Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous as it is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained Enlightenment under what became known as the Bodhi Tree. The site is considered to be the holiest site in Buddhism and has remained the object of pilgrimage and veneration both for Hindus and Buddhists.

About Bodh Gaya in brief

Summary Bodh GayaBodh Gaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous as it is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained Enlightenment under what became known as the Bodhi Tree. The site is considered to be the holiest site in Buddhism and has remained the object of pilgrimage and veneration both for Hindus and Buddhists. In 2002, Mahabodshi Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area was at the heart of a Buddhist civilization for centuries, until it was conquered by Turkic armies in the 13th century. In 250 BCE, about 200 years after the Buddha attained Enlightenment, a contemporary Emperor of Sri Lanka, Shunga Kittirimana, visited BodhGaya in order to establish a monastery and shrine on the holy site.

Representations of this early temple are found at Sanchi, on the tora tora of Stora Stora, in the tunga period of St. Kittiris. The first temple at the site was built by King Ashoka. Historically, it was known as Uruvela, Sambodhi, Vajrasana or MahabODhi. The main monastery of Bodh Giya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra. Now it is called theMahabodHI Temple. The complex, located about 110 kilometres from Patna, at 24°41′43″N 84°59′38″E 24. 69528°N 84. 99389°E.