ALL INDIA BUDDHIST FORUM PROTEST: POLITY
NEWS: The decades old dispute over who controls Mahabodhi temple in Gaya
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
The All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) is protesting to demand full Buddhist control over the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya by repealing the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949. Buddhists argue the temple's current Hindu-dominated management marginalizes Buddhist practices, despite its significance as the site of Buddha's enlightenment.
All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) Protests
• The All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) has launched large-scale demonstrations across India.
• The protests demand Buddhist control over the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
• AIBF is seeking the repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949 (BGTA), under which the temple is presently governed.
Historical Background of Control Over the Mahabodhi Temple
• Around 1590, a Shaivite monk named Mahant Ghamandi Giri arrived in Gaya and took possession of the Mahabodhi Temple site.
• He established the Bodh Gaya Math, a Hindu monastery at the site.
• Ghamandi Giri's descendants have controlled the temple ever since, treating Lord Buddha as the ninth incarnation (avatar) of Lord Vishnu.
• Efforts to reclaim the temple for Buddhists began in the late 19th century, led by Anagarika Dhammapala, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk.
• Dhammapala even took the matter to court, challenging the Hindu control.
• His advocacy laid the groundwork for the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, passed by the Bihar Assembly—16 years after his death.
The Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949 (BGTA)
• The BGTA created a Temple Management Committee for the Mahabodhi Temple.
• The Committee consists of:
• 1 Chairman (ex-officio District Magistrate of Gaya),
• 4 Buddhist members nominated by the state government,
• 4 Hindu members including the Mahanth (the head of Bodh Gaya Math).
• If the District Magistrate is non-Hindu, the state government is required to appoint a Hindu as the Chairman.
• While the Act officially gave representation to both Buddhists and Hindus, control has effectively remained with the Hindu side.
• Buddhists allege that Hindu rituals have become dominant in the temple, marginalising Buddhist practices.
Controversy and Legal Barriers
• Buddhists argue the BGTA is unfair and demand complete control over the temple.
• The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 complicates the issue.
• This Act freezes the religious character of places of worship as they were on 15 August 1947.
• Therefore, the Mahabodhi Temple’s status as a Hindu-managed site cannot be legally challenged in court under this Act, making Buddhist claims legally difficult.
Mahabodhi Temple: Significance
• The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the four most sacred Buddhist sites, associated with Lord Buddha’s life.
• It marks the spot where Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and became the Buddha.
Other Three Important Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites
1. Lumbini (Nepal): Birthplace of Buddha.
2. Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh): Place where Buddha delivered his first sermon.
3. Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh): Where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (death).
Architectural and Historical Evolution
• 3rd century BCE: Emperor Ashoka built the original shrine at the site and installed the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne) under the Bodhi tree.
• Shunga period (2nd–1st century BCE): Further additions made to the structure.
• Gupta period (5th–6th century CE): Complete reconstruction in brick—the present temple structure largely dates from this period.
• Pala dynasty (8th–12th century CE): Last major royal patrons; further supported the temple's upkeep.
• 13th to 19th century CE: The temple was largely abandoned and fell into disrepair.
• 1880s: British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham, founder of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), started restoration work.
• 2002: The Mahabodhi Temple Complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/explained-the-decades-old-dispute-over-who-controls-mahabodhi-temple-in-gaya-9919163/