His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen visited the Bhutanese temple in Bodh Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar, yesterday. Their Majesties offered butter lamps and prayers in the Lhakhang. The Bhutanese temple was built in 1983 and was consecrated by 67th Je-Khempo Thinley Lhendup.
Their Majesties also visited Daijokyo Buddhist temple, popularly known as Japanese Temple. The Temple and the 80-foot giant Buddha statue were built in 1989.
Their Majesties had visited the Maha Bodhi Temple and offered prayers and Nyndhar at the 2500 year old giant image of the Buddha, on Sunday.
The image is believed to be facing east exactly at the place where the Buddha in meditation with his back to the Bodhi tree was enlightened.
His Majesty then had offered Namza or a silk robe to the Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi temple. The Mahabodhi temple is a UNESCO world heritage site, where Lord Bhuddha is said to have attained enlightenment.
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Following the visit at the Bodhi tree, Their Majesties paid a visit to the Maha Bodhi society centre and offered prayers. The centre is a south Asian Buddhist society founded by a Sri Lankan Buddhist Leader.
Bodh Gaya has been developed as an international place of pilgrimage since 1953. Buddhists from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Tibet, Bhutan and Japan have established monasteries and temples within easy walking distance of the Mahabodhi temple.
The site attracts Buddhists and tourists from across the world.
