Overview
Bodhgaya is the place where the quest of Prince Siddharth was fulfilled after years of seeking the truth. This is the place where 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. Apart from a Budhist pilgrimage destination, Gaya is also an important Centre of Hindu Pilgrimage where people go to pray for the salvation of their ancestors.
Access
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).
ACCOMODATION
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 Corporation has Hotel Bodhgaya Ashok (Tel: 0631-400790).
Access
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).
ACCOMODATION
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 Corporation has Hotel Bodhgaya Ashok (Tel: 0631-400790).
PLACES OF INTEREST
The 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 realisation, 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. 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 stonewall 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.
In 600 AD, the tree was again destroyed; this time by the zealous King Sesanka. Hiuen T'sang recorded the event, along with the planting of a new Bodhi Tree sapling (taken from the original) by King Purnavarma in 620 AD. At this time, during the annual celebration of Vaisakha, thousands of people from all over India would gather to anoint the roots of the holy tree with perfumed water and scented milk, and to offer flowers and music. Hiuen T'sang wrote, "The tree stands inside a fort-like structure surrounded on the south, west and north by a brick wall. It has pointed leaves of a bright green colour. Having opened a door, one could see a large trench in the shape of a basin. Devotees worship with curd, milk and perfumes such as sandalwood, camphor and so on."
Much later the English archeologist Cunningham records, "In 1862 I found this tree very much decayed; one large stem to the westward with three branches was still green, but the other branches were barkless and rotten. I next saw the tree in 1871 and again in 1875, when it had become completely decayed, and shortly afterwards in 1876 the only remaining portion of the tree fell over the west wall during a storm, and the old pipal tree was gone. Many seeds, however, had been collected and the young scion of the parent tree were already in existence to take its place."
The present Bodhi Tree is most probably the fifth descendant of the original tree to be planted at this site. It still performs a very important role to Buddhists of all traditions. Being viewed as the actual Buddha by some, it is a reminder and an inspiration, a symbol of peace, of Buddha's enlightenment and of the ultimate potential that lies within us all.
Mahabodhi Temple - 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 symbolise sovereignty of religion. Four towers on its four corners rise gracefully giving the holy sturcture 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. The entire courtyard of the temple is studded with a large number of varieties of stupas. These stupas are of all sizes built during the past 2500 years ago. Most of them are extremely elegant in structural beauty.
Other important places of interest
Vajrasana , Ancient railings, Chankaramana , Animeshlochana , Ratnagar and Lotus tank are some other places of interest to the inquisitive traveller.
Excursions Gaya - 13 km. from Bodhgaya, Gaya is a very sacred pilgrim centre for Hindus. Hindus offer oblation for salvation of their dead parents and 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 (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'.
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.
Other Places of Interest
Tibetan Monastery, Thai Monastery, Myanmar Monastery, Chinese Monastery, Bhutanese Monastery, Japanese Monastery and Sri Lankan Monastery etc.
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 realisation, 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. 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 stonewall 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.
In 600 AD, the tree was again destroyed; this time by the zealous King Sesanka. Hiuen T'sang recorded the event, along with the planting of a new Bodhi Tree sapling (taken from the original) by King Purnavarma in 620 AD. At this time, during the annual celebration of Vaisakha, thousands of people from all over India would gather to anoint the roots of the holy tree with perfumed water and scented milk, and to offer flowers and music. Hiuen T'sang wrote, "The tree stands inside a fort-like structure surrounded on the south, west and north by a brick wall. It has pointed leaves of a bright green colour. Having opened a door, one could see a large trench in the shape of a basin. Devotees worship with curd, milk and perfumes such as sandalwood, camphor and so on."
Much later the English archeologist Cunningham records, "In 1862 I found this tree very much decayed; one large stem to the westward with three branches was still green, but the other branches were barkless and rotten. I next saw the tree in 1871 and again in 1875, when it had become completely decayed, and shortly afterwards in 1876 the only remaining portion of the tree fell over the west wall during a storm, and the old pipal tree was gone. Many seeds, however, had been collected and the young scion of the parent tree were already in existence to take its place."
The present Bodhi Tree is most probably the fifth descendant of the original tree to be planted at this site. It still performs a very important role to Buddhists of all traditions. Being viewed as the actual Buddha by some, it is a reminder and an inspiration, a symbol of peace, of Buddha's enlightenment and of the ultimate potential that lies within us all.
Mahabodhi Temple - 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 symbolise sovereignty of religion. Four towers on its four corners rise gracefully giving the holy sturcture 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. The entire courtyard of the temple is studded with a large number of varieties of stupas. These stupas are of all sizes built during the past 2500 years ago. Most of them are extremely elegant in structural beauty.
Other important places of interest
Vajrasana , Ancient railings, Chankaramana , Animeshlochana , Ratnagar and Lotus tank are some other places of interest to the inquisitive traveller.
Excursions Gaya - 13 km. from Bodhgaya, Gaya is a very sacred pilgrim centre for Hindus. Hindus offer oblation for salvation of their dead parents and 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 (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'.
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.
Other Places of Interest
Tibetan Monastery, Thai Monastery, Myanmar Monastery, Chinese Monastery, Bhutanese Monastery, Japanese Monastery and Sri Lankan Monastery etc.
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