Buddha Purnima 2023: Bodhigaya And Bodhi Vriksha, The Icons Of Buddhism

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Buddha, the enlightened one, was worshipped in chiefly four different centres that are the hallmarks of buddhist spirituality.

They are the prominent pilgrimage centres that represent each milestone in Buddhas life namely Lumbini (birthplace of the Buddha), Bodh Gaya (the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment), Sarnath (the location of the Buddha's first sermon), and Kushinagar (the place where the Buddha attained parinirvana).

Mahabodhi temple relates to the period of enlightenment in Buddhas life. in Buddhas life. Firstly, this temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C.

Mahabodhi Temple is ancient and located in near Muchalinda Pond. This temple, otherwise referred to as the great awakening temple is situated on the banks of the Niranjana River.

his temple was renovated in the Gupta period, and then by the British in 1880 and then by the Indian government after independence. It been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

This temple built in the 5 hectares area is composed of bricks. With a tall stately tower with niches, and arch motifs, It leads you on to the 2 m high gold painted statue of Buddha in bhumisparsha mudra.

Bodhi tree, the evergreen attraction of the Mahabodhi temple is a fig tree that is located towards the west of the temple and is the direct offshoot of the tree under which Buddha sat and attained enlightenment.

veryone who visits here prostrates to the tree. It is also used for the purification ritual wherein monks do more than a lakh prostration to purify themselves. Banyan tree always cleanses the sins of those who prostrate to it. This is the belief of Hinduism.

uddhism partly follows this by its observances pertaining to the bodhi tree. Banyan tree is known to possess the holy trinity in it and similarly the Bodhi tree has the essence of Buddha and his austerities inside it.

Adjacent to the Bodhi tree, there is a sand stone platform known as Vajrasana which is the exact spot where Buddha meditated. This was marked with the Vajrasana by Ashoka the Great.

Inside the temple there are six places which were the most favourite meditation areas for Buddha. You can find stupas and Buddha statues in the premises of the temple.

The sacred Bodhi tree stands to the west of the above temple. It is known as the pipal tree (Ficus religiosa) in India. It is believed that this tree is the direct descendant of the original tree under which Lord Buddha meditated.

The term Banyan is also used to refer to any Fig and Banyan with its multiple large trunks are referred to as strangler fig or Banyan trees.

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