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Bodh Gaya : Buddha's Enlightenment Place
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Bodh Gaya : Main Temple |
Serene and quiet this tiny little village, holiest among holy places is
Bodhgaya, Where the quest of Prince Siddharth was fulfilled after years of
seeking the truth and the saga of Buddha began. He attained the supreme
enlightenment and became 'The Buddha', the enlightened one. Thus
Buddhism was born here under the Peepal Tree. The Prince had been wandering
in search of supreme peace for long six years hither and thither. But it was
at Bodhgaya only where his holy mission was achieved. Bodhgaya has naturally
developed into the most sacred spot for Buddhists from all over the world,
especially the affluent south East Asia.
Lying in sylvan solitude this sacred place is
situated on the bank of river Niranjana (Modern Falgu). It is 13 km. from
Gaya town. Gaya is an important Centre of 'Hindu Pilgrimage' where people go
to offer oblations for the salvation of their dead forefathers. |
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The Mahabodhi Temple stands east
to the Bodhi Tree. Its architectural effect is superb. its basement is 48
square feet and it rises in the form of a slender Pyramid, till it reaches
its neck, which is cylindrical in shape. The total height of the temple is
170 feet and on the top of the temple are Chatras which symbolize
sovereignty of religion. Four towers on its four corners rise gracefully
giving the holy structure a poise and balance. This sacred edifice is like a
grand banner unfurled by time to proclaim to the world the pious efforts of
the Buddha to solve the knots of human miseries to ascend above worldly
problems and to attain transcendental peace through wisdom, good conduct and
disciplined life. Inside the temple in the main sanctum, on an altar, is a
colossal image of Buddha in a sitting posture touching the earth by his
right hand. In this posture the Buddha accomplished the supreme
enlightenment. The statue is of black stone but it has been gilded by the
devotees. The entire courtyard of the temple is studded with a large number
of varieties of stupas--votive, decorative, memorative. These stupas are of
all sizes built during the past 2500 years ago. Most of them are extremely
elegant in structural beauty. |
Bodhi Tree
At the western side of the Mahabodhi Stupa in Bodhgaya
stands the large and historic Bodhi Tree under which Shakyamuni Buddha, then
known as Gautama, attained enlightenment some 2540 years ago. Gautama, had
been practicing austerities for six years in the area of the Niranjana River
near Bodhgaya. Finally understanding that this could not lead to
realization, he abandoned his austerities and in the nearby village of
Senani (now also known as Sujata) the Brahmin girl Sujata offered him
milk-rice. Strengthened by this, he took some kusha grass for a mat and sat
under the pipal tree facing east. He resolved not to rise until he attained
enlightenment. As he sat in deep meditation, Mara, Lord of Illusion,
symbolising the delusions of one's own mind, tried tirelessly to distract
him from his purpose. Gautama then touched the earth, calling it to bear
witness to the countless lifetimes of virtue that led him to this place of
enlightenment. The earth shook confirming the truth of his words. Mara
unleashed his army of demons to distract and tempt Gautama from his purpose,
but Gautama triumphed over the inner obstacles and the power of his
compassion transformed the demons' weapons into flowers. |
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The Barabar and Nagarjuni Hills
are situated about 41 km. from Bodhgaya (25 kms north of Gaya) and contain,
in all, seven rock-cut caves of which four are in the Barabar hills. Barabar
Caves is an important achaeological site. The caves carved out from solid
rocks bear details of the life of Buddha.
Two of the caves, dedicated by Ashoka to Ajivika monks, are in the form of a
plain rectangular outer hall. At one end of which is an inner chamber with
carved wall and over hanging caves. The Karan Chaupa cave - the entire
interior of the cave, excluding the platform, bears a high polish. The
entrance is in 'Egyptian form'.
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His mind was utterly
subdued. For seven days after the enlightenment, Buddha continued to
meditate under the tree without moving from his seat. Another week passed in
walking meditation, and for a third the Buddha contemplated under the Bodhi
Tree. The earliest records on the tree are in the 'Kalingabodhi Jataka',
which gives a vivid description of the tree and the surrounding area prior
to the enlightenment, and the 'Asokavadana', which relates the story of King
Ashoka's (3rd century B.C) conversion to Buddhism. His subsequent worship
under the sacred tree apparently angered his queen to the point where she
ordered the tree to be felled. Ashoka then piled up earth around the stump
and poured milk on its roots. |
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The Sudama cave - The cave
entrance is in 'Egyptian form' and consists of two chambers.
The Lomas Rishi cave - The entrance is in 'Egyptian form and only
walls of the outer rooms are polished.
The Visva Zopri cave - consists of
an outer apartment, bearing the high polish on its walls and flat roof. On
the right hand wall, is an inscription record.
Where to Stay :
There are two bungalows-- Hotel sidhartha Vihar and
Hotal Buddha Vihar of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation. Other
private hotels are also available. Indian Tourism Development
Coroporation has Hotel Bodhgaya Ashok (Tel: 0631-400790).
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The tree miraculously
revived and grew to a height of 37-metres. He then surrounded the tree with
a stone wall some three-meters high for its protection. Ashoka's daughter
Sangamitta, a Buddhist nun, took a shoot of the tree to Sri Lanka where the
King, Devanampiyatissa, planted it at the Mahavihara monastery in
Anuradhapura. The fourth direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree still
flourishes today and is the oldest continually documented tree in the world.His
mind was utterly subdued. For seven days after the enlightenment, Buddha
continued to meditate under the tree without moving from his seat. Another
week passed in walking meditation, and for a third the Buddha contemplated
under the Bodhi Tree. The earliest records on the tree are in the 'Kalingabodhi
Jataka', which gives a vivid description of the tree and the surrounding
area prior to the enlightenment, and the 'Asokavadana', which relates the
story of King Ashoka's (3rd century B.C) conversion to Buddhism. His
subsequent worship under the sacred tree apparently angered his queen to the
point where she ordered the tree to be felled. Ashoka then piled up earth
around the stump and poured milk on its roots. The tree miraculously revived
and grew to a height of 37-metres. He then surrounded the tree with a stone
wall some three-meters high for its protection. Ashoka's daughter Sangamitta,
a Buddhist nun, took a shoot of the tree to Sri Lanka where the King,
Devanampiyatissa, planted it at the Mahavihara monastery in Anuradhapura.
The fourth direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree still flourishes
today and is the oldest continually documented tree in the world. |
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Barabar Cave
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How to
reach:
Air : The Patna airport is 112
Kms.
Rail : The nearest Railway
station is Gaya 16 Kms.
Road: Bodhgaya is connected by
road to Gaya. 16 Kms to the Delhi-Calcutta Highway junction (on Grand Trunk
Road). Dobhi 22 Kms and Patna 105 Kms (via Jehanabad) or 181 Kms (Via Rajgir).
Bihar State Tourism Development
Coporation Operates daily deluxe coach service to and from Bodhgaya from its
head Quarter i.e. Tourist Bhawan, Beer Chand Patel Path Patna 800001 Tel :
0612-225411 FAX :0612-236218
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