, management, and monitoring of temple and its properties. The act also has provisions for the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) and an advisory board, consisting of the governor of Bihar and 20-25 members, half of them from foreign Buddhist countries. All finds in the area are protected under the Treasure Trove Act (1878).
Management The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) was first constituted in 1949, and is the executive body for management of the Mahabodhi Temple and certain adjoining areas. The BTMC functions under the supervision, direction, and control of the state government of Bihar.
Current status The temple's head monk, as of September 2004, is Bhikkhu Bodhipala. The members of the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), as of 2002, are:
- Brijesh Mehrotra (chairman ex-officio)
- Kalicharan Singh Yadav (secretary)
- Ramrup Singh
- Mangala Subba
- Ven. Bhante Nagarjun Surai Sasai
- Ven. Bhante Jñaneshvar
- Kamla Sinha
- Mahanth Shri Sudarshan Giri
- Nadayal Dorje
Kalicharan Singh Yadav was reappointed as secretary in 2004.
See also
Bodh Gaya,Buddhism
External links
