Pradeep Ramteke
Editor-in-Chief
Diksha Lalita Devanand Karhade
News Editor
Gaya, Bihar | 4/3/ 2025 –
Buddhist monks are on a hunger strike to death regarding the control of Brahmin priests over Mahabodhi Mahavihar, a sacred place of inspiration for Buddhists, and the agitation will continue until Mahabodhi Mahavihar is liberated.
Many Buddhist organizations and followers of Buddhist ideology are demanding that the Government of India and the Government of Bihar release the control of this Mahavihar from the hands of Brahmin priests. This demand has historical, cultural and religious references, which have been a topic of discussion for the past several decades.
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Historical importance of Mahabodhi Mahavihara…
Mahabodhi Mahavihara, located in Bodh Gaya in the state of Bihar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Mahabodhi Mahavihara is a place of worship for the entire Buddhism, because it was here that Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment.
In the 5th-6th century BC, Emperor Ashoka established the first Buddhist stupas here, and for many centuries this place remained a center of Buddhist culture.
Over time, due to the influence of Hinduism, Brahmin priests settled in this place and they gradually took over the management of this Mahavihara. This situation continued even during the British rule.
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The dominance of Brahmin priests and controversial management…
Currently, the Mahabodhi Mahavihara is managed by the Mahabodhi Mandir Management Committee (BTMC), which was formed in 1949. This committee has 9 members, 5 of whom are Hindus and 4 are Buddhists. The District Magistrate of Bihar is made the chairman of this committee, who is usually a Brahmin.
Most importantly, the chief priest is a Brahmin and he is the one who controls the religious rituals.
This has led Buddhist organizations to say that the interference of Brahmin priests in the place of the Buddha is unjust. Buddhist followers allege that Buddhist monks and organizations are not given due place at Buddhist sites and many decisions of the temple are taken against the will of Buddhists.
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Demands of Buddhist organizations….
1. Brahmin priests should be removed from the management of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara.
2. The entire management committee should consist of only Buddhists.
3. The Bihar government should amend the temple administration law and give full rights to Buddhists.
4. Buddhist monks should be given the priesthood and get the right to perform religious rituals.
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Why is the government indifferent?
1. Political reasons…
Bihar has a large constituency of Hindus and the government does not want to encourage any kind of religious controversy.
If the government hands over the Mahabodhi Mahavihar to Buddhist monks, some Hindu organizations and the priesthood may be upset, which may have political consequences.
2. Legal matter…
According to the 1949 law, both Hindus and Buddhists have a place in the management committee. It is easy to make major changes in this law.
3. Social sensitivity…
India is a secular country. Therefore, the Bihar government must take the necessary role to make major changes in the case of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar.
The Bihar government should also take care that any decision in the case of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar does not create social instability.
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International pressure and the reaction of the Buddhist world….
The Mahabodhi Mahavihar is important not only for Indian Buddhists, but also for countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Japan, Myanmar, Tibet, Bhutan.
All these countries are Buddhist majority and have from time to time demanded that the Indian government hand over full control of this Mahabodhi Mahavihar to the Buddhist monks.
In 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council also discussed this issue. Some Buddhist organizations have tried to put the Indian government under international pressure, but no concrete decision has been taken yet.
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The role of Buddhist religious leaders and organizations….
1. Dalai Lama…
The Tibetan Buddhist religious leader, the Dalai Lama, has also voted in favor of Buddhistization of the Mahabodhi Mahavihar. According to him, Brahmin priests are using the temple for religious purposes and sidelining Buddhist tradition.
2. All India Bhikkhu Sangh….
This organization has demanded from the government many times that the control of the temple be handed over to Buddhist monks. They have also made it clear that Mahabodhi Mahavihar is not a Hindu temple, so the interference of Hindu priests is unacceptable.
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What is the solution to this?
1. New law….
The Bihar government should enact a new law and hand over the control of Mahabodhi Mahavihar completely to Buddhist monks.
2. Changes in the management committee….
The current committee has 5 Hindus and 4 Buddhist members. With this change, all 9 out of 9 members should be Buddhists.
3. No judicial interference….
If possible, the Supreme Court should take a final decision on this, so that no other legal interference is needed, so that Buddhist organizations can get justice.
4. International pressure….
Countries with a Buddhist majority should put pressure on India and force it to reconsider the temple administration.
The Buddhist community says that the Mahabodhi Mahavihar is a very sacred place for Buddhists and that its possession by Hindu Brahmin priests is a religious injustice.
Many Buddhist organizations are of the opinion that the Government of India and the Government of Bihar should take an immediate decision on this and hand over the Mahabodhi Mahavihar to Buddhist monks.
Buddhist religious leaders, the international community and the Buddhist citizens of India need to come together and intensify this issue so that historical injustice can be corrected.
