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Then there is Chaukramana, the Jewel Walk, where it is believed
that the Buddha strolled while in deep thought. The magnificent
Maha Bodhi temple in Bodhgaya is an architectural amalgamation
of many cultures.
The
temple bears the stamp of the architecture of the Gupta Dynasty
and subsequent ages. On the walls of the temple, one sees Buddha
carved in different aspects, and in the sanctum sanctorum, a colossal
Buddha, is seen touching the ground, which has mythological significance
in the Buddhist lores. The temple carries inscriptions recording
the visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, China and Mayanmar in the
7th and 10th Centuries A.D. Hieun Tsang, the Chinese traveler,
also visited the temple in the 7th Century. Other Places of Interest
Adjacent to the Mahabodhi temple is the Shaivite Monastery that
has a cluster of four temples. Surrounded by enchanting greenery
and marked by architectural marvels, these temples have several
samadhis (commemorative stones) in their vicinity.
Just
across are a number of cells, meant for residential purposes of
monks. Not far from the Shaivite Monastery is the Jagannath Temple
which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has the statue of the deity,
carved in
glistening black stone. Finally, a visit to the Bodhgaya Archaeological
Museum is a. must for a religious art lover as it initiates one
into the age of Buddha's centered art forms. The Buddhist sculpture
collection from 1st Century B.C. to 11th Century A.D. is housed
here at one place. Reflected through several art forms, it is
more like a treasure house of artistic expression. Bodhgaya is
245 kms from Varanasi and 178 kms from Patna via Rajgir and Nalanda.
Excursions
GAYA
A place of religious sanctity for Hindus, Gaya lies 12 kms from
Bodhgaya between Pretshila and Ramshila hills and is washed by
the shores of river Phalgu. Gaya has a large number of Buddhist
temples also. While Buddha was doing severe penance, he became
weak, tired and hungry. He rested under a tree where, he was offered
food by a condemned village woman named Sujata. To everybody's
surprise Buddha accepted her offerings. Legend has it, that after
having consumed the food, Buddha's countenance assumed a divine
glow and he realized the Supreme truth; that neither extreme self
indulgence nor self mortification is ever required. What is needed
is to follow the Middle Path. Sujata Sthan or Durgeshwari Temple
stands as a symbol commemorating this event. In the vicinity of
Bodhgaya, there are several other places of tourist interest such
as the Surya Temple at Deo, 20 kms from Gaya; the Sun God Temple
at Umya; the Konchishwar Maha Deva temple at Konch; Barabar Caves
just 40 kms away; the Buddhist Rock-Cut Caves of 3rd Century B.C.
at Sasaram, 123 Kms away.
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