Bodhgaya

  Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India
Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Just a quick entry from Bodhgaya. Mahabodhi Temple is where Buddha first became enlightened and formulated his philosophy of life.

Mahabodhi Temple

Buddha Altar inside temple

Just as in Sarnath, a part of the original Bodhi Tree which is now in Sri Lanka was brought to Bodhgaya and now flourishes.

Bodhi Tree

Under the tree there is a shrine that marks the exact spot of
enlightenment.

Exact spot where Buddha became enlightened

There are nice paths with gardens and Buddha shrines surrounding
the temple.

Garden and shrines around the temple

Statue with hundreds of Buddhas

All around the temple there are groups of monks and Buddhists meditating, chanting, doing yoga, or making these balls of what looks like dough.

Making balls of dough?

Here are some monks carrying the balls
towards Muchalinda Lake

Monks going to lake

Here the balls are thrown into the lake and eaten up by
the fish that live there.

Throwing balls into lake

Legend has it that Buddha meditated by the lake on the 6th week after
enlightenment and was sheltered from a violent storm by the snake god
of the lake. I'm guessing believers are providing food to the snake god with these balls of whatever. In the middle of the lake is a cobra statue.

Cobra statue in lake

Sorry for the not so interesting blog entry, but after the burning ghats in Varanasi, I think some of you are probably relieved.

I'm in Kolkata (Calcutta) now so expect to be hearing from me in a few days from India's second largest city.

Go Cubbies!!!!
peace,
Jen