Welcome to Maha Bodhi Society

The Maha Bodhi Society of India is a charitable, non-profit Buddhist Association dedicated to fulfill the Mission of our Founder – Bodhisa va Anagarika Dharmapala, and for the propagation of The Buddha’s Message of wisdom, peace, compassion and non-violence towards all beings without discrimination of caste, creed, religion or nationality.

It is the premier international Buddhist organization founded by Bodhisattva Anagarika Dharmapala on 31st May 1891 at Colombo, Sri Lanka. At the onset, their main objective was to use it as a frontline vehicle for the worldwide followers of The Buddha, to have the right to worship the most holy Buddhagaya Temple, in Gaya district of the Bihar state, India – where Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained supreme Enlightenment, thus becoming The Tathagata Buddha. In addition their objective was also to restore all places related to the life of The Buddha – The Most Compassionate One, to enable spread His unbounded Compassion upon sentient beings all over the World.

From its inception, the Maha Bodhi Society acted as a representative of the Buddhist Community and provided a platform for the Buddhist World to voice their opinions.

The Maha Bodhi Society worked for over 125 years to unite the Buddhists all over in not only propagating Buddhism but also in restoring their due rights. The Society identifies especially with the Theravada school of Buddhism. Members of the Sangha who are interested to join to the Dhammaduta service done by the society should apply to the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, Maha Bodhi Mandiraya, 130 Malaigakanda Road, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka. The Anagarika Dharmapala Trust will screen all applications and select those who meet the standards required by the Maha Bodhi Society of India and will recommend the selected to the Society.

Led by The Buddha’s Teachings and the vision set by its Founder Bodhisattva Anagarika Dharmapala, the Maha Bodhi Society of India is widely engaged in charitable and social welfare activities alongside spiritual services.

Maha Bodhi Society of India consists of Dharmaduta Members, Office-bearers, Governing Body, Executive Commiee, Life Members etc.

‘The Maha Bodhi’, the oldest Buddhist journal in English is being published by the Society since May 1892. It is through this journal, and other publications like Sambodhi, Dhammadhoot etc. the Society communicates and addresses with the world.

The Society has its centres in India with its Headquarters in Kolkata. It has centres in Buddhagaya, Sarnath, Lumbini, New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Nowgarh and Lucknow. These centres not only propagate the Teaching of The Sakyamuni Buddha, but also are in social welfare activities and being of service to pilgrims of India and other countries by providing accommodation and necessary services.

The headquarters and the other centres of the society organise the Buddha Jayanti celebration on the auspicious day of Buddha Purnima (Vesak full moon day) and observe the Founder’s birth anniversary on 17th September each year