India : Bodh Gaya : Festival and Ceremony - 4

Guys, this the 4th and last part on Bodh Gaya. Let us have a look on the Festival and Ceremony of Bodh Gaya.

Image Source : Google

Buddha Jayanti:

This Buddha Jayanti falls on the full moon night in the month of Vaisakha (either in April or May). Commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Pilgrims came from all over the world to Bodh Gaya to pay respect and homage to Lord Buddha. The Mahabodhi Temple wears a festival look and is decorated with colourful flags and flowers.

Kalchakra Ceremony:

This ceremony organized under the leadership of Dalai Lama, the spiritual and temporal head of Tibetan Buddhist and conducted over a period of 10 days, annually. It is believed that if one attends this ceremony at least once in a lifetime one will attain salvation.
Peace Ceremony:

Since 1994 the American branch of the Tibetan Nyingmpa sect holds a peace ceremony with a view to promoting peace and good will among mankind. The ceremony includes daily prayers with one lakh chantings, one lakh brass butter lamps lighting, offering with garlands and flowers to the Mahabodhi temple.

Pitra Paksh Tarpan:

The solemn festival is held at Gaya every year in memory of family ancestors. Gaya is a very sacred pilgrim center fo Hindus. The temple of Vishnupada on the bank of the river. Falgu attracts a very large number of pilgrims. Devotees also make offerings at the jewel walk and although a Hindu festival, prayers are also offered to the Lord Buddha.
Shopping:

One can buy sweets, handicrafts items and decorative pieces made out of stone in Bodh Gaya. Though sea is very far from this place, we also find items made from sea shells. Behind the Bodhi Mandir in Bodh Gaya is a huge market for foreign goods.

Tourist Information Centres:
Bodhgaya Tourist Information Centre, : 2200672
Gaya Tourist Information Centre, : 2420155

Money Changer:

Bank of India, : 2200750

Important Telephone Numbers:

Patan Airport, : 0612-2220146

Railway Enquiry, Gaya, : 2420283

Police Station, : 2200741

Museum, : 2200739

Guys plan your visit to our India's most beautiful Bodh Gaya.

India : Bodh Gaya : Attractions, Excursions, Shopping & Tourist Information - 3

Guys, here are some of the attractions, excursions, shopping and tourist information of Bodh Gaya.

Ratnachakarma or Jewel Walk:

The 3rd week was spent in meditation, walking to and fro from the tree to the unblinking shrine spot, Lotus flowers are said to have sprung up in this place which came to be known as Ratnachakarma and is marked by recently made brick platform containing 18 lotus flowers representing the footsteps of Buddha.

Magadh University:

An International university, this is a center for studies in history, culture and philosophy.

Monasteries:

Countries with Buddhist population have built their temples or monasteries here. There are Tibetan karma Temple and Monastery built in 1934 which contains a large wheel, brightly coloured Thai Monastery, Japanese Temple with a beautiful Buddha image from Japan and Daijokyo Temple, Burmese Monastery Myanmar, Chinese, Bhutanese and Srilankan monastics too. The annual insight meditation (vipassana) and spiritual retreats is held in the month of January at the Thai Monastery.

Image Source : Tibetan Monastery

Bodhi Sarovar:

Before going in for meditation, Buddha took bath in this pond. This pond is situated towards the west of Bodhi Temple.

Gaya (16 kms): It is very sacred pilgrim center for Hindu. Hindus offer oblation for salvation of their dead parents and forefathers. The temple of Vishnupada on the bank of river Falgu attracts a very large number of pilgrims.

Rajgir (80 kms):

Rajgir is reverently mentioned in Ramayana and Mahabharata. As far as recorded history goes, it was the capital of mighty Magadhan empire in 6th century BC and was also favorite abode of Lord Buddha, his teachings were panned down here. Mahavir, Teerthankar and Guru Nanak also visited Rajgir. The hot water spring and the lush green of Rajgir have made the place a popular winter health resort. The aerial rope way chairlift is also attraction to tourists.

Nalanda (96 kms):

It is the site of world famous international University which was at the peak of glory in the 5th century AD. As many as ten thousand students and two thousand teachers were engaged in learning and teaching in this great University. The foreign scholars like Hieun Tsang and Fa-Hien have given travel accounts. The ruins of this ancient University thrill the tourists to go there.

India : Bodh Gaya : Attractions and Excursions - 2

In 2nd part we discuss about the other attractions and excursions of Bodh Gaya.

Animeshlocha Stupa:

Buddha spent the second week after enlightenment at the Animeshlocha Stupa, from where he gazed at the Bodhi tree without blinking.

Muchalinda Lake:

The sixth week takes us to Muchalinda lake where the serpent king, Muchalinda, dwelling at the bottom of the lake, rose out to proted the master from a severe storm created by Maya (the god of chaos) to disturb the meditation.

Vajrasana:

Under the tree is the Vajrasana (diamond throne), a rectangular slab of polished red sandstone, covered with a gold canopy. This is kept at the exact spot where Buddha is believed to have been sitting when he attained enlightenment.

Bodh Gaya Museum:

Bodh Gaya Museum run by the Archaeological Survey of India, it has a large collection of Buddhist and Hindu relics, terracotta seals, scriptures and railings/pillars from the stone age and Gupta period. It is open from 9 am to 4.30 pm, closed on Friday, and there an entry fee of Rs. 2/- only.

India : Bodh Gaya : Attractions and Excursions - 1

The life of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is associated with the small town of Bodhgaya. It is one of the holiest cities of Buddhist faith.

Tread reverently along the ancient path. Begin with the Mahabodhi tree where something strange happened - realization of truth or spiritual illumination. the tree still appears to radiate an aura of abiding serenity, spiritual solitude and peace.

Tradition states that Buddha stayed in Bodhgaya for seven weeks after his enlightenment. Each week was spent in a different part of the temple complex.

Slide Show source : Google

What to see at Bodh Gaya?

Mahabodhi Temple:

The famous Mahabodhi temple has been restored and rebuild over the centuries. Set among verdant lawns, this grant pyramidal sandstone structure soars to a height of 54 meters and is visible for miles around. The walls are carved with various aspects of Buddhism. the sanctum has a colossal golden Buddha. A chamber at the top houses a figure of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother. An ancient stone railing surrounds the temple on three sides. The railing dates to 100 BC and is the oldest of the excavated evidence in Bodhgaya.

The temple is said to stand at the site of the original 3rd century BC. This temple built by the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka. The temple was rebuilt in 7th century AD by the Pala kings of Bengal. Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese scholar pilgrim, refers to having seen it. Destroyed by Muslim invaders in the 12th century, the temple was restored by the Burmese kings in the 14th century, flooded and buried under slit till the 9th century.

The Mahabodhi temple has now been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.

Bodhi Tree:

The Buddha spent the first week after his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, towards the left in the Mahabodhi Temple complex. It is believed that the original tree sprang up the day the Buddha was born. The tree was destroyed and replanted at least five times. The present tree grew from a sapling brought from the tree in Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, which had been planted by Emperor Ashoka's son, Mahendra, in 3rd century BC. The holy tree, which is surrounded by small beautifully carved votive stupas and chaityas, form a canopy over the seven sacred shrines. People pray, meditate and prostrate before the Bodhi tree, making a wish or in thanksgiving.

Ratanaghara Chaitya:

The next weeks was devoted by Buddha in the Ratanaghara Chaitya to attain higher modes of exposition, Abhidhama Naya (deep meditation). He emitted dazzling light from his body which can be seen incorporated in the Buddhist flag of blue, yellow, red, white and orange.

The Land of enlightenment of Buddha : Bodh Gaya

Image Source: Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya is a city in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous for being the place of Buddha's attainment of Enlightenment. The state of Bihar lies along the eastern Gangetic Plains in North India. Of all India's Bihar is the most intimately linked to the Buddha's life, resulting in a trail of pilgrimages, which have come to be known as the Buddhist circuit. The very name Bihar is derived from the "vihara", which means Buddhist monastery. The Buddhist trail begins at the capital city, Patna, where a noteworthy museum contains a collection of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures. To the south of Patna is Nalanda, which translates as the place that confers the lotus (of spiritual knowledge). A monastic university Flourished here form the 5th to 11th century. Rajgir, "the royal palace", was the venue for the Buddhist Council. Followed by Bodh Gaya.

Image Source: Map of Gaya

Bodh Gaya (once Uruvela village) is the place where, 2500 years ago, in the 6th century BC, a young ascetic, Siddhartha, attained enlightenment to become the Buddha, and found Buddhism, one of the world's oldest religions. Born into the ruling family of the Sakyas, Siddhartha had renounced his royal heritage, and since then had faced many hardships in his search for Truth. He came to Bodh Gaya looking for a quiet retreat where he could meditate upon the causes fro human suffering. Located in Bihar, 115 kms form Patna, the land is rich and fertile, dotted with green fields and watered by the river Phalgu - the same ancient Nairanjana river where the Buddha bathed after attaining enlightenment.

How to reach at Bodh Gaya?

In terms of connectivity, the destinations are well defined by all means of transport be it air, rail or road.

By Air:

Patna airport 112 kms is connected with Kolkata, Delhi, Ranchi, Lucknow and Mumbai by Indian Airlines. Gaya International Airport, has daily flight connections with Bangkok and Colombo through Indian Airlines and Srilankan Airlines respectively.

By Rail:

The nearest rail head is Gaya (16 kms). It is well connected to Delhi, Kolkata, Nagpur, Mumbai, Varanasi, etc.

By Road:

Bodhgaya is well connected by road to Gaya. 16 kms to the Delhi-Kolkata Highway junction (on Grand Trunk Road), Dhobi-22 kms and Patna 105 kms. BSTDC operates daily deluxe coach service to and for Bodh Gaya from its headquarters.

Where to Unpack at Bodh Gaya?

In terms of local hospitality and accommodation, you can expect comfortable and value for money options in all price categories at the destination. For specific and detailed information or assistance, contact your approved travel agents or nearest India Tourism/State Tourism office.

Hotel Siddharth Vihar, Tourist Bungalow of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (Tel.No.: 2200445)