His Excellency the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited the hallowed land of Buddha's Enlightenment on the 31st May 2003 and was overwhelmed by the serene atmosphere and the beauty of the ancient antiquities of the premises of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara.

His Excellency was taken round the Temple complex after offering prayers in the shrine room and the Vajrasana. The President offered flowers and lighted candles and incense and stood with folded hands when the Ven'ble monks were chanting the sacred suttas from the Tipitakas. The President also met the Venerable Monks from Buddhagaya under the sacred Bodhi tree for an interaction. The President's expressions are as follows :

" When I entered the main sanctum of the Temple where the beautiful image of the Buddha is seated, I stood enchanted with folded hands in veneration when the monks were reciting the sutras from the sacred texts. The Diamond Throne (Vajrasana) and the Bodhi Tree, the witness to the great Enlightenment, still vibrates and generates spiritual power. The beautiful image of the main sanctum is a fine embodiment of a beautiful body, beautiful mind and beautiful soul. The great sculptor has very successfully manifested the spirituality of the Master".

Replying to the question of a monk during the interaction that how the visions of a scientist who made destructive weapons can match with the teachings of the Buddha, which were solely based on non-violence, the Defence Scientist and President gave a nice reply --- " the Buddha was a great scientist who after a long quest discovered the truth and preached it for the good of mankind. A scientist also searches truth whose final goal is the welfare and peace. Lord Buddha's very close disciple Ananda is always referred to making queries getting satisfactory answers from the Buddha. I am also like Ananda, you can say me 'Chhota Ananda'. I am blessed that I came here. You are more blessed that you are here to receive the inspiration and the radiance directly".

The President was presented with a replica of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara, a sapling of the Holy Bodhi tree and a set of books by the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee

Later the President also had an interaction with the teachers. He also went to the All India Bhikkhu Sangha to inaugurate a Seminar whose topic was "How to rid the Ego of I and Mine". He also inaugurated the headquarter building of the All India Bhikkhu Sangha.