SOURCES:
STUDY.COM,
WHC.UNESCO.ORG,
BRITANNICA.COM,
HDFCBANK.COM,
MIELIESTRONK.COM,
VISITTNT.COM,
NEWWORLDENCYCLOPEDIA.ORG,
BODHGAYA.MYANMARVIHARA.ORG,
HITCHHIKERSGUI.DE,
DUT.WORLDTOURISMGROUP.COM,
WIKIZERO.COM,
SACRED-DESTINATIONS.
COM, LOCALGUIDESCONNECT.COM, EJIUSA.COM, GOUNESCO.COM, STEEMIT.COM, NATIONMULTIMEDIA.COM, CULTURALINDIA.NET, TOURISMPILLAINDIA.BLOGSPOT.COM, PINDDAANGAYAJI.COM, TRODLY.COM, GREAT-BUDDHA-STATUE.COM
THE BUDDHA’S ‘PROTECTOR’This statue in the Lotus Pond depicts the Buddha with a snake guarding him. Bud-dhists believe that Mucalinda, a supernat-ural
cobra-like
being
or
nāga
,came
to
pro-
tect
the
Buddha.
Mucalinda
lifted
his
hood
to
shield
the
Buddha
from
a
storm
created
by
the
demon
Mara
to
distract
him
from
his
meditation.
SEVEN SACRED PLACES Before he reached enlightenment, the Buddha spent seven weeks (49 days) in the area, meditating and thinking about his experiences. The
places
where
he
spent
each
week
are
also
considered
holy.
1.
The
Bodhi
tree
This
is
a
descendant
of
the
fig
tree
under
which
the
Buddha
meditated
for
the
first
week.
It’s
known
as
the
holy
Bodhi
(“awakening”)
tree.
Next
to
it
is
a
platform
of
sandstone
called
Vajrasana
(“the
Dia
mond
Throne”),
put
there
by
Emperor
Ashoka
to
mark
the
spot
where
the
Buddha
sat.
2.
Unblink-
ing
shrine
For
the
sec-
ond
week
of
his
medita-
tion,
the
Buddhastood
mo-
tionless
in
one
spot
and
stared
at
the
Bodhi
tree
without
interruption.
The
Animeschlocha
stupa
(“un
blinking
shrine”)
is
located
on
the
spot
where
he
stood.
It
features
the
Buddha
in
a
sitting
position
with
his
eyes
open,
staring
at
the
Bodhi
tree.
5.
Ajapala
Nigrodha
Tree
A
pillar
now
stands
on
the
spot
where
a
boy
planted
this
tree
to
protect
the
Buddha,
who
sat
here
dur
ing
the
fifth
week
answering
questions
by
the
Brahmins
(Hindu
priests).
3.
The
Jewel
Walk
In
the
third
week
of
meditation,
the
Buddha
walked
18
steps
up
and
down
between
the
Bodhi
tree
and
the
location
of
the
Unblink-
ing
Shrine.
It’s
believed
lotus
blossoms
sprung
up
along
his
path
(the
Ratnachakarma
or
“jew-
el
walk”).
Stone
lotuses
carved
on
a
platform
now
mark
his
steps.
4.
Jewel
prayer
hall
The
Ratnaghar
Chaitya
(“jewel
prayer
hall”)
marks
the
spot
where
he
spent
the
fourth
week.
6.
The
Lotus
pondThe
Buddha
spent
his
sixth
week
of
medita
tion
next
to
this
pond,
which
is
lo-
cated
south
of
the
tem-
ple
complex.
7.
The
Rajyatna
tree
The
Buddha
spent
his
seventh
and
last
week
of
meditation
under
this
tree.
Here
he
spread
his
message
by
teaching
passersby.
ENTRANCE
The temple is surrounded by a stone wall that’s 11m high.
GALLO IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES, AAI/FOTOSTOCK SA
you.co.za 22 AUGUST 2019 | (^79)