Bodhgaya: The Epicentre of Buddhism
Introduction
A pilgrimage, a historic city, home to one of the world heritage sites, these are the words that perhaps aptly describe this small but unique city, which lies on the banks of the Niranjana River, Bodhgaya. The history of Bodhimanda as it was earlier known as dates back to 500 BC. It is in this small corner of the Gaya district in Bihar that Buddha attained enlightenment. This is the reason why Bodhgaya is considered as one of the most sacred places for Buddhists all over the world. The name Bodhgaya itself is derived from the Bodhi-tree, under which Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment. Buddhists from all over the world have built temples and monasteries all over Bodhgaya and this sacred place attracts Buddhist pilgrims and tourists from all over the world.
Getting There
The nearest railway station is located 16 kilometres away in Gaya. Gaya is well connected to most of the cities in India by train. There is a road that connects Gaya and Bodhgaya. The capital city of Bihar, Patna is approximately 100 kilometres away from Gaya and the nearest major airport to reach Bodhgaya is in Patna. The airport in Patna is well connected to the metro and other major cities in India. The transportation within Bodhgaya is reasonable and the best options would be the auto rickshaws or even the traditional tongas.
Attractions
The main attraction in Bodhgaya is the Mahabodhi Temple, which has been declared as a world heritage site. It is believed that the temple was initially constructed around 3rd century and Asoka, the Mauryan Emperor is believed to be the founder of this temple. The present Mahabodhi temple complex is made entirely out of bricks and dates back to the late Gupta era. It is also believed that at the exact place where Buddha attained enlightenment, Asoka built a diamond studded throne, known as the Vajrasana. Archaeologists have found gold coins and other precious stones under the throne, and some of these precious offerings date back to 3rd century. With the invasion of the Muslim rulers, the glory of Mahabodhi temple declined. It was destroyed to a great extend and left unattended. It was during the British rule in India that the work on the restoration of the temple was started. The credit for this, however goes to a great extend to Anagarika Dharmapala, a Sri Lanka-based Buddhist leader. After the Indian independence the management of the temple was handed over to the government of Bihar. This is when a committee for the management of the Mahabodhi temple was formed.
The Mahabodhi temple has one main tower that is in the centre and that rises up to approximately 54 metres. This tower in the centre is surrounded on four corners by similar type of smaller towers. A railing made of granite and sandstones surrounds the temple. The railings have a mix of scenes from the Hindu society of the medieval age, stupas and flowers carved on them. Another very important aspect of the temple is the Bodhi tree. The tree in the Mahabodhi temple is a sapling of the famous and sacred Shri Maha Bodhi tree in Sri Lanka. It is believed that Shri Maha Bodhi tree is a sapling of the same Bodhi tree, under which Buddha attained his enlightenment. It is believed that it was Asoka, who initially started worshipping the tree and protected it. The tree also finds its mention in Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveller’s books. Hiuen Tsang describes as to how the tree was destroyed and a new sapling was planted in around 600 AD. This large pipal tree, with its heart shaped leaves is located in the west sided of the temple. There is a huge tank towards the south end of the main temple, which houses a number of water lilies. There are also a number of shrines in the temple area.
Apart from the Mahabodhi temple there are several monasteries and temples constructed by the Buddhist communities of different countries, such as Bhutan, China, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and many more. All these temples are unique in terms of their architecture and design. The Buddhists from different countries have instilled designs, decorations and architecture that belong to their country, which reflect the culture and architectural style of their respective countries. Some of the interesting temples include the Burmese temple, which resemble an ancient capital city in Burma known as Pagan. The Burmese temple is known as Royal Bhutanese Temple and it also has facilities for accommodation, if one is looking at staying in Bodhgaya for a long time. Japan has a typical Japanese pagoda-shaped temple, known as Nippon Ji. The Thai temple is another example of beautiful architecture. The Tibetan temples house many Tibetan monks and they have very marvellous Buddhist paintings in the hallways and walls.
One would also be amazed at the various forms of Buddhist statues one can see in Bodhgaya. One of the earliest statues of Buddha was found in Bodhgaya, these statues date back to the Gupta era. Each of the temples in Bodhgaya has very unique sculptures and statues of Buddha in their respective shrines. No two statues are similar, however the ancient statues are the ones that attract the attention. In the outskirts there is an 80-foot tall statue of Buddha built by the Japanese. The statue inside the Mahabodhi temple stands at 52 metres. The Thai temple houses a bronze statue of Buddha. The statue in the Chinese temple was especially brought from China and is approximately 200 years old. There is also an archaeological museum, which has a great collection of antiques and sculptures.
Bodhgaya has a lot of tourist attractions around it. There are buses available at regular intervals from Bodhgaya to Rajgir, which is another sacred place for the Buddhists. Approximately 15 kilometres away from Rajgir is the world’s oldest university, the Nalanda University, which was established in 4500CE. The University is in ruins but the museum is open. Approximately 62 kilometres from Bodhgaya are the caves from 3rd century. These are man-made caves and the carvings inside the caves reflect Mauryan period. Approximately 20 kilometres off Gaya, in Deo is the famous sun temple of Bihar. This temple is a must visit during November when the Sun God is worshipped in the Chhat festival. There are also other attractions, such as the Lord Vishnu temple, which is a very big pilgrimage for the Hindus and Pretshila hills, which over looks a pond where people perform the religious, funeral rites. It is Bodhgaya that one would good Buddhist artifacts and souvenirs at a reasonable price.
The Stay
There are many simple and clean budget hotels, such as Buddha Vihar or Siddhartha Vihar available in the Bihar tourist complex in Bodhgaya. There are also dormitories and rooms with basic accommodation facilities available in the monasteries. Bhutan Monastery also has single and family rooms. These rooms are very simple and basic but are clean. These monasteries do not charge rent but they can accept donations. Royal Residency located in Domuhan Road offers a comfortable stay but at a slightly higher price than other hotels in the area. There are a number of restaurants in Bodhgaya serving anything from traditional Bihari preparation to Continental cuisine. Royal Residency has its own multi cuisine restaurant. With the number of Tibetan’s in the area, it is not a surprise that a lot of restaurants serve Tibetan dishes, such as momos. There are these small cafes and restaurants that serve descent food, such as Café Om and Paljor.
Many Buddhist also believe Bodhgaya to be the centre of Buddhism. It was here that Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment and became Gautam Buddha. Although Buddhism is the main focus in Bodhgaya, but with its many other attractions, this small corner in Bihar has become more than just a pilgrimage.