DAY 172 - BUDDHA GAYA

172) FRIDAY, 16 DECEMBER 1977 : 0KMS. - BUDDHA GAYA

 

We walked up to the Chethiya  and surrounding areas, which had been repaired. The ruins were assembled to the original form. It is a big Chethiya  in a form of  large square conical.  The outer base was adorned with bas-relief stucco of various Buddha images. Inside the Chethiya,   the principal Buddha statue  is enshrined in the western side.

Maha Bodhi Temple -  http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

 
  
The (Sri Maha) Bhodi tree on the west of the Chethiya is so large,  it is the fourth sprouting of the original tree, which grew from the same root. 

MAHA BODHI TREE - http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

There are Buddha’s footprint on the right side of (Sri Maha) Bhodi tree. When we were on the elevated level of the Chethiya,  we walked  to the (Sri Maha) Bhodi tree and it was visible that there were  branches  without leaves.  However, Tilo tried to reach out his hand and could grab two leaves with his endeavor.  I later learned that if the police or guards saw this,  we would be fined RS. . 5.-

 

 

BUDDHA FOOTPRINT SYMBOL - http://munichtomadras1977.blogspot.com

From the  Phrasrimahabhodi temple, we visited Thai temple of Thailand which was replicated from the Marble temple in Bangkok. At the entrance of the monastery, there are sculptures of two guarding giants instead of two lions. Inside the monastery, there is a Buddha model of Buddha Shinarath. There is no painting of the Bhudda’s biography on the  walls but it seemed  attracting interest of tourists, both foreigners and Indian guests because of its beauty and glittering golden decorations  of the building. 

 

Thai temple in BUDDHA GAYA- Photo : pswami.com.br / Bing images search

Situated near the Thai temple is Japanese temple with the bell tower.  There is a large bell which can give a good resonant sound. The Japanese temple looks simple from the outside but the ceiling inside  was overlaid with watercolor paintings or Japanese prints of varieties of flowers, birds and natural scenes. They are very beautiful.

Beside the Thai and Japanese temples around the area of the Chethiya, there are also Tibetan, Burmese and Chinese temples as well.