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Bodh Gaya,
Bihar,
India
Bodh Gaya is the holiest of Buddhist destinations and a
World Heritage Site.
It was here, under a pipal, or bodhi tree, that Siddhartha Gotama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. A simple
shrine was built by the emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE) to mark the spot,
later enclosed by a stone railing (1st century BCE), part of which still
remains. The uprights have representations of the Vedic gods Indra and
Surya, and the railing medallions include carvings of imaginary beasts. This
shrine was replaced in the Kushan period (2nd cent. CE) by the present
Mahabodhi temple, which was refurbished in the Pala-Sena period (750-1200),
heavily restored by Sir Alexander Cunningham in the second half of the 19th
century, and finally restored by Myanmar (Burmese) Buddhists in 1882. The
bodhi tree behind the temple is believed to be a descendant of the original. [Adapted from Encyclopedia Britannica; July
06]
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Mahabodhi Mahavihara ▒ |
Mahabodhi
temple complex  |
The Buddha
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The Bodhi Tree
(1, 2,
3) ▒
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Temple tower
at night (more)
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Mahabodhi
Temple
(1, 2,
3)
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Indian monk (1,
2)
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Posing boy
monk
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One for the
family album
(1, 2)
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The Buddha (more)
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Former
"untouchables"
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Under the
Bodhi tree (more)
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Mucalinda lake
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A stupa
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The temple at
night (1,
2)
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The temple at
night
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The Buddha (1,
2, 3)
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Cloister walk
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Bodhi tree leaves
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Boy monks (more)
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Boy monks (more)
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Stone railing
(more)
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From 1st cent.
BCE (more)
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Replicas of
the original
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Originals are
in the museum
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Meditation
garden
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Temple tower
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Temple wall
sculpture
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Lizard under
bodhi tree
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Stupas in the
garden (1,
2)
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South Indian pilgrims
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A source of Bihari pride
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Mahabodhi
temple entrance
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The Town of Bodh Gaya |
Bhutanese
monastery (more)
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Bhutanese
monastery
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Thai monastery
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Thai monastery
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Japanese
monastery
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Inside the
monastery (1,
2)
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Emaciated
Buddha
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Sujata brings
a meal
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Chinese
monastery
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... inside (more)
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Royal
Bhutanese monastery
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... inside
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Tibetan
monastery
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... inside
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The Buddha's life in
paintings at the Tibetan monastery
As a
young man, prince Siddhartha,
realizing the harsh truths of life,
left his wife and son and
became an ascetic. He did
penance and yoga, undeterred by
the temptations of Mara, until he found
enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. He gave his
first sermon at Sarnath and reformed a
dreaded robber Angulimal. |
Buddha statue
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Great Buddha (more)
▒
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A road in Bodh
Gaya
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Face of
malnourishment
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Village
dwellings
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Shanty house
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Village with
golden pagoda
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Women
returning home
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Roadside photo
studio
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Veggie fields
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Spraying
pesticides
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Village shrine
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Okra (Bhindi)
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Local snack
joint
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Crossing the
Falgu River
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Ghat on the
Falgu River
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