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
for human suffering.
Siddhartha spread Kusha grass
beneath the Bodhi or Bo tree (Pipal tree, botanical name Ficus
religiosia) and sat cross-legged facing the east with a vow to get
up only if he attained supreme knowledge. For 7 weeks, Mara, the
temptor, assaulted him with his weapons of flood, fire, thunder and
lightening. Then Mara's three beautiful daughters tried to allure
him, but in vain. Siddhartha entered deeper states of contemplation.
His quest finally ended at dawn on Vaisakha Poornima, the full moon
day in April-May, when the kind daughter of the village chief of
Senani, Sujata, brought him a bowl of kheer (sweet thickened milk).
It is said that the gods had infused the kheer with ambrosia.
Siddhartha attained Samma Sambodhi, the Enlightenment that he had
been seeking for so long. He was no more a seeker … he had
become the Buddha.
As the place of the Buddha's
Enlightenment, Bodh Gaya is the spiritual home of Buddhists. Located
in Bihar, 115kms from 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. A range of low forested hills silhouette the small
hamlets flanking the glistening, sandy banks of the river. Monks and
nuns rub shoulders with tourists and believers from all over the
world. An all-pervading calm envelops the town, giving visitors a
sense of peace.
How to Reach
- By Air
The nearest airport is at Patna, 112 kms.
All major domestic airlines fly to Patna.
- By Rail
The nearest railhead is at Gaya, 16 kms,
on the Calcutta-Delhi main line.
- By Road
Gaya, 16 kms Dobhi, 22 kms on the
Delhi-Calcutta Grand Trunk Road (NH 2) Patna, 115 kms via
Jehanabad, and 181 kms via Rajgir Rajgir, 70 kms
