Bihar Thai Monastery
Thai Monastery is located in the state of Bihar, nearby the guesthouse of Bodh Gaya. It belongs to the Gelgupa sect of Buddhism, otherwise known as the yellow cap sect. Located near the river Falgu, this monastery is visited by thousands of Buddhist followers from all over the country. It is said that Lord Buddha found enlightenment in this monastery, after which the actual structure was built. Located amidst the serene surroundings of the picturesque landscapes, the Thai Monastery has remarkable architecture. The most important feature of the architecture is the curved and sloping roof. When the sunlight falls on the golden plates of this roof, it presents a breathtaking view.
Architecture
The Thai Monastery is built according to the architectural style of Thai buildings. Inside the monastery, there is the Buddhist temple, comprising of the image of Lord Buddha, posing in different forms. One the images, one can find a lot of carving of scriptures, taken from the Buddhism. The temple is built with golden plating on the roof, slopping roofs, and various forms of dragons. During the morning sunlight, these carvings form a great visual. One of the remarkable features of the Buddha statue is the tied hair in the form of bun, tied at the top of the head, which is the primary attraction inside the temple. In recent year, a 25 meter high statue of the Buddha has been created in the garden area, inside the Thai Monastery. The mahabodhi tree is a unique feature of this temple, along with the presence of Maha Bodhi temple, inside the premises of the Thai Monastery. This tree is a peepal tree, believed to be present since one hundred and thirty five years. This peepal tree is believed to be present as a fifth generation of the original peepal tree, under which Gautam Buddha did his penance and attained enlightenment. In front of this Maha Bodhi Tree is the Maha Bodhi temple, which is believed to have been built by Ashoka the Great, as a commemoration of the event of enlightenment. The tower of the temple is about 50 mts high, within which there is a shiva lingam, statue of Gautam Buddha and some other figures of Buddhism leaders.
Festivals
During the month of Janurary, there is a grand festival organised as an annual event, which is marked by lots of silent prayers, except for some interactive sessions and group discussions and sermons. Meditation practices and sermons on teachings of Lord Buddha are the main events during the festivals. During the evening sessions, there are common people also invited for hearing the sermons. Buddha jayanti is held every year in the month of Vaishaki which falls in the month of April/May, during the full moon night, which is held as a mark of Buddha’s enlightenment.
History
It is believed that the Thai temple was built by the King of Thailand, when he visited the region in 1956. This is the reason for the structure having a traditional thai appearance, built inside a beautiful garden. The architectural style is typically pagoda style. Over the years, the structure was expanded in terms of worldwide belief in Buddhism, due to the collaboration of Buddhists from Thailand and local Buddhist leaders. The Thai Monastery was erected around the temple in 1987, providing a true representation of the rich culture of Buddhism that spread across a lot of countries.
Reaching There
Bodh Gaya, having the Thai Monastery is about 12 kms from the city of Gaya, which has good road communications with the rest of the cities in Bihar and there is the railway station in the Gaya also. Airports are located in Gaya and Patna, from where tourists can alight and have private taxis and buses going to Bodh Gaya and Thai Monastery.
Photo Gallery