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Bodhgaya is considered to be one of the famous and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centre in the world. It is the most important pilgrimage site for the Buddhists as it relates to the life of Buddha. It was at this place that Prince Gautama attained the supreme knowledge under a Pipal tree, to become Buddha, the Enlightened One. The place attracts tourists and Buddhists from around the globe.
Since 1953, efforts have been taken to develop Bodhgaya as an International place of pilgrimage. Monasteries and temples have been established by Buddhists from countries like Sri Lanka, Burma, Bhutan, Thailand, Tibet and Japan. The monasteries and temples are located within small walking distances of the Mahabodhi compound. The Mahabodhi Temple, located at this place was declared to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.
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Location
Situated on the banks of the Niranjana River, presently known as Lilanjan River, the town of Bodhgaya is located at a distance of about 96 kilometres from Patna. This religious place is located in the Gaya district of Bihar.
History
History reveals the story of Buddha attaining Enlightenment. In around 500 BC, the ascetic Prince Gautama Siddharta reached the banks of the Niranjana River near Bodhgaya. Under a pipal tree, Siddharta sat in meditation and attained insight and enlightenment. After few weeks, he travelled to Sarnath and began teaching Buddhism. It was with time that the place came to be known as Bodhgaya, the pipal tree as the Bodhi Tree and the day of enlightenment came to be known as Buddha Purnima. Slowly, the historical place called Bodhgaya became a place of pilgrimage.
Attraction
In Bodhgaya, the two main sacred sites are the Bodhi Tree and the Mahabodhi Temple. Several other monasteries and temples of various Buddhist traditions have been built around these major sites.
The Bodhi Tree is the tree under which Buddha meditated and attained Enlightenment. It is said that even after the enlightenment, Buddha continued his meditation and for one week, he looked towards the tree out of gratitude. Where Buddha practised walking meditation, a Chankramanar, an elaborate jewel walk was built that were adorned with nineteen lotuses. A stupa was also built to the north of the Chankramanar called the Animeschalochana.
The Mahabodhi Temple contains a diamond throne called the Vajrasana. Emperor Ashoka is considered to be the founder of this temple. The temple consists of a chhatravali on a platform and an elongated spire crowned by a miniature stupa. Images of Buddha are contained in niches on the mouldings of the spire. With the decline of Buddhism, the temple was abandoned but it was revived again during the late 19th Century.
The quadrangular stone railings around the Bodhi Tree and the Mahabodhi Temple are of historical significance. The stone railings are of two types and can be distinguished. The older set was made of sandstone and was built around 150 BC and the latter was made up of coarse granite and was built during the Gupta period, 300 to 600 AD.
The other attractions of Bodhgaya are the 80 feet Statue of the Buddha, Buddha Kund, Brahm Yoni, Burmese Temple, International Buddhist House and Japanese Temple, Tibetan Monastery, Lotus Tank, Rajayatana, Chinese Temple and Monastery, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, Archaeological Museum and Thai Temple and Monastery. The Dungeshwari Hill, Sujata Village and Maitraya Project complete the list.
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