Bodhi Tree : It was here that the Sakya prince (then known as Gautama) first saw "light" under the Bodhi tree and became "Buddha", the enlightened one. It still holds a very important role to Buddhists of all traditions and acts as an inspiration and a symbol of peace.

Nearly 25 centuries ago, a light was kindled here when Prince Sidhartha attained supreme enlightenment renouncing a kingdom and the luxuries of royal existence. in 531 B.C.

Bodh Gaya is the greatest pilgrim centre for Buddhists of the world. Number of Monasteries constructed by Burmese, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Bhutanese in their native architectural styles provide great attraction to tourists.

For seven days after the Enlightenment, the Buddha continued to meditate under this tree without moving from his seat. During the second week he practiced walking meditation.

Did you know? : The Bodhi Tree is the direct descendant of the original tree under which Buddha had attained enlightenment. Emperor Ashoka daughter Sanghamitra took a sapling from the original tree to Sri Lanka when Ashoka took Buddhism to the island. The tree now flourishes in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka.

Pilgrims sought the Bodhi Tree's seeds and leaves as blessings for their monasteries and homes.

There is a belief that Ashoka's wife had it secretly cut down because she became jealous of the time Ashoka spent there. But it grew again and a protective wall was also built at the time.

Location : 100 Kms. south of Patna.

Attractions around : Another interesting place in Gaya is Tankitamancha, now a large tank called Sujikund, where the Buddha had his well-known encounter and dialogue with the malevolent spirit Suchiloma.

A wall made of huge blocks of stone surrounds Sujikund and you will notice a few stupas and Buddhist statues near the ghat at the northern end. It is a quiet, rather haunting place and worth a visit. Sujikund is near the Vishnupada Temple.

Information for tourists : It is a centre for Hindu pilgrims and Vishnu is said to have given Gaya the power to absolve sinners. Pilgrims offer pindas (funeral cakes) at the ghats along the river here, and perform a lengthy circuit of the holy places around Gaya, to free their ancestors from bondage to the earth.

The town is on a slightly raised ground in the valley between the Ramshila and Pretshila Hills. An essential transit point to Bodhgaya, Gaya is a flyblown and densely packed town.

Hindus traditionally come here to honour their parents a year after death by offering 'pind' - a gift of funeral cakes.

Gaya is an important railway junction. There are bus services from all important towns of Bihar.

Legend : Legend has it that a demon with the name of Gaya had given up his life to protest against the sorrows caused by death. Impressed by his resolve, Vishnu blessed Gaya with the power to absolve sinners. Like Varanasi, and many other riverside towns, Gaya is said to be a 'tirtha' - a crossing across the celestial divide.

Gaya is one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism and most people only pass through it on their way to Bodh Gaya. However the Buddha stayed in Gaya for some time and preached his third discourse here. A steep hill on the southern edge of the town, now called Brahmayoni, was known in ancient times as Gayasisa.

The construction and renovation : The temple's architecture is superb but its history is shrouded in obscurity. It was constructed with the main intention of making it a monument and not a receptacle for the relics of the Buddha. Several shrines were constructed with enshrined images for use as places of worship.
The Mahabodhi Temple constructed in the 7th century A. D. has had repairs and renovations from time to time. Kings and commoners, both from home and abroad, were always vying with each other to donate in cash and kind to the Mahabodhi Temple which always survived on donations from the time it was first built. The Mahabodhi temple must have required constant minor repairs and occasional major renovations.
The temple received its last and massive restoration and conservation work after it was excavated. The restoration work was started by Burma on the request of King Mindon Min (1853-1878) to the Government of India asking for permission to renovate this temple, which the Burmese received. The work started in right earnest for their faith and determination of the Burmese may have been great, but their understanding of the importance of preserving the temple’s original character was lost and inadvertently they caused enormous damage. When the authorities noticed this situation, the expertised hands of the Archaeological Survey of India were sought under the guidance of the Director General of the Archaeological Survey, Sir Alexander Cunningham. The work was completed and the entire structure got back to its old glory, which remains present to this day.
The meditation- park is a new addition in the temple complex inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. But it requires to be developed further.

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.

Timings : It is open from 10 am to 5 pm everyday except Friday.