Mahabodhi Temple Complex

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Context

• Bihar Heritage Development Society (BHDS) and Cardiff University are using satellite images and ground surveys to find ancient treasures buried under this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Details

• Under the project 'Archaeology on the footsteps of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang,' BHDS and Cardiff University are working together.
• They aim to investigate and document historical sites mentioned in Xuanzang's travels. Their goal is to reconstruct the ancient landscape and buildings related to Buddhism in the area.

Mahabodhi Temple

• The Mahabodhi Temple, also known as Mahābodhi Mahāvihāra, is situated in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is revered as the place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.
• Bodh Gaya is located 15 km from Gaya and approximately 96 km from Patna, making it a significant pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide.

Architectural Influence

• The Mahabodhi Temple is one of India's early surviving examples of brick structures, showcasing significant architectural evolution over centuries.
• It features sculpted stone balustrades, notable for their early stone relief sculptures, reflecting the artistic achievements of the late Gupta period.

Historical and Spiritual Significance

• The temple holds direct associations with the life of Lord Buddha (566-486 BC), revered as the site of his enlightenment in 531 BC under the Bodhi Tree.
• Emperor Asoka's pilgrimage around 260 BC led to the construction of the first temple at the Bodhi Tree site, marking its historical importance in Buddhism.
• Elements of the site trace back to the time of Emperor Ashoka (died c. 232 BCE).
• The current visible structures date back to the 6th century CE, with potential incorporations from earlier periods, possibly as early as the 2nd or 3rd century CE.
• Archaeological discoveries indicate continuous Buddhist veneration at the site since the Mauryan period, highlighting its enduring spiritual importance.

Layout and Sacred Places

• Situated at the heart of Bodh Gaya, the temple complex encompasses the main temple and six sacred sites within a walled enclosure.
• A seventh sacred place, the Lotus Pond, lies just outside the southern boundary of the enclosure.

Architectural Features

• The temple complex includes the Vajrasana, believed to date to the third century BCE, situated within the main temple.
• Original sculptural elements, including a stone railing wall, have been moved to a nearby museum, with replicas in their place due to preservation efforts.
• Despite its construction primarily using brick and stucco, the temple has survived remarkably well over the centuries, showcasing early influences on Buddhist architecture.

Structural Details

• Notable features of the temple complex include two large straight-sided shikhara towers, the tallest of which stands over 55 meters (180 feet) high.
• This architectural style has influenced both Hindu and Jain temples, as well as Buddhist pagodas in other regions, highlighting its enduring impact on regional architectural traditions.

Key Sacred Sites

• The giant Bodhi Tree, west of the main temple, is believed to descend from the original Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.
• The Animeshlochan Chaitya, north of the central path, is where Buddha spent the Second Week in prayer.
• Buddha's Third Week was spent in the Ratnachakrama (Jewelled Ambulatory), north of the main temple.
• The Ratnaghar Chaitya, northeast of the enclosure wall, marks the site of Buddha's Fourth Week.
• The Ajapala Nigrodh Tree, near the east entrance, is where Buddha meditated during his Fifth Week.
• The Sixth Week was spent near the Lotus Pond to the south of the enclosure, and the Seventh Week under the Rajyatana Tree, marked by a tree.

This intricate layout and historical significance make the Mahabodhi Temple Complex not only a center of pilgrimage but also a vital cultural and architectural heritage site of global importance.