History of Bodhgaya

The religion which talks of humanism the most is Buddhism originated from Goutama Buddha who got his Bodhi (Enlightenment) after meditation sitting under a Pipal Tree in the place namely Bodhgaya. History of Bodhgaya, therefore, would introduce you to that city in the Indian state of Bihar where circa 500 BC Prince Gautama Siddhartha, traveling as a monk, reached the sylvan banks of Falgu River, near the city of Gaya. From that time, began the real history of that place.

According to Buddhist documentation, at Bodhgaya Goutama sat in meditation under a Pipal tree the English name of which is Ficus religiosa. After three days and three nights of meditation Siddharta who was actually the prince of Nepal's Kapilabastu city attained enlightenment and insight and the answers that he had sought for years. Enlightened by the new thought, he spent seven weeks at seven various spots in the surrounding area meditating and bearing in mind his experience. After seven weeks, he traveled to Sarnath, and began teaching Buddhism.

The dedicated disciples of Gautama Siddhartha started to visit the place where he had gained enlightenment during the full moon in the month of Vaisakh (April-May), according to the Hindu calendar. Gradually, the holy place became recognized as Bodh Gaya. The day of enlightenment has been termed as Buddha Purnima, and the tree as the Bodhi Tree.

Foremost among the inscriptions and pilgrimage accounts regarding the place Bodhgaya are the accounts of the Chinese pilgrims Faxian in the 5th century and Xuanzang in the 7th century.