Keep Smiling...............: Bodh Gaya

The MahaBodhi temple in Bodh Gaya is significant for the MahaBodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment, all those 2400 years ago. It is thus, the most auspicious and holy pilgrimage center for Buddhists.

Well, for those sceptics out there, who'd go like, how can there be a tree that's that old......and I've been asked....I had presumed it's the same tree through it's ancestors kinds.

I just told these folks how even the now existent tree looks atleast 500 to 600 years old. And then I got a doubt on how old a peepal tree (bodhi tree) could really be........ and surprise surprise, a peepal tree has a lifespan of 2000 - 3000 years. Amazing, huh ?

The arch reads 'Samjhodi Dwaar', meaning gateway to enlightenment

The Mahabodhi Temple

That's THE MahaBodhi tree

Guess the place is just a little overwhelming, because everyone just automatically falls silent. There is an aura of quiet and serenity, and a natural high energy. You just don't feel like leaving.

In fact, there's another peepal tree right next to this.....and equally old with a lot of stupas around. I did the pranic healing thing of feeling the energy of the tree, and it was a crazy experience..... it was almost magnetic in its hold. I didn't feel like taking my hand off.

It's a place to be experienced. I for sure intend to go again if I get to make another trip to Bihar.

In addition to the MahaBodhi temple, we also visited the Vishwa Shanti Stupa at Rajgir, in Nalanda , one of the 80 peace pagodas of the world.

The Vishwa Shanthi Stupa

Rajgir is again a very auspicious place for Buddhists and Jains as well. Buddha is said to have given many of his initial sermons after attaining enlightenment here, and is also said to have initiated Bimbisara, one of the earliest emperors of the Magadha Dynasty to Buddhism, Likewise, Mahavira, the Jain Guru has spent a significant part of his life in Rajgir.

Rajgir was the original capital of the Magadha dynasty, which is what evolved into the well known Mauryan Empire. ( I didn't know folks could have favorite empires, but my dad does, and his favorite was the Mauryan Empire. In fact he named our house 'Maurya' )

There's also a lot of Mahabharatha and Ramayana stories associated with the place, one famous one being the wrestling fight between Bhima and Jarasandha, who hailed from this place (where Bhima throws the different part of Jarasandha in different directions as it had the ability to reassemble).

Access is through an arial ropeway, which was fun

A Maanyata of the place; if you draw, with a wish for your children, it comes true. So you see a lot of people doing those designs with their fingers on the sand there.