Maha Bodhi Society of India

The Maha Bodhi Society of India was founded in the year 1891 by a 26 year old Sri Lankan youth named Don David Hewavitarne who later became the champion for the cause of Buddhism in India and Sri Lanka, and became the Anagarika Dharmapala or the homeless one. His forming of the Maha Bodhi Society is almost legendary, young Dharmapala after he came to India was shocked to see the deplorable condition of the Maha Bodhi maha Vihara and the Bodhi tree at Buddhagaya. He at once went back to sri Lanka to form the Maha Bodhi Society of India in 1891 to free the Maha Bodhi Temple from the Mahant and restore the temple back to its original stature. He also wanted to revive Buddhism in India where it lay uncared for out of sheer (ignorance by the people then). It is mainly due to Dharmapala that Buddhism in its present state is still functioning as a major religion in the world.

The Maha Bodhi Society of India is the Premier Buddhist organisation. It was established for the purpose of resuscitating Buddhism in India and for restoring the ancient Buddhist shrines at Buddhagaya, Sarnath and Kusinara. Venerable Dharmapala opened the eyes of the people of India and the world towards the Buddha and the Ancient holy site of Buddhagaya where Siddhartha Gautam attained Enlightenment. Today the Maha Bodhi Society has several centres all over India and abroad which are spreading the message of the Enlightened one. The society stands today for Buddhism and its principles and active in each and every sphere where it can change the lives of the needy.

The Maha Bodhi Society of India is an Association registered with the Government of India in 1915 (under Act VII of 1913) and its Head Quarters is situated at 4A, Bankim Chatterjee Street, Calcutta-73.

The Name

The Maha Bodhi Society derives its name from the tree under which about two thousand five hundred and thirty-five years ago, at Buddha Gaya, the Great Being, Gautama Buddha, took his adamantine seat (Vajrasana) and visualised the Truth, The Reality. This Tree was an Asvattha (Ficus Religiosa), which was sanctified by Siddhartha Gautama’s

attaining Supreme Knowledge (Bodhi) beneath its shade. Thenceforth, it became known as the Bodhi-Tree in India and Bo-Tree in Sri Today the word Bodhi has become internationally known term or noun in connection with the Buddhist activities.

The Seal…

The Seal of the Maha Bodhi Society, of which an engraving is printed here, was copied from an alto-relievo tablet in the Indian Museum, Calcutta, and may be seen against the right-hand wall of the large square room, from which one enters the Archaeological Sculpture Gallery. It is included in the Gandhara collection made by Major General Sir Alexander Cunningham. It is computed to be more than 2,000 years old and General Cunningham and most other archaeologists believe that it was the seal adopted by the Sangharajas of the greatest Viharas of those days. The trident in the centre represents the three Gems – Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The wheel supporting it is the Dharmachakra or wheel of the law, the Couchant refer to the deer park, Isipathane near Benares, where the Buddha preached his first discourse, entitled the Dhamma Cakkappavattana Sutta, which embodies his doctrines. The two figures typify the celestial hosts in the act of adoration. The Japanese auxiliary of the Maha Bodhi Society (Indo Busseki Kofuku Kwai) has adopted this as their emblem.

The Aim…

Maha Bodhi Society, a true missionary organisation of the type which the founder of the religion had in his mind and carried out literally the direction given by the Buddha in the memorable words :-

“Go ye, O Bhikkhus, and wander forth for the benefit of the many, for the welfare of many, out of compassion for the worldly beings, for the benefit, good and happiness of men and gods. Do not two of you set forth in the same direction. Proclaim, O Bhikkhus, the doctrine, excellent in the beginning, excellent in the middle and excellent at the end – perfect and immaculate”. true in its meaning, true in its letter, preach ye a life of holiness

-Mahavagga Vinaya Pitaka

The objectives of the Society are set out in the Memorandum of Association and among them a few important ones are as follows:-

  • To revive and propagate Buddhism in India and work towards inter religious harmony through the message of Love and Compassion of the Buddha.
  • To popularise the study and dissemination of Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist Literature.
  • To publish Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist and other Indian Religious Texts.
  • To translate such texts and literature into English and Indian vernaculars.
  • To educate illiterate people in domestic sciences, such as hygiene, technical industries and home crafts.
  • To open schools in villages for boys and girls to teach them arts and crafts.
  • To open vocational schools and gymnasia for physical culture.
  • To revive ancient Buddhist and other Religious Arts and Crafts by importing teachers from Buddhist and other countries.
  • To start a Medical College and Hospital to cater to the sick and needy people.
  • To train young men of unblemished character to become Bhikkhu Missionaries to carry the Message of the Lord Buddha of Love and Compassion to the people of India and other countries.
  • To found orphanages and free Schools to educate needy children and found homes for needy elders.
  • To found the nucleus of a Buddhist University on the lines of the ancient University of Nalanda to which students of all religions and faiths could gain admission.
    • To found Pali Scholarships and Lectureships.
    • To send students for further studies to Buddhist and other countries. To provide facilities for foreign Buddhist and other needy students in Calcutta.
    • To found International Libraries and Museums with special stress on Buddhist and other Religious Books, Literary and Cultural works.
    • To set up centres and branches of the Society and to build Buddhist Viharas, Pilgrim Centres and Pilgrim Guest Houses in India and abroad.
    • To establish a fully equipped Press to print texts, books and pamphlets on Buddhism. and other literary and cultural works on Indology and on physical and moral sciences.
    • To start journals in English and in the Vernaculars for disseminating Buddhism, Buddhist Art and Culture and Buddhist Literature as well as other Indian Religions, Art, Cultural and Literary works.
    • To revive the ancient ideal of Brahmacharya life of self-abnegation and disinterested service for the welfare of the many, and to revive the forgotten science of Buddha Yoga.
    • To incorporate any Society or Association having similar objectives as this Association. To receive any property for any one or more of the objectives of the Association.
    • To maintain liaison and contact with all other National and International Buddhist Organisa- tions.
    • To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives or any of them.