Buddhist Bhikkhus, activists, and various organizations have been protesting at Bodh Gaya, demanding that the management of the holy shrine of Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara be handed over to the Buddhists of India. It is disturbing and extremely unfortunate that even after 75 years of our republic, the most important and sacred site for the Buddhist world has not been entrusted to them.
There is no doubt about the authenticity or historicity of this shrine as a Buddhist site, originally developed by Emperor Ashoka the Great. It was later restored during the Gupta-Pala period and consistently maintained by various Burmese kings. Historically, as Buddhist patrons lost power to the Sena dynasty of Bengal, followed by the Mughal invasion, the shrine was neglected, attacked, and eventually fell into ruin.
One of the greatest contributions to Buddhism in India came from the British surveyor Major General A. Cunningham, as well as Indian archaeologist Dr. Rajendralal Mitra and many others in the early 19th century, who played a crucial role in restoring the site and rediscovering numerous other Buddhist locations buried under ruins.
Nobody has ever doubted that Bodh Gaya is the most significant shrine for Buddhists worldwide. Many scholars in the past have compared it to Mecca for Muslims, Badri-Kedar for Hindus, and Jerusalem for Christians. Almost all historical documents and research confirm that this is a Buddhist temple. The Bodhi tree, despite being destroyed and uprooted multiple times, has been restored and remains one of the oldest trees in the world.
We need not delve further into its historical authenticity because, unlike other religious disputes in India, the status of Mahabodhi Vihara as a Buddhist temple has long been established. From British scholars to British Indian administrators, all have recognized it as a Buddhist place. The British handled this issue with great care, and even during negotiations, the question of ownership claimed by the Shankar Math was not raised. The Math’s role was acknowledged for not converting the shrine into a Hindu temple and allowing Buddhists to worship there. Consequently, both Hindus and Buddhists have been worshipping within the complex, where the Math has also built a Hindu temple.
The Bengal District Gazetteer of Gaya (1906) states:
"The temple was originally a Buddhist shrine, but for a long time, it has been under the possession of a Hindu Mahanth belonging to an order founded by the bitterest enemies of Buddhism. It had fallen into complete ruin and would have soon disappeared had the government not restored it at its own cost. Consequently, they maintain a custodian to care for the building and oversee its repairs. The Mahanth controls the worship and receives offerings from both Buddhists and Hindu pilgrims. The government maintains an attitude of impartiality on all religious matters affecting the shrine. Buddhists perform their rites at the shrine and under the Bodhi tree, just as they have done for centuries, while Hindus also make offerings under the tree, as it is recognized as one of the 45 sacred places for Hindu religious ceremonies in Gaya."
Regarding the historic Bodhi tree, the Gazetteer notes:
"This tree is the oldest historical tree in the world and has an eventful history. It was first cut down by Ashoka in his unregenerate days, but after he embraced Buddhism, he lavished extraordinary devotion upon it. His queen, jealous of his attachment and begrudging the jewel Ashoka offered to the tree, had it cut down again. But for the second time, it was miraculously restored to life."
The Call for Restoration to Buddhists
In January 1922, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore visited Bodh Gaya and was deeply moved by the Buddhist shrine. He stated:
"It is an intolerable wrong to allow the temple, built on the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, to remain under the control of a rival sect that neither understands nor has sympathy for Buddhist religion and its worship. All individuals who believe in freedom and justice have a sacred duty to return this great historical site to the Buddhist community."
While the British Indian government handled this issue carefully, it was the tireless efforts of Anagarika Dharmapala, a Buddhist monk and scholar from Sri Lanka, that truly internationalized the cause. Though Chinese travelers like Xuanzang and Faxian had documented the shrine centuries earlier, and Burmese kings had attempted restoration, Dharmapala brought global attention to the matter, raising awareness in the United States and Japan.
Had Dr. B.R. Ambedkar been actively involved at the time, the outcome might have been different. However, in the absence of strong local support, it was difficult to challenge the existing power structures. The appropriation of Buddhist shrines by Brahmanical elites resulted from Buddhism's decline following the fall of the Pala dynasty in the 12th century, particularly due to the rise of the anti-Buddhist Sena dynasty under King Sasanka. Additionally, various Mughal rulers and local chieftains contributed to the destruction of these historical sites.
Post-Independence Management and the Bihar Government's Role
After independence, the Bihar government took control of the shrine's management through the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Act (1949). However, the management committee remains dominated by Brahmins, as it consists of four Hindu members and four Buddhist members, with the District Magistrate as the ex-officio Chairman. Activists argue that in most temple management committees across India, Brahmins hold a majority, and Bodh Gaya is no exception.
UNESCO declared Mahabodhi Vihara a World Heritage Site on June 29, 2002, recognizing its immense historical and architectural significance. The site meets multiple UNESCO criteria, including its direct association with the life of Buddha and its influence on architectural development over the centuries.
Given that all historical, religious, and governmental authorities acknowledge Bodh Gaya as a Buddhist site, what prevents it from being handed over to the Buddhists? Hindus have numerous important pilgrimage centers and temples across India. Gaya, located just 10 kilometers from Bodh Gaya, is a significant Hindu religious center, and its status has never been questioned. The Mahant of Bodh Gaya has historically benefited from land grants, reportedly controlling over 18,000 acres of land (some estimates suggest over 30,000 acres). This wealth and influence contributed to resistance against land reforms in Bihar.
The Bodh Gaya land movement, led by landless Dalits and other marginalized communities, culminated in 1987, when the Bihar government distributed 18,000 acres of land among 11,000 landless farmers, mostly from Dalit communities. The religious-political nexus opposing land reforms has consistently sought to circumvent land ceiling laws by creating religious trusts.
A Call for Justice
India has a rich Buddhist heritage that the world acknowledges. Many Indian leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Narendra Modi, have spoken in reverence of Buddha. No political party would openly oppose handing over Mahabodhi Vihara to Buddhists.
The Ambedkarite movement, which has revived Buddhism in India, continues to push for this cause. If the government delays further, tensions between Hindus and Buddhists could escalate. The Bihar government must take a simple yet historic decision: convene an all-party meeting, review the archaeological and historical findings, and return Mahabodhi Vihara to the Buddhists. True justice lies in ensuring that this sacred site is managed by those to whom it rightfully belongs.
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