Bodh Gaya Temple

Bodh Gaya Temple Latest News

Buddhist monks under the All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) have been protesting since February 2024, demanding the repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (BTA), 1949.

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What is the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (BTA), 1949?

• The Act established an eight-member management committee to oversee the temple.
• Equal representation was given to Hindus and Buddhists, but the District Magistrate (DM) was made the ex-officio chairperson.
• Since the DM historically came from the Hindu community, this created a perceived Hindu majority in temple administration.
• Buddhist organizations have long demanded full control over the temple, calling it Bodh Gaya Mahavihara.

Historical Background of the Dispute

• Ancient Period: Emperor Ashoka built the original temple at Bodh Gaya in the 3rd century BCE. It remained a Buddhist religious center until the Pala dynasty.
• Medieval Period (13th Century):
  • Bakhtiyar Khilji’s invasion led to the decline of Buddhism in India.
  • 1590: A Hindu monk established the Bodh Gaya Mutt, leading to Hindu control over the temple.
• Colonial Period: British-era records refer to Bodh Gaya as a Hindu-controlled site.
• Post-Independence (1949): The Bihar Assembly passed the BTA to formalize temple management, transferring control to the new committee instead of a single Hindu authority.

Government Interventions

• The BTA, 1949, was passed to resolve ongoing disputes between Hindu and Buddhist religious heads.
• 2013 Amendment: The Bihar government amended the rule, allowing the ex-officio chairman (DM) to be from any faith.
• Early 1990s: Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav drafted the Bodh Gaya Mahavihara Bill, aiming to transfer temple management to the Buddhist community.
  • The Bill prohibited Hindu idol immersions near the temple and Hindu marriages inside the premises.
  • However, it was never passed and remains in cold storage.

About the Mahabodhi Temple Complex

• The Bodh Gaya Temple is one of the four most sacred sites of Buddhism, marking the location where Buddha attained Enlightenment (Bodhi) along with:
  • Lumbini (Buddha’s birthplace)
  • Sarnath (Buddha’s first sermon)
  • Kushinagar (Buddha’s parinirvana
• Location: Bodh Gaya, Bihar, on the banks of the Niranjana River.
• The temple is one of the oldest surviving brick structures in India.
• Originally built by Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, the present structure dates to the 5th–6th centuries CE.
• UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002.

Architectural Features

• Grand Temple: A 50-meter-high pyramidal shikhara (tower) with intricate engravings and arch motifs.
• Four smaller towers, each topped with an umbrella-like dome, surround the central temple.
• Sacred Bodhi Tree: Believed to be a direct descendant of the original tree under which Buddha attained Enlightenment.
• Vajrasana (Diamond Throne): A stone slab marking the exact spot where Buddha meditated.
• Temple Shrine: Houses a yellow sandstone statue of Buddha, encased in glass.
• The 4.8-hectare complex includes ancient shrines and modern Buddhist structures built by devotees.

Bodh Gaya Temple FAQs

Q1. Why is the Bodh Gaya Temple important?
Ans. It is the site where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, making it one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Q2. What is the architectural style of the Mahabodhi Temple?
Ans. The temple is built in the Gupta architectural style with a pyramid-shaped spire and intricate carvings.

Q3. Is Bodh Gaya a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Ans. Yes, the Mahabodhi Temple Complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Q4. What are the key attractions in Bodh Gaya?
Ans. The Bodhi Tree, Mahabodhi Temple, Vajrasana (Diamond Throne), and Animesh Lochana Chaitya.

Source: TH