History of Bodh Gaya

History of Bodh Gaya

  The history of Bodh Gaya is about 2500 years old.  In the sixth century BCE, Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained supreme enlightenment at this holy place and became the Buddha.  To commemorate this event, Emperor Ashoka installed the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne) of polished sandstone representing the place of enlightenment in the 3rd century BC.  Subsequently, he built a stupa in worship of Buddha which remained there till the 2nd century AD.  The original structure of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara temple was completed in the seventh century AD during the reign of the Gupta kings.  In later times the temple underwent many restorations, renovations and repairs in which the Burmese people contributed greatly.  In 1883, British archaeologist Sir A.  

Cunningham and J.D.M.  A very thorough and scientific renovation of the temple was carried out under the supervision of.  Beglar and Indian archaeologist Dr. Rajendra Lal Mitra.  In 1956, on the occasion of the 2500th Buddha Jayanti celebrations, Govt.  India carried out some restoration work and expanded the complex of Mahabodhi Monastery.  It is the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world.

  The gold-painted statue of Buddha in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is made of black stone which was built by the Pala kings of Bengal.  Buddha is seen sitting in Bhumisparsha Mudra or Earth Touching Mudra.

  Mahabodhi Monastery has now been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 27 June 2002.

  In the temple complex, one can also visit seven other places where the Buddha spent time in meditation after attaining enlightenment.  All these places are located inside the temple complex.