ASI wants marble removed from Bodhi tree
February 23rd, 2012 - 2:35 pm ICT by IANS
Patna, Feb 23 (IANS) The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is to probe why the Bodhgaya temple management has not removed marble slabs around the base of the Bodhi tree where Lord Buddha gained enlightenment.
Gautam Sengupta, director general of ASI, has ordered the investigation, an official said here Thursday.
A team of experts from ASI had suggested in 2008 that the marble slabs should be removed so as to protect the tree at the holy Buddhist site. They wanted the marble to be replaced by sandstone slabs.
According to them, the marble flooring around the temple was adversely affecting the old structure. Being less porous, marble does not allow the evaporation of sub-soil water.
A team of scientists from the Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute (FRI) had also made the same recommendation.
The temple committee had sought the help of FRI in 2007 after the Bodhi tree was affected with milibug disease.
FRI had suggested that space should be left between sandstone tiles to grow grass. This would provide better aeration to the roots of the Bodhi tree.
The temple committee has not acted on the suggestions. “Nothing has been done so far,” an ASI official said.
But temple committee member secretary Nangzey Dorjee told IANS over telephone that the marble slabs would be removed soon. “We will replace it with sandstones as suggested by experts.”
It was in Bodh Gaya that Lord Buddha attained enlightenment over 2,500 years ago. The 1,500-year-old Bodh Gaya temple stands behind the sacred Bodhi tree.
- Buddhist monks to get ID cards in Bodh Gaya - Sep 02, 2011
- Buddha Purnima celebrated at Bodh Gaya - May 27, 2010
- Buddhists upset over death of sacred fish inside Bodhgaya temple pond - Jan 09, 2011
- Wasps sting tourists in Bodh Gaya - Mar 23, 2012
- Thai woman returns to ailing dog in Bihar - May 02, 2012
- Rename Gaya airport after Buddha: Nitish - Jun 11, 2011
- Buddhists to throng Bodh Gaya Thursday for special rites - Dec 27, 2010
- A mound like structure made of empty cartridges attracts tourists in Bodhgaya - Jul 24, 2010
- Buddhist monks begin eight-day prayer session for peace in Bodhgaya - Dec 15, 2010
- Buddhist monks pray for world peace in Bodh Gaya - Nov 21, 2009
- Bihar to approach Sri Lanka for Bodhi tree sapling - Jun 28, 2010
- Annual monsoon festival at Gaya's Mahabodhi Temple attracts Hindu pilgrims - Aug 13, 2010
- Buddhist monks offer prayers for world peace on Tripitaka festival - Dec 03, 2010
- Three walk from Tibet to Bodh Gaya to pray for Dalai Lama (Lead) - Sep 26, 2009
- Devotees travel on foot from Tibet to pray for Dalai Lama - Sep 26, 2009
Tags: aeration, archaeological survey of india, bodhgaya, buddha, buddhist, committee member, dehradun, enlightenment, evaporation, forest research institute, fri, gaya, lord buddha, marble flooring, marble slabs, member secretary, sandstone slabs, sandstone tiles, soil water, team of experts