During her speech announcing this year’s budgetary proposals on Tuesday (July 23), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the construction of corridor projects for the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya and the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya of Bihar. These projects will be “modelled on the successful Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, to transform them into world-class pilgrim and tourist destinations,” she stated.
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Following is an overview of the two temples, approximately 10 km apart from each other.
Vishnupad Temple in Gaya
Dedicated to Vishnu, the Vishnupad Temple (or Vishnupada Temple, the temple where Vishnu placed a step) has a rich legend associated with it. According to the state’s official tourism website, a demon Gayasura once asked the gods for powers that would allow anyone who saw him to attain moksha, or freedom from the cycle of rebirth.
However, Gayasura misused this ability, prompting Vishnu to intervene by placing his right foot on the demon’s head, sending him underground to pātālaloka. The temple features a 40cm-long footprint, believed to mark this spot.
The Brahma Kalpit Brahmins, also referred to as Gayawal Brahmins, Gayawal Tirth Purohit or Pandas of Gaya, have been serving as the traditional priests of the temple since ancient times. The renowned saints Madhvacharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Vallabhacharya have all made pilgrimages to this sacred site.
Devotees flock to the temple during pitripaksha, a fortnight in the Hindu calendar when rituals are performed to honour ancestors.
History of Vishnupad Temple
The temple’s construction date remains a mystery, with the belief that Rama and Sita once visited the site. Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore, reconstructed the temple in 1787 by the River Falgu. She meticulously oversaw the selection of the finest munger black stone from Jaynagar for the temple.
Due to the lack of proper roads and the distance from Gaya, her officers located a suitable mountain near Bathani to quarry the stone. Craftsmen from Rajasthan were brought in to carve the temple in Patharkatti, Bihar. Once completed, the temple was erected near the Vishnupad temple in Gaya.
Many craftsmen returned home after the project, while some settled in Pattharkatti. The Bihar government has recognised this area as a key tourist destination. The 1,000 stone steps leading to Brahmajuni hill offer a panoramic view of Gaya and the Vishnupad temple. Numerous smaller temples surround the main temple.
Architecture
The temple was constructed with the footprints of Vishnu at its core. In Hinduism, this footprint symbolises Vishnu’s act of subduing Gayasur by placing his foot on his chest. Enclosed within the Vishnupad Mandir is the 40 cm-long footprint of Lord Vishnu embedded in solid rock and encircled by a silver-plated basin.
The temple stands at a height of 30 m and features eight rows of exquisitely carved pillars that support the pavilion. Constructed using large grey granite blocks held together with iron clamps, the octagonal shrine is oriented towards the east. Its pyramidal tower soars to a height of 100 feet, with sloping sides that alternate between indented and plain sections. These sections are positioned at an angle to form a series of peaks that converge at the apex.
Within the temple premises stands the sacred banyan tree Akshayavat, where the final rites for the deceased are performed. Atop the temple flies a golden flag weighing around 51 kg. Inside the temple, there is a silver-coated hexagonal railing, also known as pahal, surrounding the Garbhagriha.
Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya
A Unesco World Heritage Site, the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya stands to the east of the Mahabodhi Tree, where Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained nirvana. The temple has a unique architectural shape and a height of 170 feet.
Unesco describes it as “the first temple built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BCE, with the present temple dating from the 5th–6th centuries. It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing, from the late Gupta period and is considered to have significantly influenced the development of brick architecture over the centuries.”
Unesco notes further, “As the site is being visited by pilgrims/tourists (national/international) in large numbers, a need to develop infrastructure and public amenities is anticipated. Proposals will need to be preceded by Heritage Impact Assessments and a particular challenge will be to continuously monitor the impact that potential developments of the area as a whole, including the town, may have on the religious and spiritual significance of the place.”
Buddhist legend and faith
The Bodhi tree located at Bodhgaya is intricately linked to the life of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. It was under this very tree that he achieved enlightenment and attained omniscient wisdom through meditation. The temple constructed to the east of the Bodhi tree is said to be a direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree where the Buddha sat.
In Buddhist mythology, it is believed that if a Bodhi tree does not grow at this sacred site, the area surrounding the tree remains barren, devoid of any plant life for a distance of one royal karīsa. Not even an elephant or any other being can traverse the ground surrounding the Bodhi tree.
According to the Jatakas, the earth’s navel is situated at this precise location, as no other place can bear the weight of the Buddha’s enlightenment. Another Buddhist belief suggests that when the world faces destruction at the end of a kalpa, the Bodhimanda will be the last place to vanish and the first to reappear when the world is reborn. It is also said that a lotus will bloom at this spot, with the number of blossoms corresponding to the Buddhas expected to arise in the new kalpa. Legend has it that a Bodhi tree miraculously grew on the day Gautama Buddha was born.
Architecture and construction
In around 250 BCE, Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire visited Bodh Gaya to establish a monastery and shrine on the holy site, which have since disappeared. However, the Diamond throne, which he placed at the base of the Bodhi tree, remains.
The Vajrasana (diamond throne) is believed to have been constructed by Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire between 250 and 233 BCE, marking the spot where the Buddha achieved enlightenment. It is revered today and serves as the focal point for various ceremonies at the temple.
Depictions of the early temple structure designed to safeguard the Bodhi tree can be seen at Sanchi, on the toraṇas of Stūpa I, dating back to around 25 BCE, as well as on a relief carving from the stupa railing at Bhārhut, from the early Shunga period (c 185-c 73 BCE).
Columns featuring bases shaped like pots were introduced by the Sungas. These columns, believed to have originated in the 1st century BCE towards the end of the Sunga dynasty, were discovered near the Vajrasana (diamond throne). Unearthed through archaeological excavations at the Buddha’s Walk in the Mahabodhi Temple, these columns closely resemble the ones depicted on the reliefs found on the gateway pillars.
Railings surrounding the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya are of ancient origin, consisting of weathered sandstone pillars dating back to around 150 BCE, during the Sunga era. These railings showcase intricately carved panels and medallions, depicting scenes similar to those found on contemporary Sunga railings at Bharhut (150 BCE) and Sanchi (115 BCE). The reliefs at Sanchi Stupa No.2 are often regarded as the oldest among them.
Over the following century, the railing was extended up to the end of the Gupta period (7th century), featuring coarse granite adorned with intricate foliate designs, small figures, and stupas. Many sections of the original railing have been dismantled and are now housed in museums like the Indian Museum in Kolkata, replaced by plaster replicas.
Importance of Bihar
This year’s budget includes several significant announcements for Bihar, particularly in tourism and infrastructure. Bihar plays a crucial role in national politics, especially following the 2024 general elections, where the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) won 12 seats in the state.
As part of the 293-MP-strong NDA coalition ruling at the Centre, the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 240 seats but fell short of the majority mark of 272. This makes the BJP reliant on smaller allies such as the JD(U) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh, which has 16 seats.
The budget also includes allocations for Andhra Pradesh, with Rs 15,000 crore designated for its new capital, Amaravati, to be enhanced subsequently.