Bodh Gaya

Coordinates: 24°41′42″N 84°59′33″E / 24.6950°N 84.9925°E / 24.6950; 84.9925
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Bodhgaya
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Bodh Gayā
Town
UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
824231
Vehicle registrationBR-02
  1. Gaya CD block of Gaya district.[1]

Bodh Gayā is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the

Mauryan period.[4]

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha,[5] the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[6]

History

Enlightenment.
Buddha's Holy Sites
The Four Main Sites
Four Additional Sites
Other Sites
The Hindu Jagannath temple, located 25 feet away from the Mahabodhi Temple.
A Budhhist sculpture from a minor temple complex in Bodh Gaya.

Bodh Gaya is considered to be the holiest site in Buddhism.[7] Known as Uruvela in the Buddha's time, it is situated by the bank of the Lilajan River. The first temple at the site was built by Maurya Emperor Ashoka.[8]

Traditionally, it is believed that the Buddha was born in 563 BC on the next Baisakhi purnima [second full moon in calendar years that do not themselves start during full moon] in Lumbini Nepal. As Siddhartha, he renounced his family at the age of 29 in 534 BC,

Eightfold path
" of his own and practiced it, finally reaching enlightenment: a state of being completely free from lust (raga), hatred (dvesha) and delusion (moha).

Bodh Gaya
Mountain of Ashrams, Vindhya range Bodh Gaya

At this place, the Buddha was abandoned by the five men who had been his companions in his earlier austerities. All they saw was an ordinary man; they mocked his well-nourished appearance. "Here comes the mendicant Gautama," they said, "who has turned away from asceticism. He is certainly not worth our respect." When they reminded him of his former vows, the Buddha replied, "Austerities only confuse the mind. In the exhaustion and mental stupor to which they lead, one can no longer understand the ordinary things of life, still less the truth that lies beyond the senses. I have given up extremes of either luxury or asceticism. I have discovered the Middle Way." This is explained as the path which is neither easy (his former life as a rich prince) nor hard (living in austere conditions, practicing self-denial). Hearing this, the five ascetics became the Buddha's first disciples in Deer Park,

Benares.[citation needed
]

The disciples of Gautama began to visit the place during the full moon in the month of

Buddha Purnima
, and the tree as the Bodhi Tree.

The history of Bodh Gaya is documented by many inscriptions and pilgrimage accounts. Foremost among these are the accounts of the

conquered
by Turkic armies in the 13th century. The place-name, Bodh Gaya, did not come into use until the 18th century CE. Historically, it was known as Uruvela, Sambodhi (
Diamond Throne" of the Buddha) or Mahabodhi ("Great Enlightenment").[12] The main monastery of Bodh Gaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra (Pali). Now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple
.

During the period from the 11th to 13th centuries, Bodh Gaya was under the control of local chieftains known as the Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya who were responsible for the management of the region. One of their rulers, Acarya Buddhasena, has been recorded as making a grant to Sri Lankan monks near the Mahabodhi temple.[13]

Mahabodhi Temple

Main article: Mahabodhi Temple
Mahabodhi temple, built during the Gupta Empire, 6th century CE

The complex, located about 110 kilometres from

Patna, at 24°41′43″N 84°59′38″E / 24.69528°N 84.99389°E / 24.69528; 84.99389,[14]
contains the Mahabodhi Temple with the
Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka
, itself grown from a what is claimed to be a sapling of the original Bodhi tree.

In approximately 250 BCE, about 200 years after the Buddha attained Enlightenment, Emperor

Asoka visited Bodh Gaya in order to establish a monastery and shrine on the holy site.[6]

Representations of this early temple are found at Sanchi, on the toraṇas of Stūpa I, dating from around 25 BCE, and on a relief carving from the stupa railing at Bhārhut, from the early Shunga period (c. 185 – c. 73 BCE).[15]

Other Buddhist temples

Buddhist monks meditating in Bodh Gaya

Kittisirimegha of Sri Lanka, a contemporary of Samudragupta, erected with his permission a Sanghārāma near the Mahabodhi Temple, chiefly for the use of the Singhalese monks who went to worship the Bodhi tree. The circumstances in connection with the Sanghārāma are given by Xuanzang (Beal, op. cit., 133ff) who gives a description of it as seen by himself. It was probably here that Buddhaghosa met the Elder Revata who persuaded him to come to Ceylon.

Several Buddhist temples and monasteries have been built by the people of Tibet, Mongolia, Nepal, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Bhutan and China in a wide area around the Mahabodhi Temple. These buildings reflect the architectural styles and decoration of their respective countries. The statue of the Buddha in the Chinese temple is 200 years old, and was brought from China. Japan's Nippon temple is shaped like a pagoda. The Myanmar (Burmese) temple is also pagoda-shaped and is reminiscent of Bagan. The Thai temple has a typical sloping, curved roof covered with golden tiles. Inside, the temple holds a massive bronze statue of the Buddha. Next to the Thai temple is a 25-metre statue of the Buddha within a garden which has existed for over 100 years.[citation needed]

Sujata Stupa

Across the

Banyan tree, ending his seven years of fasting and asceticism, and allowing him to attain illumination through the Middle Way.[16][17][18] The stupa was built in the 2nd century BCE, as confirmed by finds of black polished wares and punch-marked coins in the attending monastery.[19]

The Great Buddha Statue

Main article: Great Buddha (Bodh Gaya)

An 80-foot statue of the Buddha, known as The Great Buddha Statue is located in Bodhgaya. The unveiling and consecration of the Great Buddha Statue took place on 18 November 1989. The consecration ceremony was attended by the 14th Dalai Lama, who blessed the 25-meter statue, the first great Buddha ever built in the history of India.

Under the slogan "Spread Buddha's rays to the Whole World," Daijokyo [clarification needed] spent seven years on construction of the Great Buddha Statue, mobilizing 120,000 masons in total.

Mahabodhi Temple bombings

See also:
Bodh Gaya bombings
Satavahana period at Sanchi
, 1st century CE.

On 7 July 2013, at around 05:15, a low intensity

bomb blast took place in the Mahabodhi Temple complex. This was followed by a series of nine low intensity blasts which resulted in two monks being injured; one was Tibetan and the other Burmese. These blasts were carried out by an Islamic terrorist organization called Indian Mujahideen.[20][21] Two other bombs, one under the 80-foot statue of the Buddha and the other near Karmapa Temple were defused by the police.[22][23]

On 1 June 2018, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court of Patna sentenced five suspects in the case to life imprisonment.[24]

Demographics

As per the

2001 census,[25]
Bodh Gaya had a population of 30,883. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Bodh Gaya has an average literacy rate of 51%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 63% and female literacy of 38%. 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transportation

Buddhist pilgrimage
sites and notable nearby cities

Sister cities

Bodh Gaya has one official

sister city
:

See also

References

  1. ^ "पत्रांक-213 : राजगीर क्षेत्रीय आयोजना क्षेत्र एवं बोधगया आयोजना क्षेत्र के सीमांकन एवं घोषणा" (PDF). Urban Development Housing Dept., Government of Bihar, Patna. 15 April 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  2. ^ Gopal, Madan (1991). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 176.
  3. ISSN 0002-7189
    .
  4. ISBN 9780199948239
    .
  5. ^ "Buddhist Pilgrimage". Asia. Archived from the original on 27 September 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Decisions adopted by the 26th Session of the World Heritage Committee" (PDF). World Heritage Committee. p. 62. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
  7. ^ "Holy Sites of Buddhism: Bodh Gaya – Place of Enlightenment". buddhanet.net. Archived from the original on 1 September 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  8. ^ "Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  9. ^ Barua, Sukomal (2012). "Buddha Purnima". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Spectrum | Sundayobserver.lk – Sri Lanka". Sundayobserver.lk. 22 April 2012. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ISBN 9781452266565. Archived
    from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  12. ^ "A History of Bodh Gaya by Venerable S. Dhammika". Buddhanet.net. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  13. ISBN 9780861592289. Archived
    from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Information Dossier for nomination of Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bodhgaya as a World Heritage Site". Government of India. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
  15. ^ "Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus: A Journey to the Great Pilgrimage Sites of Buddhism, Part I" by John C. Huntington. Orientations, November 1985 pg 61
  16. ISBN 9788122309638. Archived
    from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  17. ISBN 9781787011991. Archived
    from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  18. ISBN 8129107384
    .
  19. ISBN 9781136320675. Archived
    from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  20. ^ Tiwari, Deeptiman (6 November 2013). "Ranchi document helps NIA crack Bodh Gaya blast case". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  21. ^ Gaikwad, Rahi; Yadav Anumeha; Pandey Devesh (7 November 2013). "Patna terror cell behind Bodh Gaya strike too: NIA". The Hindu. Patna, Ranchi, New Delhi. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  22. ^ "Serial Blasts rock Mahabodhi temple in Bodha gaya: terror attack, Center says". The Times of India. 7 July 2013. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  23. ^ "Nine blasts in Bodh Gaya, 2 injured". The Hindu. 7 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Five sentenced to life imprisonment in Bodh Gaya serial blasts case". Headlines Today. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  25. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  26. ^ "BSTDC halts AC Bus Services to Bodhgaya devoid of Passengers". Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  27. ^ "Bihar launches Tourist Caravan Service called Wonder on Wheel". The Biharprabha News. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013.
  28. ^ "Japan visit: Nitish proposes sister-state pact between Nara and Bodh Gaya". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. 22 February 2018. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2020.

Bibliography

External links

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