Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, India

The Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya, India, is the most sacred place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. It was here, on the forested banks of the Phalgu river, that Prince Siddhartha sat under a Bodhi tree and attained nirvana in 623 BCE, at the young age of 35, on the full moon day of the month of Vaisakha. Emperor Ashoka built a chaitya (temple) here in the 3rd century BCE, although the major part of the present structure probably dates from the 2nd - 3rd centuries CE.


Following the Islamic invasions of the 12th century the temple was badly damaged and lay in ruins for a long time until the 19th century, when restoration work was taken up by Burmese rulers in 1874. The restorations were subsequently completed by the Archaeological Survey of India under Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1884. The temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002.

I had visited Bodhgaya on a solo trip a few years back. It was a pilgrimage of sorts for me, staying in a monastic environment, and spending my time in visiting the sacred historical sites. There is a peaceful, spiritual vibration in the temple complex, particularly near the Bodhi tree where group meditations and chantings take place throughout the day, and late into the night. It was a nice time for me to read and learn about Buddha's life, his essential teachings, and meditate near the Bodhi Tree and in other parts of the large temple complex. This is definitely one of the most important places to visit for any spiritual seeker.

The first glimpse of the Mahabodhi temple from the entrance. Its pyramidal spire, which rises to 54 m, is reminiscent of the vimanas of the South Indian Temples.

The renovated temple gate.

A symbolic representation of the footprints of the Buddha. Before the 1st century CE, the Buddha was represented aniconically in the form of a pair of footprints, a tree, or a stupa.

A small votive stupa near the temple entrance

A sculpture of Buddha in the abhaya-mudra (fear dispelling gesture) near the entrance.

A gilded stone statue of the Buddha inside the shrine room (garbagriha). The sculpture is 2 meters high and was probably made during the Pala period (c. 1100 CE). Here Buddha is shown sitting in the Bhumisparsha mudra (touching the ground with his right hand) which symbolizes enlightenment.

The boundary railings are replicas (made of cement) of the original stone railings which date back to the time of Ashoka (3rd century BCE) and are kept in the Bodhgaya Archaeological Museum.

A monk walks along on his daily duties. The red carpet is laid out since the marble gets unbearably hot in the afternoon (you have to be barefoot inside the temple complex)

The temple wall has many niches containing iconic representations of the Buddha and various Bodhisattvas.

The Kalamukha (Face of Time) is depicted on the right side, which is an important element of Hindu-Buddhist sacred art.

The Bodhi tree. Prince Siddhartha sat under this tree and attained Buddhahood in 623 BCE. The current tree was planted in the 19th century, from a sapling brought from the Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, in turn, was planted from a sapling of the original Bodhi tree. It was taken to Sri Lanka by Emperor Ashoka's daughter Sanghamitra.

This is the Vajrasana or the Diamond Throne of enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. It is rectangular stone block built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. It symbolically denotes the place where Buddha sat for attaining nirvana. This is the primary place of worship for Buddhists, and it is regarded as the center or navel of the world. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha spent seven more weeks in meditation at seven different places near the Bodhi Tree. He spent the first week meditating under the Bodhi tree.

The Animesha Lochana Chaitya (i.e. the motionless eyes shrine). Lord Buddha spent the second week after his enlightenment standing here in meditation, looking at the Bodhi Tree with motionless eyes (animesha lochana)

Lord Buddha spent the third week after his enlightement walking up and down in meditation. This is symbolized by the Chankamana i.e. the raised platform with lotuses on them. The lotuses represent the places where Buddha's feet rested. It was built in the 1st century

This is the Ratanaghara (The Place of Basic Contemplation), a small roofless shrine. Lord Buddha spent the fourth week after his enlightenment here, meditating on the Patthana or the Causal Law.

This Pillar symbolizes the "Ajapala Nigrodha Tree" (a Banyan Tree). Lord Buddha spent the fifth week after his enlightenment meditating under this tree. Here he replied to a Brahmana that only by one's deeds one becomes a Brahmana and not by birth.

This is the Mucalinda Lake. The lake was built during the Ashokan period. Lord Buddha spent the sixth week after his enlightenment in meditation here. While he was meditating a severe thunderstorm broke out, and the Mucalinda serpent wrapped himself around him and protected him from the storm.

This is the Rajayatana Tree (a kind of Forest Tree). Lord Buddha spent the seventh week after his enlightenment meditating under this tree. After the seventh week, two merchants from Burma, Tapussa and Bhallika, offered him rice cake and honey and took refuge in the Buddha and his Dhamma. They carried his teachings, along with a few hairs from his head, back to Burma. These hairs are preserved in the Shwedagon Pagoda of Burma.

Numerous votive stupas dot the temple. These stupas were built during the 19th and 20th centuries by various donors.

An Ashokan Pillar. This pillar was brought here from Gaya (15 kms from Bodhgaya). Originally, an Ashokan Pillar stood here as per the accounts of the Chinese pilgrim Huen Tsang who visited Bodhgaya in 637 CE.

The temple looks ethereal when the lights come on at night.

The Animesha Lochana Chaitya where Buddha had spent the second week after his enlightenment.

Meditation and chanting near the Bodhi Tree continues till late in the evening, with participants from many different countries. This is truly a melting pot of nations and cultures, unified by a deep love and veneration for the prince who gave up his material kingdom and won dominion over the realms of the spirit. And in doing so, he automatically became the Lord of the Earth as well.