An Appeal to our Dhamma friends in Buddhist world for Conservation of Heritage Site Mahabodhi Mahavihara (Main Stupa)

The Mahabodhi Mahavihara (Temple) and its precincts is the most important place in Buddhagaya. This is the place where the Buddha attained supreme Enlightenment in the 6th century B.C. It was during the reign of King Piyadassi Asoka in the 3rd century B.C.that this place came into prominence. He started construction works by making the Vajrasana or the Diamond throne -- the seat of Enlightenment. Thereafter he built a stupa in veneration of the Buddha which remained there  upto the 2nd century A.D.It was during this period that Buddhism was divided into two sects Hinayana and Mahayana. The Kings who professed and supported Buddhism at that time were all practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism. This was also the period during which started image worship in Buddhism.

Thus, to install an image of the Buddha inside the stupa it was broken open and since then started the process of establishment of the this great edifice of veneration that we see today. This whole structure was completed sometime in the 7th century A.D. during the reign of the Gupta period.

Time came when Buddhism disappeared from the Land of its birth and this Temple too got damaged due to the ravages of time and man made miseries and natures calamities. It was during the last few years of the nineteenth century that this Temple was excavated and repaired.

It has become more than a hundred years since this Temple received a thorough conservation work and time has come that we undertake a comprehensive conservation work. There are trees growing all around the structure which have developed cracks and this is causing great harm to the very existence of the Temple.(photo01)  Therefore, it is time to undertake this conservation work. The Bodhgaya temple Management Committee -- who are responsible for the protection and maintenance of this Temple has decided to entrust this conservation work into the hands of the experts who in this case is the Archaeological Survey of India.

Work on this Monument started on the 13th February 2002 and will cost us a whoping Rupees 65 lakhs (six and half million rupees) out of which half of the required amount has already been collected. We appeal to all our well-wishers to donate liberally so that we can go and complete the work at the earliest. International standard material will be used for its renovation and restoration. Expertise and knowledge of renowned and learned experts will be taken into confidence to ensure that standard work is being done for the renovation, restoration, development and beautification of the Temple and that the work is done keeping in view its archaeological and aesthetic value.

This work is necessary if it is made to survive long enough for the future generations to have a glimpse of the ancient and glorious history. The work needs to be undertaken by expert hands as the originality of the work is to be kept alive without causing any change and damage to the original character.

Work on lower level has completed. Now Iron pipe have been put up on 2nd floor for work at the higher level. Masons and labourers are working on upper side. At present the documentation work is also being done.

Day - to - day progress alongwith the photographs of the conservation and restoration work will be uploaded  so that the donors and well-wishers can know the progress of the work.

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