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74-532: The Phalgu is formed by the confluence, some 3 kilometres (2 mi) below Bodh Gaya , of the Lilajan (also called Niranjan or Nilanjan) and the Mohana , two large hill streams each of which is over 270 metres (300 yd) wide. The Phalgu is also mentioned as Niranjan. The united stream flows on to the north past the town of Gaya, where it attains a breadth of over 820 metres (900 yd). The Phalgu here passes by

148-733: A UNESCO World Heritage Site . Bodh Gayā is considered to be the holiest site in Buddhism. 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 . Traditionally, it is believed that the Buddha was born in 563 BCE 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

222-643: A three-year term, must by law consist of four Buddhist and four Hindu representatives, including the head of Sankaracharya Math monastery as an ex-officio Hindu member. A 2013 Amendment to the Bodhgaya Temple Management Act allows the Gaya District Magistrate to be the chairman of the committee, even if he is not Hindu. The advisory board consists of the governor of Bihar and twenty to twenty-five other members, half of them from foreign Buddhist countries. In June 2002,

296-486: A Buddha is born during the new kalpa, the lotus flowers bloom in accordance with the number of Buddhas expected to arise. According to legend, in the case of Gautama Buddha , a Bodhi tree sprang up on the day he was born. In approximately 250 BCE, about 200 years after the Buddha attained enlightenment , Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire visited Bodh Gaya in order to establish a monastery and shrine on

370-553: A branch with the cooperation of senior members of the temple's management committee. While the temple's spokesman stated that botanists had pruned the tree, the Bihar home secretary ordered the tree examined. A criminal charge was filed against Bodhipala. If convicted, Bodhipala would be subject to at least 10 years' imprisonment. Following the expiration of the committee's term in September 2007, Bihar's government delayed appointing

444-549: A grant to Sri Lankan monks near the Mahabodhi temple. During the 12th century CE, Bodh Gayā and the nearby regions were invaded and destroyed by Muslim Turk armies, led by Delhi Sultanate 's Qutb al-Din Aibak and Bakhtiyar Khilji . The complex, located about 110 kilometres (68 mi) from Patna , at 24°41′43″N 84°59′38″E  /  24.69528°N 84.99389°E  / 24.69528; 84.99389 , contains

518-644: A high rocky bank, on the steep sides of which are many paved stairs leading down to the river bed, while high above are the Vishnupad Mandir , with many minor shrines around it. It then runs in a north-easterly direction for about 27 kilometres (17 mi), and opposite the Barabar hills it again takes the name of Mohana, and divides into two branches which eventually flow into a branch of the Punpun . The Phalgu like its confluent streams, Lilajan and Mohana,

592-457: A logical elongation of the stepped Gandharan stupas. This truncated pyramid design also marked the evolution from the aniconic stupa dedicated to the cult of relics, to the iconic temple with multiple images of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas. This design was very influential in the development of later Hindu temples . The " shikhara " tower with an amalaka near the top is today considered more characteristic of Hindu temples . The Temple

666-487: 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 . Two other bombs, one under the 80-foot statue of the Buddha and the other near Karmapa Temple were defused by

740-553: A new Committee and the district magistrate administered the temple pending such appointment. Eventually, on May 16, 2008, the government announced the appointment of a new Temple Management Committee. As of June 2017 , the Temple's head monk was Bhikkhu Chalinda. In 2013, the upper portion of the temple was covered with 289 kg of gold. The gold was a gift from the King of Thailand and devotees from Thailand and installed with

814-469: A restoration of earlier work of the 2nd or 3rd century: a plaque from Kumrahar dated 150–200 CE, based on its dated Kharoshthi inscriptions and combined finds of Huvishka coins, already shows the Mahabodhi Temple in its current shape with a stepped truncated pyramid and a small hemispherical stupa with finials on top. This is confirmed by archaeological excavations in Bodh Gaya . It is thought that

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888-477: A temple with the same name and modelled on the original Mahabodhi Temple. It is said that six weeks after the Buddha began meditating under the Bodhi Tree , the heavens darkened for seven days, and a prodigious rain descended. However, the mighty king of serpents, Mucalinda , came from beneath the earth and protected with his hood the one who is the source of all protection. When the great storm had cleared,

962-601: A village woman, offered Siddhartha a bowl of rice milk, providing him with nourishment after years of severe asceticism. This act of kindness is said to have given Siddhartha the strength to pursue the Middle Path, ultimately leading to his enlightenment. The temple stands near the banks of the Niranjana River, symbolizing the site where this transformative event took place. Architecturally, the Sujata Temple

1036-500: 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,

1110-482: Is 15 km from Gaya and is about 96 km (60 mi) from Patna . The site contains a descendant of the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment and has been a major pilgrimage destination of Buddhists for over two thousand years. Some of the site's elements date to the period of Ashoka (died c.  232 BCE ). What is now visible on the ground dates from the 6th century CE, or possibly earlier, as well as several major restorations since

1184-480: Is famous for being the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment ( Pali : bodhi ) under what became known as the Bodhi Tree . Since antiquity, Bodh Gayā has remained the object of pilgrimage and veneration, for both Hindus and Buddhists . In particular, archaeological finds, including sculptures, show that the site was in use by Buddhists since the Mauryan period. Bodh Gayā and

1258-561: Is modest yet deeply revered, attracting pilgrims and tourists alike who seek to honor the compassion of Sujata and the profound moment that it represents in Buddhist history. The surrounding village and the serene landscape add to the temple's spiritual ambiance, making it a place of contemplation and homage. An 80-foot (24 m) statue of the Buddha, known as The Great Buddha Statue is located in Bodhgaya. The unveiling and consecration of

1332-669: Is reference to the city of Gaya and the Phalgu in the Ramayana in which it says that Sita had cursed the Phalgu River. There is an interesting story and the purana states that on account of this curse, the Phalgu lost its water, and the river is simply a vast stretch of sand dunes. According to mythology, in the absence of Rama , his wife Sita offered pinda on its banks to Dasharatha father of Rama. The story goes that Rama, along with his brothers and Sita, came to Gaya to perform

1406-553: Is situated 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) northeast of Benares . The disciples of Gautama began to visit the place during the full moon in the month of Vaisakh (April–May), as per the Hindu calendar . Over time, the place became known as Bodh Gayā, the day of enlightenment as Buddha Purnima , and the tree as the Bodhi Tree. The history of Bodh Gayā is documented by many inscriptions and pilgrimage accounts. Foremost among these are

1480-519: Is subject to high floods during the monsoons but in other seasons of the year it dwindles to a stream wandering through a wide expanse of sand. The portion of the course of the Phalgu flowing by Gaya is sacred to the Hindus. It is the first holy site visited by the pilgrim and here his first offering must be made for the souls of his ancestors. According to the Gaya Mahatmya, which forms part of

1554-550: Is under active worship in the sanctum. Mahabodhi Temple is constructed of brick and is one of the oldest brick structures to have survived in eastern India. It is considered to be a fine example of Indian brickwork , and was highly influential in the development of later architectural traditions. According to UNESCO, "the present temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely in brick from Gupta period " (300–600 CE). Mahabodhi Temple's central tower rises 55 metres (180 ft), and were heavily renovated in

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1628-476: The Vayu Purana , the Phalgu is the embodiment of Vishnu himself. One tradition states that it formerly flowed with milk. According to Hindu belief, the soul wanders after death until pindadan , or religious service seeking salvation for the dead from the cycle of rebirth, is performed. The fortnight-long pitrapaksh period is considered auspicious to offer pindadan . The 15 days of the waning moon during

1702-516: The Jatakas , the navel of the earth lies at this spot, and no other place can support the weight of the Buddha's attainment. Another Buddhist tradition claims that when the world is destroyed at the end of a kalpa , the Bodhimanda is the last spot to disappear, and will be the first to appear when the world emerges into existence again. Tradition also claims that a lotus will bloom there, and if

1776-604: The Middle Way . 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. The Sujata Temple, located in Sujata Village in Bakrour near Bodhgaya , India, is a significant historical and religious site associated with the life of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha. This temple commemorates the pivotal moment when Sujata,

1850-733: 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 Sena dynasty , Buddhism's position again began to erode and became nearly extinct in India . During the 12th century CE, Bodh Gaya and the nearby regions were invaded and destroyed by Muslim Turk armies, led by Delhi Sultanate 's Qutb al-Din Aibak and Bakhtiyar Khilji . During this period,

1924-527: The Phalgu river, near the city of Gaya , India. There he sat in meditation under a peepul tree ( Ficus religiosa or Sacred Fig ) which later became known as the Bodhi tree. According to Buddhist scriptures, after three days and three nights, Siddharta attained enlightenment and freedom from suffering. In that location, Mahabodhi Temple was built by Emperor Ashoka in around 260 BCE. The Buddha then spent

1998-542: The Sunga period. There are carved panels as well as medallions, with many scenes similar to those of the contemporary Sunga railings at Bharhut (150 BCE) and Sanchi (115 BCE), although the reliefs at Sanchi Stupa No.2 are often considered the oldest of all. The railing was extended during the following century, down to the end of Gupta period (7th century), with coarse granite decorated with elaborate foliate ornaments and small figures as well as stupas. Many parts of

2072-430: The 19th century. The central tower is surrounded by four smaller towers, constructed in the same style. The Mahabodhi Temple is surrounded on all four sides by stone railings, about two metres high. The railings reveal two distinct types, both in style as well as the materials used. The older ones, made of sandstone , date to about 150 BCE, and the others, constructed from unpolished coarse granite , are believed to be of

2146-460: The 19th century. The structure, however, also potentially incorporates large parts of earlier work, possibly from the 2nd or 3rd-century CE. Archaeological finds from the site indicate that the place was a site of veneration for Buddhists since at least the Mauryan period . In particular, the Vajrasana , which is located within the temple itself has been dated to the third-century BCE. Many of

2220-764: The Akshaya Vatam saying that all who came to Gaya would perform the Pinda pradaanam at the Akshaya Vatam too. Before attaining Enlightenment, the Siddhārtha Gautama practiced asceticism on a tributary of the river. Bodh Gaya Bodh Gayā is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple complex, situated in the Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar . It

2294-541: The Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949. The committee has nine members, a majority of whom, including the chairman, must by law be Hindus. 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 . In 2013, the Bihar government amended the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949, allowing for a non-Hindu to head

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2368-478: The Buddha was abandoned by the five men who had been his companions in his earlier austerities, as all they saw was an ordinary man; mocking his well-nourished appearance, they said "Here comes the mendicant Gautama, 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

2442-613: The Buddha) or Mahabodhi ('Great Enlightenment'). The main monastery of Bodh Gayā used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra ( Pali ); it is now known as the Mahabodhi Temple . During the period from the 11th to 13th centuries, Bodh Gayā 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

2516-615: The Diamond throne. These columns are thought to date to the 1st century BCE, towards the end of the Sungas. These columns, which were found through archaeological research at the Buddha's Walk in the Mahabodhi Temple, quite precisely match the columns described on the reliefs found on the gateway pillars. The railings around the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya are ancient. They are old sandstone posts dating about 150 BCE, during

2590-548: The Great Buddha Statue took place on 18 November 1989. The consecration ceremony was attended by the 14th Dalai Lama, who blessed the statue, the first great Buddha ever built in the history of India. Under the slogan "Spread Buddha's rays to the Whole World," Daijokyo spent seven years on construction of the Great Buddha Statue, mobilizing 120,000 masons in total. On 7 July 2013, at around 5:15   a.m.,

2664-649: The Gupta period. The older railings have scenes such as Lakshmi , the Hindu / Buddhist 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 shrines) and garudas (eagles). Images of lotus flowers also appear commonly. Images of the site include Avalokiteśvara (Padmapani, Khasarpana), Vajrapani , Tara , Marichi , Yamantaka , Jambhala and Vajravārāhī . For centuries before its re-"discovery" by Europeans,

2738-551: The Hindu month of Ashvin are known as pitrapaksh . Pindadan is traditionally offered on the banks of the Phalgu at Gaya. It is mandatory for Hindu devotees offering pindadan to shave their heads and take a holy dip and head for the Baitarni pond. The prayers are performed at the Vishnupad Mandir. Priests, known as Gaywal-pandas, conduct the ritual. Thousands of Hindus visit Gaya for the purpose of pindadan . There

2812-503: The Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site . All finds of religious artefacts in the area are legally protected under the Treasure Trove Act of 1878. The temple's head monk, Bhikkhu Bodhipala, resigned in 2007 after he was charged with cutting the branches of Holy Bodhi Tree on a regular basis and selling them to foreigners for significant amounts of money. A newspaper alleged that wealthy Thai buyers bought

2886-411: The Mahabodhi Temple fell into disrepair and was largely abandoned. The last abbot of the Mahabodhi temple was Sariputra , who left India and travelled to Nepal in the 15th century. Over the following centuries, the monastery's abbot or mahant position became occupied by the area's primary landholder, who claimed ownership of the Mahabodhi Temple grounds. In the 13th century, Burmese Buddhists built

2960-534: The Mahabodhi Temple with the Vajrasana or "diamond throne" and the holy Bodhi tree . This tree was originally a sapling of 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 Gayā in order to establish a monastery and shrine on

3034-470: The Mahabodhi temple complex are testament to this. A sixth-century donative record of a Sri Lankan monk named Mahānāman states that a temple was built at the Bodhimaṇḍa and attests to ties between the Mahabodhi temple and Sri Lanka . From the eleventh-century onwards, patronage increased from countries like Tibet , China , Sri Lanka and Burma . King Kyansittha sent the first Burmese expedition to

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3108-427: The Mahabodhi temple during this period. Three additional missions also took place up to the fourteenth century. The purpose of these missions seems to have been to carry out repairs on the temple structure while also sending gifts among which were musical instruments . Donations also came from non-royal sources. So far, five Chinese inscriptions have been found at the temple complex which records gifts by Chinese monks in

3182-605: The accounts of the Chinese pilgrims Faxian in the 5th century and Xuanzang in the 7th century. The area was at the heart of a Buddhist civilization for centuries, until it was conquered by Turkic armies in the 13th century. The placename, Bodh Gayā, did not come into use until the 18th century CE. Historically, it was known as Uruvela, Sambodhi ( [REDACTED] , Saṃ + bodhi , meaning 'Complete Enlightenment' in Ashoka's Major Rock Edict No.8 ), Vajrasana (the ' Diamond Throne ' of

3256-557: The age of 29 in 534 BCE, and travelled and meditated in search of truth. After practicing self-mortification for six years at Urubela (Buddhagaya) in Gaya, he gave up that practice because it did not give him liberation. Then he discovered the Noble 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). At this point,

3330-548: The approval of the Archaeological Survey of India. On 7 July 2013, ten low-intensity bombs exploded in the temple complex, injuring 5 people. One bomb was near the statue of Buddha and another was near the Mahabodhi tree. Three unexploded bombs were also found and defused. The blasts took place between 5.30 a.m. and 6.00 a.m. The main temple was undamaged. The Intelligence Bureau of India may have alerted state officials of possible threats around 15 days prior to

3404-532: The eleventh century. One of these monks stated in their inscription that they were sent on behalf of the Song Emperor . Local polities like the Pithipatis of Bodh Gaya also played a role in patronising the temple. Buddhism declined when the dynasties patronizing it declined, following Huna invasions and the early Arab Islamic invasions such as that of Muhammad bin Qasim . A strong revival occurred under

3478-629: The holy site, which has today disappeared. There remains however the Diamond throne , which he had established at the foot of the Bodhi tree . The Diamond throne, or Vajrasana , is thought to have been built by Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire between 250 and 233 BCE, at the location where the Buddha reached enlightenment. It is worshipped today, and is the centre of many festivities at

3552-420: The holy site. 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 ). Kittisirimegha of Sri Lanka , a contemporary of Samudragupta , erected with his permission a Sanghārāma near the Mahabodhi Temple, chiefly for

3626-599: The initial railing have been dismantled and are now in museums, such as the Indian Museum in Kolkata , and have been replaced by plaster copies. While Asoka is considered the Mahabodhi temple's founder, the current pyramidal structure dates from the Gupta Empire , in the 5th–6th century CE. It's identical to the architectural styles of Hindu temples still being constructed in India. However, this may represent

3700-454: The largest over 55 metres (180 feet) high. This is a stylistic feature that has continued in Jain and Hindu temples to the present day, and influenced Buddhist architecture in other countries, in forms like the pagoda . Traditional accounts say that, around 589 BCE, Siddhartha Gautama , a young prince who saw the suffering of the world and wanted to end it, reached the forested banks of

3774-529: The most well-known leaders of this campaign to free the temple from Hindu control. The Bihar state government assumed responsibility for the protection, management, and monitoring of the temple and its properties when India gained its independence. Pursuant to the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949, such responsibilities are shared with the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, and an advisory board. The committee, which serves for

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3848-463: The nearby regions were invaded and destroyed in the 12th century CE by Muslim Turk armies, led by Delhi Sultanate 's Qutb al-Din Aibak and Bakhtiyar Khilji . For Buddhists, Bodh Gayā is the most important of the four main pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar , Lumbini , and Sarnath . In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gayā, became

3922-517: The oldest sculptural elements have been moved to the museum beside the temple, and some, such as the carved stone railing wall around the main structure, have been replaced by replicas. The main temple's survival is especially impressive, as it was mostly made of brick covered with stucco , materials that are much less durable than stone. However, it is understood that very little of the original sculptural decoration has survived. The temple complex includes two large straight-sided shikhara towers,

3996-537: 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, Sarnath , which

4070-479: The partial restoration of the site to the management of the Maha Bodhi Society in 1949. It was then the temple management of Bodh Gaya was entrusted to a committee composed of equal numbers of Hindus and Buddhists. The campaign was partially successful in 1949 when control passed from the Hindu mahant to the state government of Bihar, which established a Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) under

4144-427: The police. On 1 June 2018, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court of Patna sentenced five suspects in the case to life imprisonment. As per the 2001 census , 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

4218-473: The population is under 6 years of age. Bodh Gaya has one official sister city : Mahabodhi Temple The Mahabodhi Temple (literally: "Great Awakening Temple") or the Mahābodhi Mahāvihāra , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , is an ancient, but restored Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya , Bihar , India , marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment . Bodh Gaya

4292-462: The sacred rites for his father, Dasaratha. When the brothers were bathing in the river, Sita was sitting on the banks, playing with the sand. Suddenly, Dasaratha appeared out of the sand, and asked for the Pindam, saying he was hungry. Sita asked him to wait till his sons returned, so that she could give him the traditional Pindam of rice and til. He refused to wait, asking her to give him pindams made of

4366-622: The sand in his hand. Having no other option, in the presence of five witnesses – the Akshaya Vatam, the Falguni River, a cow, a Tulsi plant and a Brahmin, she gave him the Pindam he desired. Soon, Rama returned and started the rituals. In those days apparently, the ancestors would arrive in person to collect their share, and when Dasaratha did not appear, they wondered why. Sita then told them what had happened, but Rama could not believe that his father would accept pindams made of sand. Sita now mentioned her witnesses, and asked them to tell Rama

4440-599: The serpent king assumed his human form, bowed before the Buddha, and returned in joy to his palace. The subject of Buddha meditating under the protection of Mucalinda is very common in Iconography of Gautama Buddha in Laos and Thailand . One modern rendition is present in Bunleua Sulilat 's sculpture park Sala Keoku . During the 13th century and again in the 19th century, Burmese rulers undertook restoration of

4514-428: The succeeding seven weeks at seven different spots in the vicinity meditating and considering his experience. Several specific places at the current Mahabodhi Temple relate to the traditions surrounding these seven weeks: The Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya is directly connected to the life of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama , who attained enlightenment or omniscient wisdom when he was meditating under it. The temple

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4588-674: The temple committee. Also in 2013, one thousand Indian Buddhists protested at the Mahabodhi Temple site to demand that control over it be given to Buddhists. These Buddhists included such leaders as Bhante Anand (president of the Akhil Bharatiya Bhikkhu Mahasangh, an influential body of monks), as well as the president of the Bodh Gaya Mukti Andolan Samiti. Additionally, Japanese-born Surai Sasai emerged as an important Buddhist leader in India as both he and Bhante Anand became two of

4662-409: The temple complex and surrounding wall. In the 1880s, the then-British colonial government of India began to restore Mahabodhi Temple under the direction of Sir Alexander Cunningham and Joseph David Beglar . In 1884, a large Buddha image of the Pāla period, likely removed at an earlier stage to the Mahant's residence from the temple sanctum, was reinstated. The plith of the image was reconstructed at

4736-506: The temple holds a massive bronze statue of the Buddha. Next to the Thai temple is a 25-metre (82 ft) statue of the Buddha within a garden which has existed for over 100 years. Across the Phalgu river is the Sujata Stupa , in the village of Bakraur . The stupa was dedicated to the milkmaid Sujata , who is said to have fed the Buddha milk and rice as he was sitting under a Banyan tree , ending his seven years of fasting and asceticism , and allowing him to attain illumination through

4810-437: The temple in the shape of a truncated pyramid was derived from the design of the stepped stupas which had developed in Gandhara . The Mahabodhi Temple adapted the Gandharan design of a succession of steps with niches containing Buddha images, alternating with Greco-Roman pillars, and top by a stupa, as seen in the stupas of Jaulian . The structure is crowned by the shape of a hemispherical stupa topped by finials , forming

4884-452: The temple was an active place of worship by Shaivite and Vaishnavas. In 1891, a campaign was initiated, seeking the return of control of the temple to Buddhists, over the objections of the Hindu mahant. Sir Edwin Arnold , author of The Light of Asia , started advocating for the renovation of the site and its return to Buddhist care. Arnold was directed towards this endeavour by Weligama Sri Sumangala Thera. In 1891, Anagarika Dharmapala

4958-403: The temple. Representations of the early temple structure meant to protect the Bodhi tree 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). Additional structures were brought in by the Sungas . In particular, columns with pot-shaped bases were found around

5032-457: The time and parts of the dedicatory inscription inserted in their current position. The inscription records the rededication of the image by Pīṭhīpati Jayasena in the 13th century. In 1886, Sir Edwin Arnold visited the site and under guidance from Ven. Weligama Sri Sumangala published several articles drawing the attention of the Buddhists to the deplorable conditions of Buddhagaya. The sculpture has since been repaired, painted and gilded and

5106-511: The truth. Among the five, only the Akshaya Vatam took her side and told the truth, while the others lied, trying to take Rama’s side. In her anger, Sita cursed all of them thus: the Falguni river henceforth would have no water at Gaya; the Cow would no longer be worshipped from the front as all others are- only its backside would be worshipped; there would be no more Tulsi plants at Gaya and the Gaya Brahmins would never be satisfied, they would always be hungry and crave more and more. She then blessed

5180-529: The use of the Singhalese monks who went to worship the Bodhi tree. The circumstances in connection with the Sanghārāma are given by Xuanzang 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

5254-414: Was built directly to the east of the Bodhi tree, which is believed to be a direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha sat. According to Buddhist mythology, if no Bodhi tree grows at the site, the ground around the Bodhi tree is devoid of all plants for a distance of one royal karīsa. Through the ground around the Bodhi tree no being, not even an elephant, can travel. According to

5328-436: Was on a pilgrimage to the recently restored Mahabodhi Temple. Here he experienced a shock to find the temple in the hands of a Saivite priest, the Buddha image transformed into a Hindu icon and Buddhists barred from worship. As a result, he began an agitation movement. The Maha Bodhi Society at Colombo was founded in 1891 but its offices were soon moved to Calcutta the following year in 1892. One of its primary aims

5402-574: Was restored by the British and India post-independence. Throughout its history, the Mahabodhi temple has been the sight of patronage from various sources. Faxian in the 5th century, stated that there were three monasteries built around the temple complex with monks residing in them. These monks were supported by local people who provided them with food and other necessities. The patronage came from both within and outside of India. The vast number of votive stupas and sculptures that have been found within

5476-464: Was the restoration to Buddhist control of the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya , the chief of the four ancient Buddhist holy sites. To accomplish this, Dharmapala initiated a lawsuit against the Brahmin priests who had held control of the site for centuries. After a protracted struggle, this was successful only after Indian independence (1947) and sixteen years after Dharmapala's own death (1933), with

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