Buddh Gaya, hamlet in northeastern India, in Bihar state. Buddh Gaya is one of the holiest places of Buddhism and a center of pilgrimage. It is believed to be the place where, under a bo tree (“tree of awakening”), Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained the transcendent state known as nirvana, and became the Buddha in about 528 BC. Buddh Gaya is situated on the banks of the river Falgu (once known as the Niranjana), in which the Buddha is said to have bathed after his meditation. The central shrine is the Mahabodhi Temple, a large structure with a pyramidal tower rising to 54 m (180 ft) and with carved turrets at each corner of its square base. Built in the 2nd century AD, the temple replaced a simple shrine built by Ashoka, a Mauryan king, in the 3rd century BC. The present design dates mainly from the 7th and 8th centuries AD, and the turrets were added during the 12th century. The temple, which contains a huge gilded stone Buddha, was substantially restored during the 19th century. The position of the original sacred bo tree, or fig tree, is marked by a platform in the temple grounds, and the tree that stands today is believed to be a direct descendant. Buddh Gaya has long been a center for pilgrimage. Monasteries have been established by pilgrims from Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), Thailand, Tibet, China, and Japan. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, visits Buddh Gaya every December. Buddh Gaya is also the site of Magadh University (founded in 1962). Population (1991) 21,692.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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