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The inner courtyard
| | The inner courtyard | | Flights of steps lead to the inner courtyard through a beautifully carved granite torana (gateway). A large circular stone with the Buddha's footprints or Buddhapada is kept in a small shrine on the left. In the centre stands the Mahabodhi Temple, crowned by a pointed spire flanked by four corner turrets. The sanctum houses a gilded statue of the Buddha in the bhumisparsha mudra with one finger touching the earth, calling it to witness his awakening. The air is filled with the heady fragrance of incense and flowers.
A chamber at the top houses a figure of Mayadavi, the Buddha's mother. Muslim invaders destroyed the temple in the 12th century and the Burmese kings restored it in the 14th century. However, the temple complex was severely flooded and remained buried under silt till 1811. Alexander Cunningham, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, visited the site in 1861 and recommended excavations. In 1891 a Srilankan Buddhist, Anagarika Dharmapala, founded the Mahabodhi Society of India whose avowed goal was to wrest the Bodh Gaya temple from Hindu priests and reclaim it for the Buddhists. Finally, on 23rd May 1953, the temple was handed over to Dr S. Radhakrishnan, the then Vice President of India.
Seven spots within the precincts of the Mahabodhi Temple are especially sacred as it was at these spots that the Buddha spent a week each, meditating, after his Enlightenment. Visitors tread these grounds reverentially and carefully because of their association with the Great Master.
1) The Buddha spent the first week under the Bodhi tree. It is believed that the original tree sprang up the day the Buddha was born. Interestingly, the tree was destroyed and replanted at least five times. The present tree grew from a sapling brought from the tree in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. Poet-philosopher Ashwaghosha who wrote the Buddhacharita called it the navel of the earth. The vajrasana or diamond throne, a red sandstone slab, is kept at the spot where the Buddha sat in meditation under the Bodhi tree.
2) The Buddha spent the second week at the Animeshlochana Chaitya in meditation, gazing unwinkingly at the Maha Bodhi Tree.
3) The Ratnachankrama or jewel walk is where the Lord spent the third week walking between the Bodhi tree and the Animeshlochana Chaitya. Lotus flowers sprang up, where the Master's feet rested.
4) The Buddha spent the fourth week in the Ratnaghar Chaitya where he reflected on the higher modes of exposition, Abhidharma Nyaya. Blue, yellow, red, white and orange rays emanated from the Master's body as he meditated. The Buddhist flag therefore uses these colours.
5) He spent the fifth week in the east, near the entrance, under a Banyan tree. In response to a Brahman's query, he expounded that good karma and not birth makes a Brahman.
6) The Buddha spent the sixth week in meditation near this lake. A severe thunderstorm broke out and Mucalinda, the snake king came out and encircled the body of the Buddha, held his large hood over Him.
7) The 7th and the last week was spent in the southeast where under the Rajyatna tree the Buddha preached his doctrines.
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