State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 05 Jul 2025

Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949

Why in News? 

The Supreme Court of India recently refused to entertain a plea (under Article 32 of the Constitution) challenging the constitutionality of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949.  

• The Act was challenged due to concerns over religious autonomy and representation in the management of the Mahabodhi Temple. 

Key Points 

• Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949: 
  • It regulates the administration of the Mahabodhi Temple and aims to ensure its proper management. 
  • After India's Independence, the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (1949) introduced shared management between Hindus and Buddhists. 
  • The Act deals with the temple's administration, which is vital for preserving and maintaining the sacred site, which includes the Bodhi tree, the Vajrasana, and several other sacred structures. 
• Mahabodhi Temple: 
  • It was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. 
  • It is located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, and is one of the most sacred places for Buddhists worldwide.  
  • It is believed to be the location where Lord Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.  
  • The temple remained an important Buddhist site through the Pala period and was visited by the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang in 629 AD.  
  • After the 13th-century invasion by Bakhtiyar Khilji, Buddhism in the region declined.  
  • The current temple, constructed during the 5th–6th century CE (Late Gupta period), is made entirely of brick. 
  • In 1590, a Hindu monk established the Bodh Gaya Math, transferring temple control to Hindus.  
  • Architectural Features: 
    • It includes a Shikhara, Vajrasana (Diamond Throne), Chaitya niches, amalaka, kalasha, sculpted balustrades, and Buddha images.  
    • Seven sacred sites within the temple complex commemorate Buddha's seven weeks of meditation post-enlightenment, including the Animeshlochan Chaitya, Lotus Pond, and Ajapala Nigrodh Tree. 
  • Mahabodhi Temple Complex: 
    • The Mahabodhi Temple complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site, consisting of a 50-meter high grand temple, the sacred Bodhi tree, the Vajrasana, and six other sacred sites related to Buddha’s enlightenment. 
  • A Lotus Pond located outside the temple is also considered sacred. These sites are surrounded by votive stupas and are well-maintained with multiple circular boundaries for protection. 

Gautama Buddha 

• Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in 563 BC on Vaisakha Purnima day at Lumbini (now in Nepal), in the Sakya Kshatriya clan. 
• His father, Suddhodhana, was the king of Kapilvastu, and his mother, Mahamaya, was a princess of the Kollia republic. 
• After his mother's early death, he was raised by his stepmother and aunt, Mahaprajapati Gautami. 
• Buddha married Yasodhara, a princess of the Shakya dynasty, and had a son, Rahul. 
• At age 29, Gautama encountered four sights-an old man, a sick person, a dead body, and an ascetic-which led him to renounce his royal life and become a wandering ascetic. 
• His first teacher, Alara Kalama, taught him meditation techniques. He later studied under Udraka Ramputra. 
• At age 35, after meditating under the Pipal tree at Bodh Gaya (near the Niranjana River), he achieved Nirvana (enlightenment) after 49 days of meditation. 
• Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath (Deer Park) to five disciples, known as the Dharmachakra Pravartana (Turning of the Wheel of Law). 
• Buddha passed away at age 80 in 483 BC at Kushinagar, a moment referred to as Mahaparinirvana (Final Nirvana). 
• Key Figures: 
  • Kanthaka: Buddha's horse. 
  • Channa: His charioteer. 
  • Devadatta: His cousin. 
  • Sujata: The farmer's daughter who offered Buddha rice milk at Bodh Gaya. 
• Other Names: Gautama (clan name), Siddhartha (childhood name), Shakyamuni (sage of the Shakya clan).