Bodh Gaya - Bihar : Thai/Tibetan Temple,Animesh Lochan

BODH GAYA----24:10::85:0”

Continent-Asia.

Country-India.

State-Bihar

Distance from the country capital - 995 km

Distance from the state capital Patna-110kms

Pincode 824231

STD code-0631(Gaya)

HASL 500”

Nearest riverside---Falgu

Approach over location The site under description is about about 12 to 15 kms from Gaya. Gaya is

well connected with rodways and railways from rest of the country.

Air route---General air route is up to Patna via Delhi and Kolkata. After

that one has to travel by road or railways The site being international tourist place facilities of landing and take up of chartered planes have been made at aerodrome at Gaya

Language—Hindi and Magahi is commonly spoken languae in the area

Lodging- A number of hotels of tourism department like Budh bihar Sujata Anand bihar are there with Europian and Asian facility. Besides, Dharamshalas and lodges are there to suit different categories of tourists.

Food---Bihari roti,sabjee,rice,pulse,chokha, chatni with other veg and non-veg preparation of required standard are available Different types of snaks like singhara, kachauri along with south Indian like Dosa,Idli, Bara etc with junk food like choumin, magi,and chau- chau etc are also available .

Local transport—Auto rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and horse carts are main conveyance.

About the site ----The site is a place where Lord Budha got enlightment of “Sa

myak Samadhi” after meditating for under a long pepper tree on the bank of river Falgu. After that he became Budha and Tathagat from Sidhart.With slapse of time maurya king Ashoka got constructed a sand stone platform called Bazrasan of 7x4’to memorise the samadhi asthal or the place of meditation.

A temple was also built by the Empmperor Ashoka in about 289BC.The temple is an

example of extraordinary hindu architect. It is called”Mahabodhi Temple” The platform of the temple is quadrangular and in 48 Sqr .ft.The temple rises as whole body in cow tail form or Pagodal mode.The neck of the temple can be imagined in circular mode.Four temple minarets are on four corners of first ceiling to beautify the symmetrical proportion of the te

mple.There are alcove and niches in all rounnd outer walls to keep the idols. A temple on Besar style (a combination of Arya and Dravid style) of such beauty and micro structure is not seen all over India. Big statue of Lord Budha “s, golden electro plated in earth touching mode is main attraction of devotees. As per the record devotees of Budha from Burma (now Myamar) renovated the temple in the year 1105.

There are numerous other small temple and math(monastry), chaitya,and praying platforms (manauti stups ) in the campus vicinity. The temple was lawfully renovated in 1883 by British archeologist Cunnigham and Beslar and Indian archeologist R L Mishra.

It is said that lord Budha spent seven weeks after getting enlightment in different

meditational poses at different spots. These spots are as worshipable for budhist devotees as other. These are-

1. Animesh Lochan—Lord Budha after getting enlightened spent about one week gazing straight over the Long Peppel tree. So this spot

is known as Animesh Lochan.

Devotees tourists and worshipers use to look to the temple and the tree and get paradise of pleasure for few moment.

2.CHAKRAMAN—It is said that while travelling lord Budha spent in meditation for about a week at this place Later on King Ashoka got 19 lotus flower ebedded platform built to memories and beautify it. This is in north side of the temple.This is also called KALAKMAN.

3. RATAN GARH—Lord Budha did spent 4^th week meditation at this placerays came outb from his body spreading over in all direction. This meditation is reffered in budhist literatures as “Pratitya Samutpad”. This is also in north of the temple.

4 . STONE PILLAR---This is just in front of Mahabodhi temple. This is also called Ajpal or Banian tree of shephered. Lord spent 5^th week of meditation at this place.

5. MUCHLIND POND- This is situated south of the temple. It is said that Lord Budha spent his 6^th week here on this pond. A statue of Budha with a coverage umbrella of expanded hood of snake is there on a cemented platform in the center of the tank.Playing of fishes in the transparent water of the tank gives solace and pleasure to the visitors. Visitors are allowed to give cereals to the fishes. Monkeys on the side by trees and bushes also eager to take the food have added attraction.

6. A TREE---There is a big tree of Neem. Satu and Madhu pandak two refugees gave meal to Lord Budha under this tree. Two Burmese traders also became diciple of Lord Budha under this tree .

7. ASHOKA PILLAR --It is also situated in south of Mahabodhi Temple. The height of the pillar made of sand stone is 15’. It is one of the platforms for Gaya sradh for the hindu devotees .Pind dan is done on Muchlind pond after doing pind dan on this platform. It is also said that during Ashoka time the height of the pillar was >100’.

8. MANAUTI LAMP CENTRE---People and visitors of all religions burn candle or earthen lamps for fulfilment of their desires .It beautifys the look after the sun set.

9. LARGE BELL—After getting down for about 20 steps there is a large bell in the left side. As so on as the central hanging pendulum is hit over the wall of the bell, the whole campus vibrates with the worshiping sound.

10. TORAN(ENTRANCE GATE)—It is situated on the eastern side of Mahabo

dhi Temple. It is made of sand stone and picture of lion dear and other animals encarved on it add beauty to it. It is said that it was built in 4^th or 5^th AD. It was emperor Ashoka, who got this Budhist place recognized as historical monument, Baricading of the campus with beautifully sculptured stone was also done during his time.

11. A BIG BUDHIST IC TOPE(STUP)- Near Loong Pepper Tree---It was also made by king Ashoka, which is main attarction of tourist and devotees these days.

12. BUDHA”S OPEN MOUTH STATUE--It ia statue com museum made by Dohjkayo a Japani Budhist institute. The height of the temple is 80’ and it is 40’wide. There ar

e racks in its stomach within a big hall like room Small idols of different style mode and poses numbering about 16300 have been decoratively displayed here. It was built in 1989.

13. ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM—It was established by central works department. Articles found during excavation round about Bodh gaya have been displayed here for benefits of the visitors.

14. BOOK STALL CUM LIBRARY—In the entry corridor there is a book stall cum library by RK Institute It contains valuable litratures of Budha and Ramkrishna

15 .KAL CHAKRA –Tibtan and Chinese budha temple have long and big kalchakra with deities depicted on it. It is a big and long cylindrical drum fixed on a strong vertical shaft through the bearings at two wholes at its two ends of the size of the shaft. It is said that getting it

moved clockwise cures of negative energy from the devotees. Such kal chakras are available in the local market in toy form also.

16. RED HINDU SHIV AND RAM TEMPLE –It is in front of and close to the gate of Mahabodhi temple showing existence and combination of different thoughts.

17. TIBETAN TEMPLE—It resembles monasteries of Tibet in archaeological make. Big Statue of Lord Budha in Tibetan style can be seen here. Besides, very big kal charka worship bell can also be seen Monks of this monastery wear a special d

resswith horny projection . They are called Lamas.

18. CHINESE TEMPLE- -This also resembles Tibetan temple in size and

gorgeousness .But its structural shape is pagodal .Other structures also slightly differ in profile from the Tibetan

19. THAI TEMPLE—It is not that big as those of Tibetan and Chinese, its roofing and thatching style is unique. It has combination of Pyramidal and pagodal thatching. In a neat and clean environment devotees can take up meditation and can worship their god.

Other sites--=Vishnupad temple and other religious and natural sites at Gaya can be seen .South of temple is Muklind Jheel and dry pond and Lotus pond. Burmese and Bhutanese temples.

FESTIVALS—Baishakh purnima is the date on which lord Budha was born and died and also attained the enlightenment. So this day and date is celebrated as Budh Jayanti which is main festival of Bodh Gaya

GUIDE—Forty five guides were recognized and given identity cards by tourism department for facilitating tourist in the year 1998.

PRECAUTION--The area is naxal affected and roudies affected

REMARKS---The site is in “A” category of international tourism and attached to packages of many tourist agencies.