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Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya

Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya

The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment. The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th or 6th centuries. It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing in India, from the late Gupta period.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Ensemble du temple de la Mahabodhi à Bodhgaya

L'ensemble du temple de la Mahabodhi constitue l'un des quatre lieux saints associés à la vie du Bouddha et notamment à son Éveil. Le premier temple a été érigé par l'empereur Asoka au IIIe siècle av. J.C., alors que le temple actuel date du Ve ou VIe siècle. C'est l'un des plus anciens temples bouddhistes en Inde qui soit toujours debout, et l'un des rares temples de la fin de la période Gupta construits entièrement en briques.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

مجمع معابد مهابودهي في بودهغايا

يشكّل مجمّع معابد مهابودهي أحد المواقع المقدسة الأربعة المتّصلة بحياة بوذا، ولاسيما بنهضته. شيّد الإمبراطور أسوكا المعبدَ الأول في القرن الثالث قبل المسيح فيما يعود المعبد الحالي إلى القرن الخامس أو السادس. وهو أحد أقدم المعابد البوذية في الهند الذي لا يزال قائماً وهو من المعابد النادرة العائدة لنهاية حقبة إمبراطورية غوبتا المشيّدة بكاملها من الآجر.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

菩提伽耶的摩诃菩提寺

菩提伽耶的摩诃菩提寺是与佛祖生前生活紧密联系的四个圣地之一,尤其值得一提的是这里是佛祖得道的地方。寺庙最早是阿育王于公元前3世纪建造的,现存的寺庙历史可以追溯到公元5世纪到6世纪。菩提伽耶的摩诃菩提寺是笈多王朝后期以来印度现存的最早的全部为砖石结构的佛教寺庙之一。

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Храмовый комплекс Махабодхи в Бодх-Гайя

Храмовый комплекс Махабодхи – это одно из четырех священных мест, связанных с жизнью Будды и, в особенности, с обретением им просветления. Первый храм был построен императором Ашокой в III веке до н.э., а существующий храм относится к V-VI вв. Это один из самых ранних буддийских храмов, построенных полностью из кирпича, все еще сохраняющихся в Индии от периода поздних Гупта.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Conjunto del Templo de Mahabodhi en Bodhgaya

Este conjunto monumental es uno de los cuatro santos lugares relacionados con la vida de Buda, y más concretamente con su acceso a la Iluminación. El emperador Asoka erigió en este sitio un primer templo en el siglo III a.C., pero el actual data del siglo V o VI de nuestra era. Mahabodhi es uno de los más antiguos templos budistas construidos en ladrillo y uno de los pocos de las postrimerías del Imperio Gupta que aún permanecen en pie.

source: UNESCO/CPE
Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

ブッダガヤの大菩提寺
インド東部,ビハール州中西部の小村。シャカが菩提樹のもとで悟りを開いた地。大菩提(マハボディ)寺は仏陀の生涯にかかわる4大聖地の一つ。最初の寺は紀元前3世紀にアショーカ王によって建立され,現在のものは5世紀から6世紀に建立された。総レンガ造りのものとしては最も初期に造られた仏教建築の一つ。グプタ朝後期から現在に至るまでその姿を保っているが,1200年代にイスラーム教徒により破壊され,1880年代に旧に復した。

source: NFUAJ

Mahabodhi tempelcomplex

Deze plek is één van de vier heilige plaatsen gerelateerd aan het leven van de Boeddha (566 tot 486 voor Christus) en in het bijzonder met betrekking tot het bereiken van verlichting. De eerste tempel werd gebouwd door keizer Asoka in de 3e eeuw voor Christus en de huidige tempel dateert uit de 5e of 6e eeuw. Het is één van de vroegste boeddhistische tempels die volledig uit baksteen is opgebouwd en nog steeds intact is in India. Het Mahabodhi tempelcomplex stamt uit de late Gupta periode en is vernoemd naar de Bodhi boom, waaronder de Boeddha zat toen hij het hoogste en volmaakte inzicht verkreeg.

Source: unesco.nl

बोधगया में महाबोधि मंदिर परिसर

महाबोधि मंदिर परिसर भगवान बुद्ध के जीवन से संबंधित, विशेषतः प्रबोधनार्थ हेतु, चार पवित्र स्थानों में से एक है। इस परिसर में सबसे पहला मंदिर तीसरी शताब्दी ई.पूर्व. में सम्राट अशोक द्वारा बनवाया गया था तथा वर्तमान में मौजूद सभी मंदिरों का निर्माणकाल 5वीं या 6वीं शताब्दी के आसपास का है। भारत में गुप्तकाल से आज तक पूर्णतः ईटों से निर्मित यह सबसे प्राचीन बौद्ध मंदिरों में से एक है।

Source: India

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis 

The Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bodh Gaya lies 115 km south of the state capital of Bihar, Patna and 16 km from the district headquarters at Gaya, in Eastern India. It is one of the four holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha, and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment. The property encompasses the greatest remains of the 5th-6th century A.D in the Indian sub-continent belonging to this period of antiquity. The property has a total area of 4.8600 ha.
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is the first temple built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C., and the present temple dates from the 5th–6th centuries. It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing, from the late Gupta period and it is considered to have had significant influence in the development of brick architecture over the centuries.
The present Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya comprises the 50 m high grand Temple, the Vajrasana, sacred Bodhi Tree and other six sacred sites of Buddha's enlightenment, surrounded by numerous ancient Votive stupas, well maintained and protected by inner, middle and outer circular boundaries. A seventh sacred place, the Lotus Pond, is located outside the enclosure to the south. Both the temple area and the Lotus Pond are surrounded by circulating passages at two or three levels and the area of the ensemble is 5 m below the level of the surrounding land.
It is also a unique property of archaeological significance in respect of the events associated with the time Lord Buddha spent there, as well as documenting the evolving worship, particularly since the 3rd century, when Emperor Asoka built the first temple, the balustrades and the memorial column and the subsequent evolution of the ancient city with the building of sanctuaries and monasteries by foreign kings over the centuries.
The Main Temple wall has an average height of 11 m and it is built in the classical style of Indian temple architecture. It has entrances from the east and from the north and has a low basement with mouldings decorated with honeysuckle and geese design. Above this is a series of niches containing images of the Buddha. Further above there are mouldings and chaitya niches, and then the curvilinear shikhara or tower of the temple surmounted by amalaka and kalasha (architectural features in the tradition of Indian temples). At the four corners of the parapet of the temple are four statues of the Buddha in small shrine chambers. A small tower is built above each of these shrines. The temple faces east and consists of a small forecourt in the east with niches on either side containing statues of the Buddha. A doorway leads into a small hall, beyond which lies the sanctum, which contains a gilded statue of the seated Buddha (over 5ft high) holding earth as witness to his achieved Enlightenment. Above the sanctum is the main hall with a shrine containing a statue of Buddha, where senior monks gather to meditate.
From the east, a flight of steps leads down through a long central path to the main temple and the surrounding area. Along this path there are significant places associated with events that immediately followed the Buddha’s Enlightment, together with votive stupas and shrines.
The most important of the sacred places is the giant Bodhi Tree, to the west of the main temple, a supposed direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which Buddha spent his First Week and had his enlightment. To the north of the central path, on a raised area, is the Animeshlochan Chaitya (prayer hall) where Buddha is believed to have spent the Second Week. Buddha spent the Third Week walking eighteen paces back and forth in an area called Ratnachakrama (the Jewelled Ambulatory), which lies near the north wall of the main temple. Raised stone lotuses carved on a platform mark his steps. The spot where he spent the Fourth Week is Ratnaghar Chaitya, located to the north-east near the enclosure wall. Immediately after the steps of the east entrance on the central path there is a pillar which marks the site of the Ajapala Nigrodh Tree, under which Buddha meditated during his Fifth Week, answering the queries of Brahmans. He spent the Sixth Week next to the Lotus Pond to the south of the enclosure, and the Seventh Week was spent under the Rajyatana Tree, to the south-east of the main temple, currently marked by a tree.

Next to the Bodhi Tree there is a platform attached to the main temple made of polished sandstone known as Vajrasana (the Diamond Throne), originally installed by Emperor Asoka to mark the spot where Buddha sat and meditated. A sandstone balustrade once encircled this site under the Bodhi Tree, but only a few of the original pillars of the balustrade are still in situ; they contain carvings of sculpted human faces, animals, and decorative details. Further up the central path towards the main temple to the south is a small shrine with a standing Buddha in the back and with the footprints (Padas) of the Buddha carved on black stone, dating from the 3rd century BC when Emperor Asoka declared Buddhism to be the official religion of the state and installed thousands of such footprint stones all over his kingdom. The gateway to the Temple, which is on the central path, was also originally built by this Emperor, but was later rebuilt. Further on the path towards the main temple is a building housing several statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. Opposite is a memorial to a Hindu Mahant who had lived on this site during the 15th and 16th centuries. To the south of the pathway is a cluster of votive stupas built by kings, princes, noblemen and lay people. They vary in shape and size, from the simplest to the most sumptuous ones.
In the context of philosophical and cultural history, Mahabodhi Temple Complex is of great relevance as it marks the most important event in the life of Lord Buddha, the moment when Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment and became Buddha, an event that shaped human thought and belief. This property is now revered as the holiest place of Buddhist pilgrimage in the world and is considered the cradle of Buddhism in the history of mankind.

Criterion (i): The grand 50m high Mahabodhi Temple of the 5th-6th centuries is of immense importance, being one of the earliest temple constructions existing in the Indian sub-continent. It is one of the few representations of the architectural genius of the Indian people in constructing fully developed brick temples in that era
Criterion (ii): The Mahabodhi Temple, one of the few surviving examples of early brick structures in India, has had significant influence in the development of architecture over the centuries.
Criterion (iii): The site of the Mahabodhi Temple provides exceptional records for the events associated with the life of Buddha and subsequent worship, particularly since Emperor Asoka built the first temple, the balustrades, and the memorial column.
Criterion (iv): The present Temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely in brick from the late Gupta period. The sculpted stone balustrades are an outstanding early example of sculptural reliefs in stone.
Criterion (vi): The Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya has direct association with the life of the Lord Buddha, being the place where He attained the supreme and perfect insight.

Integrity

The inscribed property contains all the attributes necessary to convey its outstanding universal value. The historical evidences and texts reveal that the parts of present Temple Complex date from different periods. The main Temple, the Vajrasana, the seat of Buddha's enlightenment was preserved by Emperor Asoka and the Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment witnessed through the ages, the site's glory, decline and revival since middle of 19th century A.D onwards is unchanged and complete.
The main part of the temple is recorded from about the 5th - 6th century A.D. But, it has undergone various repairs and renovation works since then. Having suffered from long abandonment (13th -18th century A.D) it was extensively restored in the 19th century, A.D and more works were carried out in the second half of the 20th century A.D. Nevertheless, the temple is considered to be the oldest and best preserved example of brick architecture in India from this particular period. Even though the structure has suffered from neglect and repairs in various periods, it has retained its essential features intact.
Authenticity
The belief that Buddha had attained Enlightenment in this particular place has been confirmed by tradition and is now called Bodh Gaya, this is of supreme value to the world. It has been documented since the time of Emperor Asoka who built the first temple in 260 BCE when he came to this place to worship the Bodhi Tree, which still stands as witness to the event, along with the attributes of the property (the Vajrasana, etc). Buddhist texts of both Theravadhan and Mahayanan traditions have clear reference of this event of Buddha's enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Buddhists from all over the world today venerate Bodh Gaya as the holiest place of Buddhist pilgrimage in the world. This confirms the use, function, location and setting of the complex/property.
The outstanding universal value of the property is truthfully expressed through the attributes present today. The architecture of the Temple has remained essentially unaltered and follows the original form and design.
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex has continuous visitation by pilgrims from all over the world to offer prayers, perform religious ceremonies and meditate.

Requirements for protection and management

The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is the property of the State Government of Bihar. On the basis of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949, the State Government is responsible for the management and protection of the property through Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) and Advisory Board. The Committee meets once in every three or four months and reviews the progress and position of the maintenance and conservation works of the property and also manages the flow of pilgrims and tourists visit. The Committee is equipped with 85 regular staff members and over 45 casual workers to attend to the Temple duty as office staff, security guards, gardeners and sweepers. Further consideration is still warranted on the possible designation of the property under national legislation to ensure the protection of its outstanding universal value as well as its authenticity and integrity of the property. Given the significant development pressures in the broader urban and rural setting, the definition of an appropriate buffer zone and the establishment of regulations for its protection is a priority. Options, such as extending the property to include related sites, need to be explored to ensure the conservation of the setting and landscape of the property associated with the life and wanderings of Buddha. The protection of these elements is particularly relevant to sustaining the religious character of the property that substantiates criterion (vi).
All developmental activities within the premises of this World Heritage property and at Bodhgaya are guided by the rules and regulations of the Site Management Plan framed by the Government of Bihar. All conservation / restoration works relating to the Temple Complex are taken up under the expert guidance of Archaeological Survey of India. The main source of finance for the property is through the donation from Devotees. The sustained operation of the management system allows for the Temple Complex to be well maintained and flow of visitors managed adequately.
As the site is being visited by pilgrims/tourists (national/international) in large numbers, a need to develop infrastructure and public amenities is anticipated. Proposals will need to be preceded by Heritage Impact Assessments and a particular challenge will be to continuously monitor the impact that potential developments of the area as a whole, including the town, may have on the religious and spiritual significance of the place.
The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee also seeks to undertake a sustainable approach to the maintenance of the property for example utilization of solar energy, pollution free environment, etc.

 

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