Bodhgaya is a city in Patna, the capital of Bihar. Lord Buddha, doing penance under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, had attained enlightenment. Since then this place is extremely important for the followers of Buddhism. In 2002, the city was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Around 500 BC Gautam Buddha reached the banks of the river Phalgu and sat under the Bodhi tree to do penance. After the penance of three days and nights, he attained enlightenment, After which he became known as Buddha. After this, the Buddha went on meditating in different places and then went to Sarnath and started propagating religion.
The followers of the Buddha later started visiting the place where Buddha had attained enlightenment on the full moon day in the month of Vaishakh. Gradually, this place became
known as Bodhgaya and this day was known as Buddha Purnima. It is believed that the Buddha statue installed in the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya is in the same condition as the one who did penance while sitting and that statue was installed by Lord Buddha himself.
This statue of Buddha is the most eminent statue in the Baudh World.A replica of this idol has also been installed in the temples of Nalanda and Vikramashila. Many monuments were built by Ashok Mahan in this city.
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