A vital
Buddhist center (Bodhgaya) is the most sacred place
for Buddhists. Some 2500 years ago, Prince Siddhartha
got enlightened here and became Buddha (The enlightened
one). The prince wandered for 6 years in search
of peace. Finally he achieved the desired peace
of mind here, beneath the holy Bodhi tree and thus
was born Buddhism.
Nearly 250 years after the enlightenment, King Ashoka
visited the place and founded the Mahabodhi Temple.
A monastery was also founded by Ashoka which had
Vajrasana, the seat of enlightenment. The 52 m high
temple has beautiful design. The temple is made
on a square platform, with four pillars around the
corners of the platform. The 1700 years old image
of Buddha inside the temple is in the Bhumisparsha
Mudra (Touching the ground). Devout Buddhists and
tourists from all over the world visit Bodhgaya,
to study Buddhism and the art of meditation, or
to pay homage to Lord Buddha.
A small and quite town, Bodhgaya lies 16 Km from
the holy city of Gaya. Gaya is a famous Hindu Pilgrimage,
where people go to offer oblations for the salvation
of their dead forefathers.
Major Tourist Attractions in Bodhgaya :
The Bodhi Tree
The Bodhi
Tree is the famous tree under which Buddha achieved
enlightenment. He meditated under the tree continuously
for next one week. King Ashoka, after conversion
to Buddhism, surrounded the tree with 3m high stone
wall. The present Bodhi Tree is most probably the
fifth descendant of the original tree, as the original
tree got destroyed. But the followers view the tree
as the actual Buddha.
Mahabodhi
Temple
The Mahabodhi
Temple stands east to the Bodhi Tree. This huge
temple is said to be constructed by King Ashoka.
Shaped like a pyramid, it rises to 170 ft. The statue
of Lord Buddha in the temple is made of black stone.
The stupas in the temple were constructed during
past 2500 years.
Vajrasana
The
Vajrasana is a stone platform, under the Bodhi
tree, on which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.
Vajrasana means the seat of stability.
GayaSituated 16 Km from Bodhgaya, this holy city
is a place where Hindus offer oblation for salvation
of their forefathers. The temple of Vishnupad
on the bank of river Falgu attracts a very large
number of pilgrims.
Barabar
Cave
The Barabar
and Nagarjuni Hills are situated about 41 km. from
Bodhgaya. There are total seven rock-cut caves here,
of which four are in the Barabar hills. Barabar
Caves carvings bear the details about Buddha's life.
