MAHABODHI TEMPLE
AT
BUDH GAYA
Mahabodhi Temple is situated in Gaya district, 96km from Patna of Bihar State of India, marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.
The Mahabodhi Temple is one
of the earliest Buddhist temples built in brick that still survives today. The
ground level of the temple is 45 meters square, stretching up in a pyramid
shape that ends in a smaller square platform.
The central tower of Mahabodhi
stands 180 feet (54 meters) tall. The brickwork on the outside of the temple
depicts scenes from the life of the Buddha.
Inside the temple is a
colossal image of a seated Buddha touching the earth with his right hand (a
gesture known as the earth-witness mudra). In this posture the Buddha
accomplished the supreme enlightenment. The statue is of black stone but it has
been covered in gold and dressed in bright orange robes.
The
grand 50m high Mahabodhi Temple of the 5th-6th centuries is of immense
importance, being one of the earliest temple constructions existing in the
Indian sub-continent. It is one of the few representations of the architectural
genius of the Indian people in constructing fully developed brick temples in
that era
The Mahabodhi
Temple, one of the few surviving examples of early brick structures in India,
has had significant influence in the development of architecture over the
centuries.
The site of the Mahabodhi Temple provides exceptional records for the events associated with the life of Buddha and subsequent worship, particularly since Emperor Asoka built the first temple, the balustrades, and the memorial column.
The present Temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely in brick from the late Gupta period. The sculpted stone balustrades are an outstanding early example of sculptural reliefs in stone.
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya has direct association with the life of the Lord Buddha, being the place where He attained the supreme and perfect insight.
Immediately next to the
Mahabodhi Temple is the Bodhi Tree, a descendent of the very tree under which the
Buddha was enlightened, and the Jewel Walk, marking the place where the Buddha is said to
have practiced walking meditation for seven days after his enlightenment.
By Air
The nearest airport is at Gaya(12 km)
and is connected with major cities of India. Gaya is also connected with cities
like Colombo, Bangkok, Singapore and Paro. One can get down at Gaya airport too
and hire taxis or buses to reach Bodhgaya.
By Rail
The nearest Railway station from from
Bodhgaya is Gaya. All the major trains pass through the station. Patna is
another railhead from where you can board trains for other destinations in
India. Patna is linked with all the major cities of India including the metros
of New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. The Mahabodhi Express is a special
train that runs between Delhi and Gaya daily and non-stop and takes just 16
hours to reach Gaya from Delhi.
By Road
GT Road connects Bodhgaya from major
cities of north India. Bodhgaya is well connected with Ranchi, Jamshedpur,
Raurkela, Hazaribagh, Kolkata, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Delhi and Amritsar.
