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Home » Buddhism Detinations in India » Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya : One of the four holy sites of Buddhism
Bodhgaya, the site of Buddha’s enlightenment is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in India. Buddhist believers and devotees from all over the world visit this holy site located in the Gaya district of Bihar. At the time of Buddha this place was known as Uruvela and after Buddha’s enlightenment this place was christened as Sambodhi, Bodhimanda, Vajrasana and Mahabodhi.
Each name of Bodhgaya denotes some meaning, Sambodhi symbolizes complete enlightenment, and Bodhimanda refers to the holy Buddhi tree where Buddha attained complete enlightenment. Vajrasana refers to the "Diamond Throne" where Lord Buddha sat under the tree and Mahabodhi refers "great enlightenment". However, the place is now known as Bodhgaya and the tree where Buddha attained enlightenment as Bodhi tree.
Bodhgaya is about 90 kms from Patna city, the capital of Bihar.
It is said that Emperor Ashoka visited Bodhgaya after 250 year’s of Buddha’s enlightenment and then he laid the foundation of the Mahabodhi temple. This temple is indeed the major attractions ay Bodhgaya. Buddhism was declined in India for a period and at that time this temple was abandoned. Later the British archeologist Alexander Cunningham along with J.D. Beglar and Dr Rajendralal Miitra reestablished this temple. It is one of the earliest surviving temples in India and it is preserved now.
Bodhgaya houses many other Buddhist attractions. The Bodhi tree is the main attraction to the Buddhist pilgrims. The Buddhist countries from all over the world constructed their temples at Bodhgaya. The temples are Thai temple, Tibetan temple, the Burmese temple, Japanese temple Chinese temple, Bhutanese temple, Vietnamese temple, Korean temple, Taiwanese temple, Sri Lankan temple, and Nepalese temple, etc. Bodhgaya houses also Vajrasana, Chankaramana, Arimeshlochana, Ratnagar, Archaeological Museum, the Mohanta's Monastery, Tibetan Mahayana Monastery, etc.
The diamond Thorne is well preserved at Bodhgaya. Buddhist pilgrims and those who have believe in Buddhism visit Bodhgaya in large number.