Mahabodhi Temple Complex

About Mahabodhi Temple Complex:

• It is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, marking the spot of the Buddha’s Enlightenment (Bodhi).
• It is located in Bodh Gaya, in central Bihar, on the banks of the Niranjana River.
• It is one of the few surviving examples of early brick structures in India.
• The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. 
• It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing from the late Gupta period, and it is considered to have had a significant influence in the development of brick architecture over the centuries.
• The sculpted stone balustrades are an outstanding early example of sculptural reliefs in stone.
• It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.
• Features:
  • The present Temple Complex comprises the 50-meter-high grand Temple, six sacred places within an enclosed area, and a seventh one, the Lotus Pond, just outside the enclosure to the south.
  • The most important of the sacred places is the giant Bodhi Tree. This tree is to the west of the main temple and is supposed to be a direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree, under which the Buddha had his enlightenment.
  • Ashoka’s stone slab purporting to mark the exact position where the Buddha sat is traditionally called the Buddha’s vajrasana (literally “diamond throne” or “thunder seat”). 
  • The grand temple’s pyramidal shikhara (tower) comprises several layers of niches, arch motifs, and fine engravings.
  • Four towers, each identical to its central counterpart but smaller in size and topped with an umbrella-like dome, adorn the corners of the two-story structure. 
  • A shrine inside the temple holds a yellow sandstone statue of the Buddha encased in glass.
  • The 4.8-hectare (11.9-acre) complex also includes ancient shrines and modern structures built by Buddhist devotees.

Q1: What is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

A World Heritage Site (WHS) is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the UNESCO under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. These sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance.

Source: Satellite images suggest architectural wealth beneath Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya: officials