Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya,INDIA

Brief Description

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.

Justification for Inscription

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.

Long Description

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. balustrades, and the memorial column. The present temple is one of the earliest and most imposing structures built entirely from brick in the late Gupta period. The sculpted stone balustrades are an outstanding early example of sculptural reliefs in stone.
The Temple Complex has direct associations with the life of the Lord Buddha (566-486 BC) as the place where in 531 BC he attained the supreme and perfect insight while seated under the Bodhi Tree. It provides exceptional records for the events associated with his life and for subsequent worship, particularly since Emperor Asoka made a pilgrimage to this spot around 260 BC and built the first temple at the site of the Bodhi Tree. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is located in the very heart of the city of Bodh Gaya. The site consists of the main temple and six sacred places within an enclosed area, and a seventh one, the Lotus Pond, just outside the enclosure to the south.
The most important of the sacred places is the giant Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa ). This tree is to the west of the main temple and is supposed to be a direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha spent his First Week and where he had his enlightenment. To the north of the central path, on a raised area, is the Animeshlochan Chaitya (prayer hall) where the Buddha is believed to have spent the Second Week. The Buddha spent the Third Week walking 18 paces back and forth in an area called Ratnachakrama (Jewelled Ambulatory), which lies near the north wall of the main temple. 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 Brahmins. He spent the Sixth Week next to the Lotus Pond to the south of the enclosure, and the Seventh Week under the Rajyatana Tree currently marked by a tree.
The Main Temple is built in the classical style of Indian temple architecture. It 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.
Next to the Bodhi Tree there is a place with a Buddha statue that stands on part of the polished sandstone Vajrasana (Diamond Throne), originally installed by Emperor Asoka to mark the spot where the Buddha sat and meditated. Granite pillars were added to enlarge the area in the 5th-6th centuries BC. 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. 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.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC

Historical Description

[in French only] Le temple de la Mahabodhi à Bodhgaya est un lieu sacré, car c'est là que Bouddha (566-486 avant J.-C.), assis sous l'arbre de la Bodhi, parvient à l'Éveil en 531, à l'âge de 35 ans. Aux alentours de 260 avant J.-C., l'empereur Asoka fait de l'endroit un lieu de pèlerinage, et fait construire le premier temple sur le site de l'arbre de la Bodhi, sous les branches duquel le Bouddha a médité. Il comprend une balustrade autour de l'arbre, et un petit temple à proximité. Asoka offre de surcroît un Vajrasana (trône de diamant) placé au milieu du temple, à l'endroit même où le Bouddha est supposé être resté assis. Des fouilles conduites en 1863 et 1881 mettent le Vajrasana au jour. La plaque d'argile, au musée de Patna, porte des inscriptions des Ier et IIe siècles de l'ère chrétienne montrant qu'un nouveau temple a remplacé celui d'Asoka. Les Indiens construisent une balustrade de pierre sculptée à l'image du dieu soleil, autour du nouveau temple. Il semble que de nombreux ajouts et rénovations aient été réalisés au IIe siècle après J.-C.
Le plus ancien récit historique mentionnant le temple de la Mohabodhi est le fait du voyageur chinois Faxian, et date de 404-405 de notre ère. Le temple principal du site et l'arbre de la Bodhi y sont brièvement mentionnés. Selon lui, une Grande Pagode a été construite sur les quatre sites majeurs dans la vie du Bouddha. En 637 après J.-C., Xuanzang, autre voyageur chinois, arrive à Bodhgaya et y trouve l'arbre de la Bodhi encerclé de murs solides. Dans cette enceinte s'élèvent le grand temple de la Mahabodhi, de 48 m de haut, et un grand et beau sanctuaire. Il mentionne les briques bleutées, le plâtre, les niches contenant des statues dorées du Bouddha, et bien d'autres détails encore. À cette époque, le porche, la tour d'angle et le haut soubassement sont ajoutés au temple principal. Diverses parties du temple ont été datées, comme les balustrades, du IIIe ou du Ier siècle avant notre ère, et le temple lui-même de 450 ou du VIe siècle après J.-C.
On dispose de peu d'informations sur les réparations entreprises du VIIe au XIe siècle, mais il semble que les Birmans, au XIe siècle, aient réalisé des travaux de grande envergure. D'autres ouvrages sont documentés au XIIe siècle. Dans les siècles qui suivent la conquête musulmane, au XIIIe siècle, le temple de la Mahabodhi est déserté et, à partir de là, tombe peu à peu en ruines. Au XIXe siècle, les souverains birmans se lancent dans des travaux de réparation, que les Britanniques reprennent en 1880-1884. En 1949, la loi du temple de Bodhgaya est édictée pour protéger l'édifice, et une campagne de restauration est mise en oeuvre en 1953-1956, suivi d'autres améliorations dans les décennies suivantes.

Posted in: INDIA,WHC(PLACES)