After the Famous Chattah Puja and worshipping the “Lord of energy ‘SUN’” my younger brother told me that he wants to go to Bodhgaya through Maruti 800 can I be with him. I nodded my head in a positive mood and told him-yes. It’s like ‘Andhe ko kaya chayiha- Do ankhen’, because I like travelling very much. We started our journey at 9 am on 8th of Nov. from Patna. It took almost 1hour to cross the city area, after another 25 minutes drive we reached Dhanrua, a block and outskirt of Patna. We stopped there to take tea. This place is famous for a special type of sweet known as ‘Khowa ka Lai’a unique sweet of Bihar like “Gaya ka Tilkut, Maner ka Laddu, Arrah ka Khurma and Rajgrih ka Khaja” which u couldn’t find anywhere else outside Bihar. After eating Khowa ka Lai and taking tea we took a packet of khowa ka Lai to eat as wishes.
After refreshment we started our journey through SH1 towards Bodhgaya. Both sides of the road were full of trees and agricultural lands were full of crops. It was nice to see that farmers were harvesting there full grown Paddy crops. Women were singing folk songs of harvesting, which was making the entire atmosphere pleasant and melodious. We continued our journey but our heart was stopping us not to leave the songs but our mind was reminding us that our destination is not this it’s bodhgaya, so we continued our journey. In route we saw many Palm – juice sellers either in huts or in the open. At one place we saw 2 small children selling Palm- Juice, they were sitting on the roadside. Prakhar stopped the car and took some photographs. We saw man and women making insence –sticks in the road side houses of there villages. Prakhar stopped the car one place after seeing some men there. We inquired about the making of insense –sticks in the villages. It is nice to know that house industry is a common thing through out the route. This house industry is giving a lot of employment and making their economy stronger. This is showing the changing face of Bihar. Some years before the whole area was infected with Naxal movements, travelling was difficult in these areas, but now the face of Bihar has changed for good. People want Peace and Job. Roti, Kapda and Makan are the basics of Bihar youths that’s why they are going to other states. This is the Bihar, which was once known for its Vihar’s(Where Buddhist monks lived). Due to lakes of Vihar’s this peaceful place became known as Bihar and the state was called Bihar.
After 1 hour and 30 minutes drive we reached the town called Jahanabad. Here we finished half of the journey. Jahanabad was once known as (Jahanpanahabad) means the place, which was built up by Jahanpanah. It is a district HQ, once it was notorious for its Naxal and anti Naxal moments and massacres. Five years before it came into the headline of all the national and state level Papers and news channels due to the notorious Jahanabad jail break operation by M. C. C “Naxal origination”.
Prakhar continued his drive. All through the way we were happy to know about the changing face of Bihar and to see the crops, the widening of the road- work and coming of new infrastructures for industries. We crossed Makhdumpur; the place was named after famous saint of Muslim period Makhdumshah. Now it’s a block office. We crossed another block Bela from here one can go to the famous caves of Barabar and Nagargun platues. These platues and caves are 10 km from Bela. These are the first man made caves of India. Here one can find many caves but 7 caves are famous and historically known. From the inner side these caves are polished like glass. These caves dated back to B.C. 300. Even from Makhdumpur one can go to Barabar caves, but the route is long and challenging. In ancient time the Barabar platue was known as Banawar Mountain, house of famous mythological character Banasur.
After crossing Bela and an hour’s drive we reached Gaya. One of the ancient cities of India like Banaras, a famous pilgrim of Sanatan dharma (Hindu). Now we were 10 km from Bodhgaya. After a long time I was in Gaya I saw that it is changing it’s face towards progress. From here there are 2 routes for Bodhgaya. One from the side of famous river Falgu, during the ‘Pitripaksha month’ Hindu dharma followers does karmakanda here for the moksha of there dead one. Another route is through Army Camp. We decided to go through the army camp route. Siding the famous Gandhi maiden, Gaya College, British periods famous Central jail, Gaya, we caught the camp road. Central jail, Gaya is a place where during independence movement many nationalist and revolutionary leaders were kept. Many of them have been hanged too. The army camp road has a picturesque and beautiful surrounding. Driving was a charm during the 10 km road from Gaya to Bodhgaya. Prakhar was enjoying it and our tiredness went away. In route we crossed army camp, Bodhgaya airport, Industrial area and Magadh University, Bodhgaya. At 12.30 pm we reached Bodhgaya and parked the car in front of one of the hotel.
Bodhgaya is to Buddhists. What Mecca – Medina to Muslims or Bethlehem is to Christians. It is the most sacred place for the Buddhists all over the world. This place banks on the river Phalgu ancient name Niranjana. Bodhgaya is the place where Siddartha got Enlighten. We got out of the car and put our feet on that scared land. Prakhar and I were thrilled though it was not our first journey of bodhgaya. Four years of our childhood has gone there and many more times we have gone there. People always felt peace and calmness in the atmosphere and a sense of wisdom.
“ Her kisi ko mukkamal jahan nahi milta, Kisi ko jami, kisi ko asma nahi milta”
"But after reaching here one gets both the end"
In Bodhgaya there are temples and hotels all around. Mahabodhi temple is the main temple. One can get Economy to Four-star hotels there ranging Rs. 250 to 3000 per day. Temples have their own rooms too. These temples are of different countries. We checked into an economy class hotel and chose a room on third floor, which has windows in the roadside. Prakhar parked the car in front of the hotel and down the window. It was mid day and we were hungry so we took the lunch. Atmosphere was pleasant due to the chanting of mantras from different Buddhist granthas. People from all over world were there. Bodhgaya was looking like a true international city.
Prakhar and I first went to the Tibetan chaitya (Buddhist place of worship). Colouring & construction work was going on so we couldn’t take the photograph of that Chaitya. We entered the Chaitya only countryman (Indian) were there they were offering puja and putting coins in the Deep- tray, Hindu fellows pray Buddha as the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Even after crowd there was pin - drop silence, pace & calmness. A Tibbitian monk was sitting there we talked to the monk. He told us in December ‘HIS HINESS Dalai Lama will come to perform special puja and he is waiting for that day. We left the place for main temple (Chaitya).
After the initial checking we entered the Temple area from the Eastern side gate, rest gates have been closed due to security. There is a huge wall all around the temple. From the top, the Temple was looking very elegant and descent. Main Temple area is 25 ft. down the earth. There were around 35-36 stairs. The Mahavihara was excavated in a 600 square ft. area. Presently the main Temple or Mahavihara stands 160 ft. high above the ground level. From the Eastern side main gate one can easily see Lord Buddha sitting in a Bhoomisparsa (Touch Ground Posture) in the garvhagraha or main room with the feeling of his heart- beats. Around the Temple is a huge garden with places for worship. I found Temple signing after maintenance work. Back of the Main temple there is a Peepal tree Under the ansctors of this tree Siddartha sat facing the Eastern direction in Vajrasana posture and attained enlightment to become Buddha. Main Temple or Chatya was built at the sitting place of Buddha. Firstly Emperor Ashoka constructed a 50 ft. high Stupa on the place of today’s main temple after the design of Dhammekha stupa of Sarnath or Sanchi stupa. On the ruins of that stupa today’s Main temple has been built. It was built around 2nd century AD. At present the Railings (Boundary wall) and the Vajrasana are the oldest one, which were made by Ashoka. They are popularly known as Ashoka’s railings The gold plated statue of Lord Buddha in the “Touch ground Posture” was installed in the sanctum of the temple in 380 AD.
The scared peepal tree has been supported with a lot of pillars to save the tree. Time to time Chemical treatment has been given to the tree. Followers sit under the tree for ‘Dhayna’. Main gates left side or Southern side there is a huge pond. It is the house of ‘State Fish of Bihar – ‘Mangur’ One can find huge number of Mangur in the pond, travellers use to feed them.
Buchanan Hamilton was the first European scholar who visited the place in 1811. The Mahavihara with Chaitya (Temple) was in a dilapidated sate at that time. In 1861 ASI Director General Cunningham came and saw it in same state. After the permission of GOI King of Burma Mindan Mina started restoration work in 1875, but the work was sub – standard, GOI handed over the work to G. D. Beglar in 1880. General Cunningham & Dr. Rajendralal Mitra supervised it. Today’s temple is the handy work of those greats.
Other nearest places – Rajgrih, Nalanda, Vaishali, Patna-Sahib, Sahasram.
How to reach: Through Train – Gaya is the nearest Railway Station, only 10 km. Capital Patna is the second one 125 km. One can get state tourist bus or other vehicles too.
Airport – Patna.
For other information one can contact State tourist department, Birchand Patel path, Patna. Tel. 0612 – 222622.
