By — Shyamal Sinha
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is the only living Buddhist site on India’s World Heritage list. As one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in India, the complex hosts daily rituals, prayers, and vibrant festivals cherished by Buddhists worldwide.
The centuries-old traditions of offerings, chanting, and meditation continue to thrive here, preserving the living heritage of Buddhism in India.
A group of Buddhist monks, leaders, and followers, have reportedly entered the 14th day of an indefinite hunger strike at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, in central India demanding full administrative control of the site, considered the most sacred by Buddhists. The protest challenges the existing management structure established under the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949, which grants a majority in the temple’s management to Hindu committee members despite its centrality to Buddhism.
The Mahabodhi Temple, revered as the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, has been a point of administrative contention. Originally built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, the temple suffered destruction following the 12th-century invasions led by Bakhtiyar Khilji of the Ghurid dynasty. It was later rediscovered and revitalized through the efforts of Anagarika Dharmapala, a Sri Lankan Buddhist reformer. Recognized for its historical, religious, and cultural significance, the temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.
Despite its status as one of Buddhism’s holiest sites, the 1949 Bodh Gaya Temple Act mandates a nine-member Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), with five Hindu members—including the District Magistrate as chairman—and only four Buddhist representatives. Protestors argue that this unequal representation denies the Buddhist community rightful autonomy over its holiest site.
In addition to demanding exclusive Buddhist control over the temple, demonstrators are calling for an end to state interference in Buddhist religious affairs. They have also condemned what they describe as systematic distortions of Buddhist history and attempts to diminish the temple’s sacred identity under the current administration. The Bihar state government has come under scrutiny for allegedly ignoring their grievances and employing intimidation tactics, such as creating loud noises to disrupt peaceful assemblies and obstructing visibility at the protest site.
Protesters have further accused temple authorities of alleged mismanaging donations and mistreating pilgrims. The ongoing hunger strike, backed by over 500 organizations worldwide including the All India Buddhist Forum and the Ladakh Buddhist Association—has drawn growing national support. According to local reports, supporters from various parts of the country, including Tripura, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, are arriving to participate in this mass movement and express solidarity.
Since its commencement on February 12, the hunger strike has also garnered international support, with a petition circulating across multiple countries. A petition, “In Solidarity: Demand Buddhist Control Over the Mahabodhi Temple,” has already gathered over 5,000 signatures. Buddhist communities from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Korea, Japan, the United States, Canada, and Mongolia have voiced their support. Despite the rising pressure, the Indian government has yet to respond to the demands.
The Mahabodhi Temple Complex includes a majestic 55-meter-tall temple, along with six other sacred sites associated with the Buddha’s life and enlightenment. This is one of the earliest brick Buddhist temples still standing in India, dating back to the 5th or 6th century CE.
The complex is centred around a descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha meditated and attained Enlightenment.
