| Temples & Legends Of Bihar |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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MAHABODHI |
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| The Mahabodhi
Vihara, commonly known as Bodh Gaya temple is square at the base and cylindrical in body
shape. At the four corners there are four towers which are similar to the main tower in
the middle. There is a vaulted passage through which one has to go to the shrine. The
shrine has a massive image of the Buddha in a sitting posture. The statue is of black
stone but has now been gilded by pilgrims from Tibet. It is said that the image has been
set up in the very position where Lord Buddha sat determined not to get up until he had
obtained supreme Enlightenment. The temple is about 170 feet high on a 48 feet square
base. On all sides of the temple are numerous niches and beautiful engravings and fine
sculptured images of the Buddha.There are various theories as to when the temple was
built. According to some, Asoka built the Mahabodhi Vihara. Fa-Hien supported this theory
when he Visited Bodh Gaya area. A fuller description of Bodh Gaya is found in the writings
of Hieun-Tsang who came later.A scrutiny of Fa-Hien's description throws doubts if he
actually found a big temple at its present site. |
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