The Mahabodhi Temple Complex, located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, is one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its historical, religious, and cultural significance. This comprehensive description will delve into the rich history, architectural splendor, religious importance, cultural influence, and contemporary relevance of the Mahabodhi Temple.The history of the Mahabodhi Temple Complex is deeply intertwined with the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha.

1. MAHABODHI
TEMPLE
A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
In the context of philosophical and cultural history, Mahabodhi Temple Complex is of
great relevance as it marks the most important event in the life of Lord Buddha, the
moment when Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment and became Buddha, an
event that shaped human thought and belief.

2. MAHABODHI
TEMPLE
Introduction
to site
Evolution Of
site
Significance Current status of
the Mahabodhi
Temple
Decline &
Restoratior of the
Mahabodhi Temple
Introduction
to site

3. Introduction to site
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 6thcenturies. It is one of the
earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in
brick, still standing in India, from the late
Gupta period.
Introduction to site

4. According to the traditional accounts of
the history of the Buddha, it is said that
when he was a young prince, he saw the
suffering of the world and wanted to end
it. To this end, he reached the banks of
the Phalgu River, near the city of Gaya,
India. Upon arrival, he sat in meditation
under a peepul tree which later became
known as the Bodhi tree

5. As per Buddhist scriptures, after
three days and three nights he
attained enlightenment and the
answers that he had sought. Thus, it
was upon this location, the
Mahabodhi Temple was built by
Emperor Ashoka in around 260 BC.

6. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bodh
Gaya lies 115 km south of the state
capital of Bihar, Patna and 16 km from
the district headquarters at Gaya, in
Eastern India . Next to the Bodhi Tree
there is a platform attached to the main
temple made of polished sandstone.
known as Vajrasana (the Diamond
Throne), originally installed by Emperor
Asoka to mark the spot where Buddha sat
and meditated.
Evolution Of Site

7. The gateway to the Temple,
which is on the central path, was
also originally built by Emperor
Ashoka, but was later re built. To
the south of the pathway is a
cluster of votive stupas built by
kings, princes, noblemen and lay
people. They vary in shape and
size, from the simplest to the
most sumptuous ones.

8. This property is now revered
as the holiest place of
Buddhist pilgrimage in the
world and is considered the
cradle of Buddhism in the
history of mankind.

9. Significance
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

10. 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.

11. Criterion (iii):
The site of theMahabodhi
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.

12. 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.

13. Criterion (v):
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.

14. Current status of the Mahabodhi Temple
The temple is considered to be the
oldest and best preserved example of
brick architecture in India from this
particular period. Even though the
structure has suffered from neglect and
repairs in various periods, it has
retained its essential features intact.

15. It has been documented since
the time of Emperor Asoka who
built the first temple in 260 BCE
when he came to this place to
worship the Bodhi Tree.

16. In 2013, the upper portion of the
temple was covered with 289 kg of
gold. The gold was a gift from the King
of Thailand and devotees from Thailand
and installed with the approval of the
Archaeological Survey of India.

17. Decline & Restoratior of the Mahabodhi
Temple
Buddhism declined when the
dynasties patronizing it
declined, following Huna
invasions and the early Arab
Islamic invasions such as that of
Muhammad bin Qasim .

18. A strong revival occurred under the
Pala Empire in the northeast of the
subcontinent (where the temple is
situated). Mahayana Buddhism
flourished under the Palas between the
8th and the 12th century. However,
after the defeat of the Palas by the
Hindu Sena dynasty, Buddhism's
position again began to erode and
became nearly extinct in India.

19. In the 13th century, Burmese Buddhists
built temple with the same name and
modelled or original Mahabodhi
Temple. During the 11th century and
the 19th century, Burmese rulers
undertook the restoration of the temple
complex and surrounding wall. In the
1880s, the then-British colonial
government of India began to restore
Mahabodhi Temple under the direction
of Sir Alexander Cunningham and
Joseph David Beglar.

20. In 1885, Sir Edwin Arnold visited the site
and under guidance from Ven.
Weligama Sri Sumangala and published
several articles drawing the attention of
the Buddhists to the deplorable
conditions of Bodh gaya.

21. THANKYOU