Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c12.s4.1

c12.s4.1

Bodhgaya is the site where Buddha obtained his enlightenment. It is six miles to the south of Gaya and at a very short distance from the Village of Urale, ancient Uruvilva which was the hermitage of Ṛiṣi Kāśyapa and also the seat of Sujātā. It is said that Upagupta pointed out to Aśoka that Buddha obtained his enlightenment at this place and the latter built here a Bodhi Temple. The tree was known as the *Bodhi Druma* or the Tree of Wisdom. The Throne or Seat of Buddha was called *Bodhi Maṇḍa*; the temple created over the throne *Mahā Bodhi Vihāra*, and the great monastery close by was called *Mahā Bodhi Saṅghārāma*. The original Bodhi shrine erected by Aśoka no longer exists at Bodhgaya but the true representation of the same occurs at Bharhut in a bas-relief which shows that it was an open pavilion supported on pillars in the middle of which was the *Vajrāsana* throne decorated in front with four flat pilasters. Behind the throne appears the trunk of the Bodhi Tree, which rises up high above the building, and on each side of the tree there is a combined symbol of the *triratna* and the *dharmachakra*, standing on the top of a short pillar. On each side of the *Vajrāsana*-room there is a side-room of the same style. The top of the throne is ornamented with flowers, but there is no figure of the Buddha. It was conceived in the style of the *puṣpagrahani vedikā* or the platform for receiving flower-offering as depicted near the Stūpas at Mathura and other places. During repairs the original *Bodhi Maṇḍa* was actually discovered after removing the two subsequent restorations and it was found to have been made of polished sandstone with four short pilasters in front, exactly as depicted in the Bharhut bas-relief. The sandstone and its polish were similar to those of other Aśokan monuments.