Buddhists Groups Demand Sole Control of Bodh Gaya Temple Ahead Of Buddha Jayanti

Buddhist groups have asked the Central and Bihar governments to change existing laws and hand over the management of Bodh Gaya temple to Buddhists before Buddha Jayanti on May 12.

The temple in Bihar's Gaya district is currently governed by the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949, which places its management under a committee of four Buddhists and five Hindus, including a District Collector as the chairperson. The temple, originally built by Emperor Ashoka, marks the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment.

Buddhists want the law to be changed so that the temple can be managed only by Buddhists: Anandraj Ambedkar, founder of the Republican Sena Party, which is leading the campaign in Maharashtra. Ambedkar, grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, said the old administrative structure was created when there were few Buddhists in the country, except for small communities in Northeast, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. However, after Babasaheb Ambedkar and lakhs of his followers embraced Buddhism in 1956, the community grew in numbers, with most of India's Buddhists in Maharashtra. 

"As there were no Buddhists in the area, the temple was managed by Hindu priests called pandyas. The 1949 law was made considering the situation at that time. A few Buddhists from West Bengal were also brought into the committee. After 1950, we have a Constitution that gives every religious community the right to manage their religious affairs. Buddhism is a different religion. The temple should now be handed over to Buddhists," said Ambedkar.

Buddhist groups in Maharashtra have announced a campaign till April 14,  Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti, for a change in law. On April 6, a morcha from Byculla to Azad Maidan in support of the demand was stopped on the Sir J Road flyover. Other groups have lent their support to the cause. Avinash Mahatekar, spokesperson for the Republican Party of India (Athawale), said, "Our leader Ramdas Athawale is supporting the cause. We visited Bodh Gaya and are aware of the situation."

Ambedkar said that the current administrative system was created by Rajendra Prasad, the President of the Constituent Assembly of India as a temporary arrangement. "The committee has added statues of Hindu deities at the site. Visitors from abroad come to the temple. The place is mismanaged. Touts dressed as Buddhist monks extort money from visitors. It is horrible. It is time the temple is handed over to the Buddhists.

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