Hindus pray at Mahabodhi Temple after performing Shraadh in Bodh Gaya

Since time immemorial Hindus have been performing Shraadh, the death ritual to pray for the departed souls, at Gaya.

By Surya Pratap Singh

Bodh Gaya, Oct.3 : Since time immemorial Hindus have been performing Shraadh, the death ritual to pray for the departed souls, at Gaya.

Many of them visit the nearby Mahabodhi Temple, dedicated to Lord Buddha, in Bodh Gaya.

The authorities at the Mahabodhi Temple have also allowed Hindus to pray at the temple premises, and remember their ancestors. . The gesture has set a great example of communal harmony

"I have come here to pray for the soul of my ancestors. This is a land of Lord Buddha and it holds special significance due to the Mahabodhi tree. By doing so, our ancestors' souls will lie in peace," said Ramanujacharya, a Hindu.

Hindus visit Gaya city during this time of the year to perform Shraadh rituals in "Pitrapaksha Mela", a two-week long fair. The pious place happens to be just 16 kilometres from Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya town.

Authorities at the Mahabodhi Temple, continuing with their old tradition, welcome all Hindus arriving at this place.

"Lord Buddha has always given importance to love, compassion and brotherhood and probably because of this everyone is accommodated here well cared for," said Bodhipal Bhikshu, the caretaker of Mahabodhi Temple.

The visit of Hindus to the Buddhist temple is also followed by the popular belief that Lord Buddha was a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver.

Buddhists revere Bodh Gaya as a holy spot since this is the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment to become the Buddha.

However, the main town of Gaya, 16 kilometres from Bodh Gaya, has been sacred to Hindus from time immemorial as a pilgrim centre. It place is believed to be pious to perform the Shradh.

Gaya, located on the bank of the sacred River Phalgu (meaning usually dry) receives thousands of Hindu devotees coming from far and near to perform Shradh.

The Mahabodhi Temple that literally means "Great Awakening Temple" is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment.

Next to the temple in the west stands the holy Bodhi tree. In the Pali Canon, the site is called Bodhimanda, and the monastery there the Bodhimanda Vihara.

ANI