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Bodhgaya
Bodh gaya is locatedin the central part of the state of Bihar, in the northeastern
part of India. It is the part of the great Ganges plains. It is situated
on the west of the Falgu River, which is a tributary of River Ganga (Ganges).
It is 13 km south of Gaya and 113 km south of Patna city. Theclimate of
Bodh gaya is tropical. Summers are generally hot (April-June), while winters
are cool (October-February). It experiences southwestern monsoonrains from
July until September.
The life of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is associated with the
small town of Bodh gaya. It is one of the four holiest cities of Buddhist
faith. The Mahabodhi temple is the main attraction of this town and is located
near the spot whereLord Buddha attained spiritual enlightenment. Bodh gaya
is not only an important Buddhist pilgrim center, but it is also an important
center for the study of Buddhism.
History
The history of this small town isassociated with Buddhism since ancient
times. The region around Bodh gaya formed the part of the first small kingdoms
of India in the 7th century BC. It came into limelight in 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 gainingEnlightenment, 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 here in the 3rd century BC. Subsequentrulers left their mark
on this shrine, which finally took the shape of the Mahabodhi temple that
still stands.
Tourist Attractions
The main touristattraction in Bodhgaya is the Mahabodhi temple. The original
Bodhi tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment had died, but the present
tree is a descendant of the original tree, which was obtained from Anuradhapura
in Sri Lanka, where it was taken by Sanghamitra, King Ashoka's daughterin
3rd century BC. The red sandstone slab under this tree is said to be the
throne on which Buddha sat.
The Mahabodhi temple stands on the 3rd-century-BC shrine, erected by Ashoka.
It is intricately carved and houses a large gilded image of Buddha. The
present temple has beenrestored to its past glory.
A number of countries like Japan, Burma, China, Sri Lanka, Korea, Nepal,
etc., where Buddhism is an important faith, have built their respective
monasteries and temples in Bodh gaya. Theses monasteries and temples offer
to the tourist differentarchitectural styles of these countries. The Archeological
Museum of Bodh gaya is another important place to visit in this small town.
Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims fromall over the world throng to Bodh gaya
every year. Bodh gaya is not only an important Buddhist pilgrim center and
an archeological site, butit also for famous for the various meditation
courses offered by a number of institutes, in and around the town. Most
of the courses are conducted in winters (October-February).
Fairs & Festivals
The meditation institutes of Bodh gaya organizea number of conventions,
special meetings and discourses. These are usually held in the months of
January and February. Travelers seeking peace of mind and spiritual upliftment
must visit these programs. Important Buddhist religious festivals are celebrated
with great fervorin Bodh gaya.
Bodhgaya, Religious Places in India
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