Pilgrimage Bodhgaya, Buddhist Pilgrimage India

|| The Past || Don't Miss || Festivals || When to Go || Getting There ||

	The life of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is associated with the small town of Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is not only an important Buddhist pilgrimage center on India, but is also a significant center for the study of Buddhist religion. One of the four holiest cities of Buddhist faith, the Mahabodhi temple is the main attraction of Bodhgaya and is located near the spot where Lord Buddha attained spiritual enlightenment. Places associated with the life and times of Lord Buddha are located inside the Mahabodhi complex including the Bodhi Tree and a pond where according to legends, Lord Buddha meditated for a few days.
	Visited often by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Lamas from Dharamshala, Bodhgaya is not merely a historical site but a vibrant Buddhist pilgrimage center of India.

Lord Buddha

The history of Bodhgaya is associated with the Buddhist religion since ancient times. The area around Bodhgaya formed the part of the first small kingdoms of India in the 7th century BC. It came into limelight in the 6th century BC, when a local prince Siddharth (also known as Gautam) renounced all material possession and, after practicing rigorous penances for years, attained Enlightenment or Nirvana under a Bodhi (Bo) tree here. After gaining Enlightenment, Gautam became Buddha (The Enlightened One) and spread his message of love and peace. To mark the spot where Gautam Buddha had attained Enlightenment, the great Mauryan ruler King Ashoka built a small shrine in the 3rd century BC. Subsequent rulers left their mark on this shrine, which finally took the shape of the Mahabodhi temple that continues to stand. This is how Bodhgaya became a famous Buddhist pilgrimage centre of India.

The main tourist attraction in Bodhgaya is the Mahabodhi Temple, which is located at the place of Lord Buddha's enlightenment. The temple has a 50m (170 ft) tower. The present temple was restored around 1880. There have been several other temples on this Buddhist pilgrimage site. Parts of the intricately carved railings to the south and west of the temple are very old. Some of the railings are original and parts of the railings are reproductions. The inner sanctuary has a huge Buddha statue. This temple is also sacred to the Hindus because Lord Buddha is believed to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

The Bo Tree growing here is believed to be the direct descendant of the original tree, under which Buddha sat, meditated and attained enlightenment. A sapling from the original tree was carried to Sri Lanka by Sanghamitra (Emperor Ashoka's daughter), when Ashoka took Buddhist religion to the island. The tree now flourishes in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. A cutting of this tree was brought back to Bodhgaya, when the original tree here died. A red sand stone under the tree is said to be the Vajrasan, or diamond throne, one on which the Buddha sat. Most countries with a large Buddhist population have a temple or a monastery here, usually built in a representative architectural style. The archaeological museum of Bodhgaya houses a small collection of Buddha figurines, and pillars that were discovered in the area. The Hindu Shankaracharya Math has a temple in Bodhgaya, and across the river are the Dungeshwari and Suraya temples.

Chankaramana marks the sacred spot of the Buddha's meditative exploration during the third week after his enlightenment. It is believed that wherever the Buddha put his feet a lotus sprang up. Arimeshlochana is believed to be the spot where the Buddha spent one week looking towards the great Mahabodhi Tree out of gratitude, without twinkling his eyes. The Buddha also spent one week in Ratnagar, where it is believed that five colours came out of his body.

Buddha Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Vaishaka, is the celebration of the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. On this occasion, prayers, sermons and continuous recitations of Buddhist scriptures take place in the monasteries. The statue of Buddha witnesses offerings of incense, flowers, candles and fruits. The Bodhi tree, beneath which Buddha received enlightenment, is also adorned with garland and coloured flags.

Kalchakra Puja, a festival of Tibetan rituals is one of the largest gatherings of Buddhist monks and devotees that brings forth thousands of participants to Bodhgaya from around the world.

Nyingma Monlam Chenmo is celebrated in keeping with Buddhist principles of simplicity and austerity. There is meditation and recital of the scriptures and alms are distributed to the poor.

The best time to visit Bodhgaya, the famous Buddhist pilgrimage centre in India is during winter (October-February).

		The nearest airport to Bodhgyaa is Patna, 198 kms away.
		Gaya, 13 kms away, is a major railhead, with trains to almost all the major cities of India.
		Nearest transport hub is Gaya (13 km), a major point on historical Grand Trunk Road (connecting to New Delhi and Kolkata).