The Buddha

In the year 563 B. C. on the Full Moon Day of Vaisakha in the kingdom of Kapilavastu, a young prince was born to King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya in the royal Lumbini grove under a Sal Tree. On the fifth day of his birth he was named 'Siddhartha' and on the seventh day his mother expired. The younger sister of Mahamaya, Prajapati Gautami who was his step-mother took care of the young child like any other mother would do.

During the formative years of Prince Siddhartha, he received his early education and was trained in warfare, but he was often found immersed in deep - thoughts regarding the suffering and miseries of humanity. He was opposed to exploitation of man by man, inequality, poverty, violence, class and caste system. When he attained the age of sixteen he was married to a very beautiful and charming Princess Yashodhara, daughter of the Koliya King Dandapani of Devadaha.

When Siddhartha was 29 years old Yashodhara gave birth to a beautiful son named Rahula and this he termed as another impediment to keep him attached to worldly life. He left his palace leaving behind his parents, his beautiful wife and the new born Rahula in search of a way that would free mankind or humanity from the cycle of suffering.

Realizing that the practice of severe austerities would lead him to death and left his friends and came to the east bank of the river Niranjana where he was offered Kheer (rice-pudding = cooked rice with milk and sugar) by Sujata, daughter of the chief of the village Senani. Accepting the Dana (offer) of Sujata he crossed the river Niranjana and came to Uruvela on the same day and in the evening he prepared a seat of kusa grass and sat beneath the pipal tree facing eastwards. The Bodhisattva Siddhartha who was determined to reach the truth started his fight against the Mara, the Evil One sitting for meditation with strong determination (adhitthana) that unless and until he would not find out the truth he would not get up from the seat, come what may.

After attaining Enlightenment, the Buddha spent seven more weeks in meditation in seven different places around the Maha Bodhi Tree contemplating his stupendous achievement for this human life as to be born as a human being is very rare.

§ Vajrasana the Diamond Throne where He spent the first week.

§ Animesalochana or the Place of Unwinking Gazing where He spent the second week.

§ Cankamana or Walking Meditation where He spent the third week.

§ Ratanaghara or the Jewel House where he spent the fourth week.

§ Ajapala Nigrodha Tree where He spent the fifth week.

§ Muchalinda Sarovar or the Abode of the King Snake where He spent the sixth week.

§ Rajayatana Tree where He spent the seventh week.

The Buddha (in Mahabodhi Mahavihara, Buddhagaya)

The gilded image of the Buddha seated cross-legged, with one hand pointing to the earth, i.e. in the attitude in the attitude of the Bhumisprsa Mudra in which Sakyamuni sat when he attained to the Supreme Knowledge. This sculptural representation of Buddha is unique with its calm facial expression and superb physical beauty. 

All communities from all over the world offer prayer at the feet of the large image of the Buddha installed on the Vajrasana at ground floor of the Mahavihar facing east. Its great size may indicate that it once served as the central image of the Mahabodhi temple, replacing an earlier work for some reason.