Buddha Gaya, where the Buddha at- tained supreme wisdom (bodhi), lies six miles to the south of Gaya in Bihar state. To the devout Buddhist there is no place of greater interest or sanctity than the holy spot of the Buddha’s enlightenment. Sacred shrines and stately monuments were raised all around and the account of the Chinese pilgrim, Yuan Chwang, gives us a glimpse of the past splendour of this sanctified site.
Ashoka’s edicts
Yuan Chwang describes the erection of the original Bodhi shrine to Emperor Ashoka. According to one of his rock edicts, Ashoka visited this place, which is called ‘Sambodhi’ in the inscription, when he had been consecrated for ten years, and it is more than probable that the great emperor constructed a shrine on this holy spot. No vestiges of such a shrine can, however, be found at present. Scholars are of the opinion that the Bodhi shrine carved in a Bharhut relief (circa 2nd century B.C.) may represent the one erected by Ashoka. It seems to have consisted of a balustraded gallery enclosing the Bodhi tree, preceded by a column of the type on which Ashoka’s edicts are carved.. The original balustrades seem to have been of wooden construction, which were later trans- lated into stone. The stately structure which we see nowadays is a later This temple has been restored and renovated many times. From the description of Yuan Chwang it appears that the temple, essentially in its present shape and appearance, already existed in the 7th century A.D. The Maha Bodhi temple in Burma is a prototype of this grand temple.
As it now stands, the Maha Bodhi temple at Bodh Gaya is approximately 160 feet high and consists of a straight pyramidal tower surrounded by a stupa, complete with the harmika and the hti with a fluted amalaka-like lower member. The tower has angled amalakas at the corners demarcating its different stages. The entrance porch, evidently later than the original temple, is on the east. Each of the four sides of the tower presents several tiers of niches, while the front face has a tall lancet opening for the admission of light into the sanctum. At the base of the tower there rises a turret at each of the four corners, a miniature replica of the main spire.
Bodhi Tree
The temple enshrines a great gilded figured of the Blessed on touching the earth, which symbolizes the supreme event of enlightenment. Along the northern side of the temple there is a narrow masonry platform raised about four feet above the ground. This is known as the “jewel shrine of the walk” or the Buddha’s Promenade (cankama), where after attaining enlightenment, the Great Teacher is said to have spent a walking to and from in deep meditation. At the points where he set his feet there are sculptured ornaments representing the miraculous blossoms which are said to have sprung up in his footsteps. Passing along this promenade and to the west of the temple stands the Bodhi tree and the holy spot of enlightenment, now marked by a red sand- stone slab, representing the Vajrasana on which the Master is said to have reached Perfect Wisdom. The original Maha Bodhi shrine, as represented in the early reliefs, is portrayed as enclosing this holy spot, including the Bodhi tree. The idea of erecting a temple with a lofty conical tower necessitated its erection a little to the east of this holy spot, so that the holy spot and the Bodhi tree now stand at the back of the temple.
Around the temple lie innumerable re- mains, of which the most important are portions of the stone railing, which represent two different periods of construction, the earlier going back to about the 2nd century B.C. and the latter to the early Gupta period. Interesting carvings are still to be seen on these rail and of these the figure of Indra as Santi, and Surya, The Sun god, drawn by a four-horsed chariot, are noteworthy. Beautiful sculptures and richly decorated votive stupas, scattered all round, still continue to attract the admiring gaze of pilgrims and visitors. The residence of the Mahanta, who was for a long time in charge of the temple precincts, is close to the great temple and like the sculpture shed nearby, is a store-house of fine sculptures and other relics which once embellished this holy spot. In the immediate vicinity are situated seven sacred sites, which, according to tradition, were identical with those where the Lord is said to have passed seven tranquil weeks in the enjoyment of his Buddhahood.
Reference: The Maha Bodhi Vol 114 No.04
