New Delhi— The Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya, Bihar—where Lord Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment—is not just a sacred site of Buddhist faith today; it is increasingly becoming a hotspot of controversy, slogans, outrage, and alleged violence. Disturbing reports emerging from social media and ground sources are raising serious concerns, especially as these incidents have coincided with Buddha Purnima, a day on which Buddhist devotees across the globe pay homage to the Enlightened One.
Prakash Ambedkar, National President of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, has made a grave allegation, claiming that Brahminical and Manuwadi forces are targeting Buddhists and monks in Bodh Gaya. He described the events as a conspiracy to weaken the #Mahabodhi_Mukti_Andolan (Mahabodhi Liberation Movement), and called upon the Buddhist community to unite and expose the Brahminical mindset behind such actions.
In a social media post, Ambedkar directly targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the ongoing developments are not just an insult to Indian Buddhists but also to over 500 million Buddhists worldwide.
Worship of Shivling Amid Helplessness of Monks
Buddhist monk Bhante Sumit Ratan alleged that in the presence of the state governor, Brahmin priests were made to perform Shivling worship within the premises of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara, while Buddhist monks stood by as helpless spectators. He claimed that internal conflicts and corruption have weakened the movement, which in turn has damaged the global reputation of Buddhism.
Assaults, Disappearances, and Communal Chants
In another alarming development, Dr. Om Sudha, National President of the All India Dalit, Adivasi, Backward and Minority United Front, claimed that antisocial elements assaulted Buddhist monks within the temple premises, and that monk Bhante Vinacharya has been missing since last night. Meanwhile, Deepak Kedar, President of the All India Panther Sena, tweeted that communal slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” were chanted at the protest site, putting the safety of the monks at risk.
This story was originally published in themooknayak.com. Read the full story here.
