Bodhgaya

Nyingmapa masters in front of the Mahabodhi stupa at the Mönlam Chenmo prayer festival, Bodhgaya, 1996.

Bodhgaya (Skt. bodh gayā), near the city of Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar, is the village that was built around the Vajra Seat. By the bodhi tree near the Vajrasana is the main stupa, which is called Mahabodhi, surrounded by numerous smaller chaityas. At the time of the Muslim invasions in the 13th century the site was abandoned to the jungle, with the result that it survived the massive destruction which befell other Buddhist sites and is preserved today. The Archaeological Museum also houses many relics. The site is flooded with Tibetans each year from November to February, when, unlike during the rest of the year, it is not unbearably hot. Since 1987, the Nyingma Mönlam Chenmo has been held in Bodhgaya every year during the first ten days of the 12th Tibetan month.

Further Reading

In Tibetan

• Chomden Rigpé Raldri, rdo rje gdan rnam bshad rgyan gyi me tog

Internal Links

• Eight holy places