Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya is considered the most sacred and important place for Buddhists worldwide. It is a center of pilgrimage for devotees from all over the world, as well as tourists. Bodhgaya is the second most sacred site, the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Within the Bodhgaya area, there are numerous Buddhist temples, including those of Thailand. Bodhgaya is considered the "navel of the earth," the center of the world. The Aggañña Sutta states that Brahma from the Abhasara Brahma realm descended to eat the primordial earth in this area, marking the origin of humanity. Due to threats from war and the decline of Buddhism in India, Bodhgaya was abandoned and taken over by Hindus, who converted the Mahabodhi Temple into a Hindu temple. The occupation of Bodhgaya by Hindus began in 1590 CE when a Hindu ascetic named Gosena Gamandigir established a small hermitage near the Mahabodhi Temple. The 15th Mahant (Great Saint)
In 1874, King Mindon of Burma sent an envoy to India to request permission to restore the temple and arrange for its preservation. After receiving permission from the Mahants and the Indian government, restoration work began. The Indian government sent General Sir Alexander Cunningham and Dr. Rajendrala Mitra to oversee the restoration. Later, the Burmese delegation had to return, so the Indian government took over the entire restoration work, which was completed in 1884.
Then, in 1957, the Indian government, under the leadership of His Excellency Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, celebrated Buddha Jayanti (Visakha Puja) by inviting Buddhist countries worldwide to build temples in the land of the Buddha. Thailand, under the leadership of Field Marshal Plaek Phibulsongkram, accepted the invitation and proceeded to build a temple called Wat Thai Bodh Gaya.
“Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya is considered the most sacred and important place for Buddhists worldwide.”@_TI***dt · 8 months ago