Precious Treasures from the Diamond Throne: Finds from the Site of the Buddha's Enlightenment

The Mahābodhi temple at Bodhgayā in eastern India is recognized as the place where the Buddha sat in meditation and attained enlightenment. This volume presents new research on Bodhgayā and assesses the archaeological, artistic, and literary evidence that bears witness to the Buddha's enlightenment and the site's enduring significance in the history of Buddhism. It brings together a team of international scholars to explore the history and perception of the site across the Buddhist world and its position in the networks of patronage and religious landscape of northern India. The book also discusses the site's decline in the thirteenth century and its subsequent revival through archaeological excavations in the nineteenth century, using the British Museums collections as a base.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 05 July 2021
Publisher: British Museum Press

The Mahābodhi temple at Bodhgayā in eastern India, renowned as the site where the Buddha achieved enlightenment through meditation, holds immense historical significance. Over the course of more than two thousand years, this sacred location has attracted pilgrims and garnered religious attention, earning it the designation of the 'Diamond Throne' or vajrāsana. In this comprehensive volume, fresh research is presented on Bodhgayā, while also evaluating the substantial archaeological, artistic, and literary evidence that sheds light on the Buddha's enlightenment and the enduring importance of Bodhgayā in the annals of Buddhism. A team of esteemed international scholars collaborates to explore the historical and perceptual perspectives of the site across the Buddhist world, as well as its position within the intricate networks of patronage and the complex religious landscape of northern India. The volume assesses the decline of Bodhgayā in the thirteenth century and its subsequent revival through archaeological excavations in the nineteenth century. Drawing upon the extensive collections of the British Museums, the authors delve into the rich material culture unearthed at the site, highlighting Bodhgayā's pivotal role in the field of Buddhist studies.

Weight: 764g
Dimension: 210 x 298 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780861592289