Monuments of Mahabodhi: A monumental publication

"Monumental" is perhaps the most fitting word to describe the impressive 384-page publication, "Monuments of Mahabodhi [Mahāvihāra] Temple Complex", presented by the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee in Bihar, India.

Authored by Dr Maheswetha Maharathi, Member Secretary of the BTMC, and Nangzey Dorge, a member of the BTMC, this landmark work is certain to captivate both devotees of the Buddha Dhamma and heritage enthusiasts alike.

Cleary this book is not merely an informative prologue but an artistic tribute to the enduring spiritual legacy of this sacred site. It introduces readers to a visual and historical odyssey that lays bare the artistry and devotion underpinning the monuments of Bodhgaya.

The Monuments of Mahabodhi publication makes the invisible visible.

When you traverse around the Mahabodhi Temple complex — a UNESCO World Heritage site — from the outside, it is difficult to fully comprehend all that is there in the complex.

It is only when you look through the hundreds of the images of artistic creations, that have been crafted over centuries with this publication in your hands and turn the pages — the stone railings, stucco panels, fine images, votive stupas, chaityas, and shrines — examine those at the very top, you get a feeling of breathtaking craftsmanship.

You also see that many of the images are chiseled to perfection. Their iconographic symbolism reveals different aspects of the tenets of Buddhism. Every image of every carving, every panel tells a story of devotion, spiritual inquiry, and artistic genius.

The introduction begins by stating that the temple complex is regarded as “the holiest site in Buddhism.” During the Mauryan period, within the land of the Jambudīpa continent, this place was known as Sambodhi, meaning complete enlightenment. It references Emperor Asoka's Rock Edict VIII, which describes how, ten years after his coronation, Emperor Asoka visited “Sambodhi.”

Rock Edict VIII of Emperor Asoka leaves no ambiguity about this site: “In the past kings used to go out on pleasure tours during which there was hunting and other entertainment. But ten years after Beloved-of-the-Gods (Asóka) had been coronated, he went on a tour to Sambodhi and thus instituted Dharma tours.”

The book notes: “It is believed that he (Emperor A?oka) built the 'Vajrasana' or 'The Diamond Throne' to mark the exact place of the enlightenment of Sakyamuni Buddha under the Bodhi Tree and erected stone railing and a temple around it.”

“The subsequent eras saw the building of sanctuaries, stupas and monasteries around it by several kings and devotees.”

In the preface to his work Mahabodhi Or The Great Buddhist Temple Under The Bodhi Tree At Buddha Gaya (1892), Andrew Cunningham, Director General of the Department of Archaeology, remarks:

“The first, and perhaps the most interesting, discovery was the remains of the original Temple of Asoka, with the polished Vajrasan Throne, exactly as portrayed in the Bharhut Bas-relief with the view of the Bodhi Tree of Sakya-muni.”

I hope you will forgive me for mentioning that, among all the carvings and artefacts, my attention was particularly drawn to the inscriptions scattered throughout the complex. These inscriptions, many of which remain to be fully deciphered by scholars, offer a fascinating window into the history and culture of the eras that contributed to the grandeur of the Mahāvihāra.

The meticulous excavation and restoration of this site have spanned several years, with contributions from leaders and citizens of nations such as Myanmar and Sri Lanka, who have played key roles in the reconstruction efforts.

A sculpture found on the southern gateway of Sanchi’s stupa number 1, dating back to around 250 BCE, alongside a relief carving from the stupa railing at Barhut, from the early Sunga period (185–73 BCE), provides a glimpse of the shrine built by Emperor A?oka.

The Barhut relief includes an inscription between sculptured images of the Mahābodhi Chaitya arches, which reads: "Bhagavato Sakamunino Bodho", meaning "The awakening of the Blessed One of the ?ākya clan."

The book’s creation was made possible through the support of the Vishwa Paramita Trust of Sri Lanka, an acknowledgment that Dr Maharathi underscores with gratitude.

I hope the publication inspires a renewed sense of wonder and reverence for the Mahabodhi Mahavihara complex. This is not merely a site of veneration or a tourist destination; that this is a place of enlightenment, inspiration, insight, and a tribute to human creativity.

Sources:

Monuments of Mahabodhi [Mahāvihāra] Temple Complex, presented by the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee.

With gratitude to Dr Mahashweta Maharathi, Member Secretary of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC)

Mahabodhi Or The Great Buddhist Temple Under The Bodhi Tree At Buddha-Gaya by Major-General Sir A. Cunningham 1892

The Edicts of King Asoka by Ven Shrvasti Dhammika