Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 25: 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.
15 Responses
As a hindu from a neighbouring district, Nalanda, I totally support handing over the charge of Maha Bodhi Temple to Buddhists. They are better equipped to run the temple smoothly. I love Gautama Buddha a lot and will do everything to be a part of this mission. Please let me know, What can I do to support this mission?
Buddhist temple Buddhist committee
I am shocked to hear that the most holiest site for all Buddhist temple is being controlled by some control freak, corrupt, money minded people who claims to be Brahmins. But in fact, Buddha has rightly said that, you can’t be Brahmin by birth, but by deed”. On this basis, these few Brahmins defames the rest. Now is the time, that true Hindus should stand with Buddhist at this time of history to do the just in transferring the management authority to the Buddhist.
In addition, PM of India, Modi ji claims he is from the land of Buddha when visiting overseas. I think he should act according to his speech before its too late. Otherwise it is a hypocrisy.
They’ll say rubbish like Buddha is Vishnu incarnation so no problem, still under Hinduism, kind of nonsense.
The Bodhgaya must be handed over to Buddhist ,where they will lead and maintain the holy place of Lord Buddha.
Is Hinduism tries to change the History of Buddhism?!!
We all know that, india signifies unity in diversity, since it has different religions, culture and many more. And we never here that the temple of respective religion is controlled by the authorities belonging to different religions. Henceforth we request that the bodhgaya must be under given to the senior monks of India where they will lead and maintain the holy place of Lord Buddha.
These control freaks would make the whole eastern world hate India and Hindus.
The site should be under the Buddhist monks and teachers. This site is an important and sacred place for the Buddhists and not just for them , it is a part of the valuable history of India . We cannot let it get ruined like this. Even as a Hindu, I found this truly unacceptable. We all know their are a lot of corrupt brahmans or the so called “katar hindus” but i think they have forgotten that Lord Ram or any deity in our religion preached peace and harmony and before all that respect for every religion. They might call themselves preachers of Hinduism but this is not right. This sacred place should not get corrupted by these so called “Brahmans”. This issue has my full support. The government needs to look over at this issue.
Mahabodhi Temple is where Buddha attained enlightenment. For Buddhists all over the world, it is a sacred place where we return to recharge.
This is a holy land for Buddhists all over the world for over 2500 years! We want to manage and preserve our holy land according to our Buddhist beliefs and practices. There is no reason for the Indian government to allow Hindus to play a major/leading role in the management committee of the Mahaboddhi Temple.
Buddhists still ache to remember that our first university, Nalanda, was destroyed by pagans/The Turkic Muslim army of Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193
We do not want and will not let that happen again.
For humanity and nobility, please return the holy land to the Buddhists
By Vương Ngọc Diệp
A message from Vietnam
Please spread this word in your country. The world does not know that the most holy buddhist place in world is under the control of corrupt brahmins and not buddhist. Buddhist chaityas and vietnam govt. must raise the issue.
Please advise others not to donate any funds there as all the money donated are under Brahmins control and they misuse all our hard earned money.
Until and unless we free our most sacred buddhist site we will keep fighting peacefully and keep raising awareness around the world.
Namo Buddhaya
Local Hindus had maintained this site for centuries during the complete absence of Buddhists over the last 800 years, built their own temples and it has become a holy site of local Hindus. What’s wrong with a Hindu-Buddhist joint commission? This issue had been settled decades ago! The newly constructed Buddhist temple is just 100-150 years old. Local Hindus could’ve easily stopped the construction of that Buddhist temple, as it’s the local Hindu temple authority that has the legal ownership of that entire property by papers for centuries, but they didn’t do so as local Hindus revere Buddha. Do you want local Hindus to give up the site their ancestors have been taking care of for centuries to some random neo-convert Ambedkarite Dalits from other states? Do they have the guts to ask the Taliban to give them the authority over Bamiyan? What will happen if Hindus all over the world start asking for the control of dozens of Hindu temples that have converted into Buddhist temples in SEA countries, including the biggest temple in the world Angkor Wat?
All the buddhists of the world in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Srilanka, Tibet, Mongolia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Canada, Europe, etc. etc. and all those who believe in justice, liberty, and democartic values must join hands in support of this cause to free the most holy buddhist site:
* The most sacred buddhist site in the world is under the control and management of non-buddhists. Hard to believe but its true !
* BTMC, incharge of the management, has only hired hindus people to take care of the buddhist site.
* These few corrupt brahmins have removed a buddha statue infront of the main Buddha statue, and now falsely claim that place as shivalinga.
* At the site of the main mahabodhi mahavihara, these very people have conrol over small buddhist altar rooms. In one room they have placed a shiv linga and in other they claim the buddha statues as the pandavas and krishna (This video is viral in internet).
* Just outside the altar rooms, a new video of hindu Ram statue placed along the wall is circulating and somewhere nearby a new statue of ganesh placed is seen.
* At this pace, very soon the whole site would be in complete control of non-buddhists.
* Recently misappropriation of large funds came in light and due to mismangement millions of rupees had to be paid as penalty.
* ASI is not digging the nearby site which are part of mahavihara but encroached by two hindu temples. Building of temples were allowed on archeaogical sites of significant value.
* Mahant, the main hindu priest, is occupying an archaeological site that is part of land known as Asoka palace and has many stolen ancient buddhist statues with him.
* Now some are also claiming buddha as an avatar of Krishna to assert their control.
* These avatars as Vishnu and krishna are to leach money and control.
* To save the image of India worldwide, free the most holy Buddhist site from non-buddhists.
* We plead non-corrupt and large hindu population who believe in justice and harmony of society to lend their support.
* if this is allowed, Christian’s church, Muslim’s mosque, Sikh’s gurudwara, Jain’s temple, etc. will next be under the control of such scheming and corrupt brahmins.
* mahabodhi mahavihara is the holiest buddhist site built by the greatest king of India Chakravartin Asok of Magath and disciple of Buddha for the Buddhists. People of all faith are welcome to visit it but management must be under buddhist control like other places.
Namo Buddhaya ! Jai Bhim !
Peace to all
Certainly, the Administrative Control of the Mhabodhi Vihar should be in the Hands of Buddhists, as this is a holy place for them.
Temple control should be in the hands of monks not in brahmin community.