Bodh Gaya is associated with the enlightenment of Lord Buddha
(566-486 B.C.). The sacred Bodhi tree under which he is believed to
have attained enlightenment. The place is highly venerated by the
Buddhists. Emperor Asoka visited Bodh Gaya around 260 B.C. and
constructed a small temple near the Bodhi tree. An inscription datable
to 1st – 2nd century A.D. mentions that the temple of Asoka was
replaced by a new one.
Fahien first makes reference to the main temple and the Bodhi tree in 404-05 A.D. Hieun Tsang, who visited the site in 637 A.D. mentions the presence of walls surrounding the Bodhi tree, within which stood the Mahabodhi temple nearly 160 feet tall and a large fine sanctuary. Several additions and alterations took place and the present temple may be datable to the 6th century A.D. The temple fell into disuse in the 13th century A.D. after the conquest of this region by the Delhi Sultanate. During the 19th century, the Burmese kings made certain repairs which were continued by the British in 1880-84.
Fahien first makes reference to the main temple and the Bodhi tree in 404-05 A.D. Hieun Tsang, who visited the site in 637 A.D. mentions the presence of walls surrounding the Bodhi tree, within which stood the Mahabodhi temple nearly 160 feet tall and a large fine sanctuary. Several additions and alterations took place and the present temple may be datable to the 6th century A.D. The temple fell into disuse in the 13th century A.D. after the conquest of this region by the Delhi Sultanate. During the 19th century, the Burmese kings made certain repairs which were continued by the British in 1880-84.
The temple covers an area of nearly 4.8 hectares and 55 m in
height. The sanctum carries a lofty pancharatha sikhara of a
straight-edged pyramidal design, demarcated into seven storeys by
bhumi-amalakas (amalakas occurring at the corners of the sikhara to
denote storeys).
The Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist
temple in Bodh Gaya, the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha,
is said to have attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located about 96 km
from Patna, Bihar state, India.
Opened: BC 260
Height: 55 m
Address: Gaya, Bihar
Architectural style: Indian architecture
Phone: 0631 2200735
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