Buddha Gaya is one of the four holiest places of Buddhism. Here Buddha attained enlightenment after having meditated for 49 days under the bodhi tree. In the 3rd century BC emperor Asoka built a shrine to mark this spot of Buddha's sambodhi. A later stone railing enclosing this shrine survives from the Sunga period (1st century BC). Sanchi and Barhut depict the shrine on several reliefs. The shrine was replaced by the Mahabodhi temple, begun in the Kushan period in the 2nd century AD. In the Pala-Sena period it was provided with statuary and revetment. Burmese Buddhists began to restore it in 1877, but a proper scientific restoration was done by Cunningham in 1882. The present work was attempt at a scientific study of the site, its monuments and antiquities, as well as its descriptions in Buddhist texts and Puranas. It describes the geography, buildings, ancient structures, and the religious legends of Gaya. It is still the only work to give an extensive account of the importance of Gaya in Buddha's enlightenment. The architectural remains, sculptures, carvings on railings, copings and pillars, inscriptions from the earliest period, and chronology are detailed by R. Mitra.

ISBN 13: 9788177420623

ISBN 10: 8177420623

Year: 2005

Language: ENGLISH

Pages etc.: Reprint of 1878: xx+258p., (51)pls., ind., 28x22cm.

Binding: Hardbound

Subject(s): Buddhism, 00stock