Drum – 22 August 2019

SOURCES: BODHGAYA.MYANMARVIHARA.ORG, BRITANNICA.COM, CULTURALINDIA.NET, DUT.WORLDTOURISMGROUP.COM, EJIUSA.COM, GOUNESCO.COM, GREAT-BUDDHA-STATUE.COM, HDFCBANK.COM, HITCHHIKERSGUI.DE, JOHANNES DE VILLIERS (THE DHARMA CENTRE) , LOCALGUIDESCONNECT.COM, MIELIESTRONK.COM, NATIONMULTIMEDIA.COM, NEWWORLDENCYCLOPEDIA.ORG, PINDDAANGAYAJI.COM, SACRED-DESTINATIONS.COM, STEEMIT.COM, STUDY.COM, TOURISMPILLAINDIA.BLOGSPOT.COM, TRODLY.COM, VISITTNT.COM, WHC.UNESCO.ORG, WIKIZERO.COM

THE BUDDHA’S ‘PROTECTOR’This statue in the Lotus Pond depicts the Buddha with a snake guarding him. Buddhists believe that Mucalinda, a supernatural

cobra-like

being

or

nāga,

came

to

protect

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 now also considered holy. 1. The Bodhi treeThis tree is a descendant of the fig tree under which the Buddha meditated for a week. It’s now known as the holy Bodhi (“awakening”) tree. Next to the tree is a platform of sandstone called Vajrasana (“the Diamond Throne”), put there by Ashoka to mark the spot where the Buddha sat.

2. Unblink-ing shrine For the second week of his meditation, the Buddha stood mo-tionless in one spot and stared at the Bodhi tree without interruption.

The Animeschlocha stupa

(“unblinking shrine”) is located on the spot where he stood. It features the Buddha in a sitting position, eyes open and staring at the Bodhi tree.

5. Ajapala Nigrodha TreeA pillar now stands on the spot where a boy planted this tree to protect the Buddha. He sat here during thefifth 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 Unblinking Shrine. It’s believed lotus blossoms sprung up along his path (the Ratnachakarma or “jewel walk”). Stone lotuses carved on a platform mark his steps.

4. Jewel prayer hallThe 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 located south of the temple complex.
   7. The Rajyatna treeThe 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 11m high stone wall.

DRUM INFO GRAPHICS, GALLO IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES, AAI/FOTOSTOCKSA http://www.drum.co.za 22 AUGUST 2019 | (^61)