'Why Do Brahmins Control the Mahabodhi Temple?' Ask Buddhist Monks in Bodh Gaya

Buddhist monks' indefinite protest against the Bodh Gaya Temple Act 1949 has been ongoing since February 12.

Buddhist Monks' Protest Intensifies in Bodh Gaya: Accusations of Brahminization of the Mahabodhi Temple

(The Quint)

"Mahabodhi Temple is under the control of Brahmins, and our demands are continuously being ignored. There are also efforts to sideline our movement."

This is what Buddhist monk Akash Lama has to say. Like Akash, around 30 Buddhist monks have been protesting in Domuhan, Bodh Gaya, Bihar, since February 12. They hold placards demanding the abolition of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act 1949 and that all BTMC (Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee) members be Buddhist. Carrying pictures of BR Ambedkar and Lord Buddha, they have been demonstrating for nearly a month. The Quint visited the protest site and spoke to the Buddhist monks. What are their demands, and why is the government unable to fulfill them?

"It's not just about the temple, it's about our identity."

On March 4, The Quint team reached the protest site in Bodh Gaya, about 118 km from Patna. At first glance, the place seemed more like a neglected corner than a protest site. Amidst the dusty air, scattered placards, and some food supplies, the monks continued their protest. The protest site also lacked basic amenities.

Dissatisfied with the site provided by the administration, Akash Lama, General Secretary of the All India Buddhist Forum, said:

"This is not just about a temple; it's about our identity and pride. We are putting forward our demands peacefully. Until we receive written assurance from the government, this protest will continue indefinitely."

(Poster put up at the protest site)

(Photo: Akash Raj)

"We want to free the Mahabodhi Temple from non-Buddhist control."

One of the most sacred pilgrimage sites of Buddhism, the Mahabodhi Temple, is located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. Akash Lama said, "We have been protesting since 12 February, demanding the removal of Brahmins and non-Buddhists from the control of the Mahabodhi Temple."

It is worth mentioning that the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) is responsible for managing the Mahabodhi Temple. Currently, the committee consists of four Hindus, four Buddhists, and the District Magistrate as the chairman. This system has been in place since 1949, under the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (BT Act), which the protesters want to be abolished so that only Buddhists manage the committee.

According to the Bodh Gaya Temple website, the current committee has a total of seven members, with three Hindus and four Buddhists.

Shravan Anand, who has traveled from Aurangabad, Bihar, has been part of the protest for the last 15 days. He explained why there is a demand for an all-Buddhist committee. Speaking to The Quint, he said:

"Buddha gave the message of peace to the entire world, but here, the priests continuously create noise with drums and other implements, making it difficult for Buddhist monks to meditate. The government must abolish the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, which is a black law, and hand over the temple's management entirely to Buddhists."

(A protest is underway against the BT Act)

Akash raj

Akash Lama has accused that Brahminisation of the Mahabodhi Temple is taking place.

He stated, "The Mahabodhi Mahavihara is being Brahminised. The influence of Brahminical rituals in the management and ceremonies of the temple is increasing, deeply hurting the faith and heritage of the Buddhist community."

"Priests mislead tourists by referring to the statue of Mahamaya as Goddess Annapurna and the statue of Buddha as one of the Pandavas. Even the designated places for lighting lamps are being chiseled into the shape of a Shivlinga."

Former Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) member and Buddhist monk Pragya Sheel stated, "Hindus form the majority in BTMC, and all temple staff members are Hindus, which constantly leads to disputes over religious practices. Even during my tenure, there were several conflicts."

He further added, "In reality, those who claim to be Brahmins at the temple are primarily motivated by the desire to seize positions and the wealth generated from donations."

What did BTMC say about the protesters' allegations?

"The protesters are making false allegations. We (Hindus) are in the minority in the committee. In BTMC, there should be four Hindus and four Buddhists, but currently, there are only two Hindus, while there are four Buddhists, including the secretary. This is the first time that Buddhists have a majority in the committee," BTMC member Arvind Kumar Singh told The Quint in response to the protesters' allegations.

On the allegations of Buddhist statues being portrayed as Hindu idols, Arvind said, "Whatever Shivling or Hindu deity idols are there, they are all thousands of years old. No one has the courage today to tamper with any temple's idols. There is only one priest there, solely for the worship of the Shivling."

Arvind further says, "We all BTMC members have very good coordination among ourselves. All the people involved in the movement are from Darjeeling and Nagpur. These people have nothing to do with the temple. Their only motive is to keep the protest alive and collect donations in its name."

What is the Government's Response to the Protest?

The protesters claim that they have sent letters to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Prime Minister, and the President, requesting a meeting to discuss their demands. Additionally, they have held discussions with the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) three times regarding the issue.

On February 27, the Home Ministry of Bihar invited the protesters for a discussion. Akash Lama, General Secretary of the All India Buddhist Forum, who was present at the meeting, said:

"Additional Secretary of the Home Ministry, Animesh Pandey, requested a week’s time to respond to our demands. He also urged us to call off our hunger strike and engage in discussions. However, until we receive a written assurance, we will not end our protest."

Despite these meetings, the protesters remain firm in their stance. They plan to continue their agitation until there is some concrete action from the government.

Previous Attempts to Free Mahabodhi Temple from Non-Buddhist Control

In 1992, the All India Mahabodhi Mahavihara Liberation Movement Committee raised the demand to transfer the management of the Mahabodhi Temple to Buddhists. This movement was supported by the All India Bhikshu Mahasangh and the Buddhist Society of India. However, the movement did not last long.

In 1995, after 85 days of protests in Bodh Gaya, then Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav intervened to pacify the protesters. As a compromise, he included Buddhist monks in the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) and urged them to work within the system to achieve their demands.

At that time, Buddhist monk Pragya Sheel, who is currently on hunger strike, was included in the BTMC. During his tenure, he held different positions within the committee.

Pragya Sheel recalls, "In 1995, then-Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav made efforts to grant rights to Buddhists. However, he did not push for legal changes, fearing a backlash from his vote bank."

Despite these past attempts, the fundamental demand of Buddhist monks—full control over the Mahabodhi Temple—remains unfulfilled, leading to continued protests.

(Translated from Hindi)