View source for Maha Bodhi replicas

Since the [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] is the holiest place in [[Buddhism]], there have been several replicas of the temple made over the centuries. So far there have been about fourteen temples made which are similar in design and perhaps a few others from ancient times no longer standing: 

[[Image:Watflorida1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] replica at [[Wat Florida Dhammaram]]]]
[[Image:MBLV2.jpg|thumb|300px|left|A unique replica at [[Maha Bodhi Las Vegas]] with burgundy and yellow-gold colors]]

==Shwedagon Pagoda, (Mahabodhi Paya) Yangon, Burma==

established 1250 CE

At the [[Shwedagon Pagoda]] complex there is a [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] style replica, known as Mahabodhi Paya. The replica dates to 1250 CE while the main structure at Shwedagon Pagoda dates to the 6th century or possibly earlier.

==Mahabodhi Temple, Bagan, Burma==

established approximately 1255 CE

[[Mahabodhi Temple, Bagan]] is a Buddhist temple located in Bagan, [[Burma]]. It was built in the mid-1200s during the reign of King Htilominlo, and is modelled after the Maha Bodhi Temple, which is located in Bihar, India. The temple is built in an architectural style typical during the Gupta period, and contains a large pyramidal tower with many niches containing over 450 images of Buddha. The temple was destroyed during the 1975 earthquake, and was repaired in following years. 

==Wat Chet Yot, Chiang Mai, Thailand==

established 1453 CE

[[Wat Chet Yot]] (also Wat Jet Yod or Wat Maha Photharam) is an elegant 15th-century temple set in peaceful and green grounds northwest of the walled city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

Wat Chet Yot was built by King Tilokkarat in 1453 to host the Eighth World Buddhist Council. His remains are in one of the smaller chedis. In 1477, the World Sangkayana convened here to revise the doctrines of the Buddha. 

This wat is markedly different in style from the others in Chiang Mai. Its unusual design featuring a main rectangular chedi with seven spires (chet yot) derives from its Indian inspiration. More specifically, Wat Chet Yot copies the [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] in Bodh Gaya, India, where the Buddha attained enlightenment. The temple also shows elements of Burmese, Chinese Yuan, and Ming influence. 

==Mahabuddha Temple, Patan, Nepal==

established 1585 

[[Mahabuddha Temple]] in Patan, Nepal is dedicated to the historical [[Buddha]]. It was built by priest Abhaya Raj of Patan. The temple is often called "the temple of a thousand Buddhas" because a Buddha image is engraved on every brick. The temple is modeled on the [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] at [[Bodh Gaya]], [[India]]. 

==Vajrasana Dagoba, China==

established 1765

[[Vajrasana Dagoba]] is located in Pengxian County of Sichuan Province, China. It was built in the [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] design.

==Wat Pai Rong Wa, Thailand==

established 1800

[[Wat Pai Rong Wa]] is a temple in Suphan Buri Province in one of the central provinces of [[Thailand]]. The complex includes a large [[Buddha]] statue and a [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] replica.

==Myomanji Temple, Japan==

established 1870

[[Myomanji Temple]] is a temple in Kyoto, Japan. On the temple complex there are many temples, buildings, rock gardens, beautiful landscaping and a [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] replica.

==Kotahena Pagoda, Sri Lanka==

established 1928

[[Kotahena Pagoda]] is a temple in Kotahena, [[Sri Lanka]]. The lower part of the temple is a good copy of the original [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] but the pinnacle is very different.

==Maha Bodhi Temple, Yemathin, Burma==

established approx. 1935

==Wat Nong Bua, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand==

established 1955 

[[Wat Nong Bua]] is the only temple in Ubon Ratchathani, [[Thailand]] that has a rectangular Chedi, which is an imitation of the Chedi at the [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] in [[Bodh Gaya]], [[India]]. The temple is located on the outskirts of Ubon Ratchathani on Highway No. 212 (Ubon-Amnat Charoen). At the 3-km. marker on the highway, turn into a side road and proceed for 800 meters to the temple. 

==Mahabodhi World Peace Buddha Temple, Bangalore, India==

established 1956 

[[Mahabodhi World Peace Buddha Temple]], also known as Loka Shanthi Buddha Vihara, is a delightful shrine situated at Bangalore, Karnataka, [[India]]. 

==Linh Son Temple, Kushinagar, India==

established approximately 1990

[[Linh Son Temple]] is a temple in Kushinagar, India and includes a replica of the Maha Bodhi Temple on its grounds. 

==Wat Florida Dhammaram, USA==

established 2004

At [[Wat Florida Dhammaram]] there are replicas of all of the four major pilgrimage sites including a [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] replica, the stupa at [[Sarnath]] (first teaching), Maya devi temple (birth place), and parinibbana temple ([[Kushinagar]]). It is one of only a few replicas of the [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] outside of Asia.

==Maha Bodhi Las Vegas, USA==

established 2012

[[Maha Bodhi Las Vegas]] is a unique design with burgundy and yellow-gold colors to match the culture / motif of the Southwestern states of the U.S. Construction completed on April 6, 2012 which was the full moon day of April 2012 (not planned, just happened due to construction company's schedule).

==Nuang Cho Pagoda, Burma==

established approx. 2013

==Thatta Thattaha Maha Bawdi Pagoda, Burma==

established 2013

[[Thatta Thattaha Maha Bawdi Pagoda]] is a Maha Bodhi Temple replica, completed in year 2013 near Naypyitaw, Myanmar (Burma).

== Aung Myay Pagoda, Burma==

established approx. 2014

==Buddha Gaya Pagoda, Mandalay, Burma==

established approx. 2014

==Maha Bodhi Pagoda, Myaenigone, Burma==

established approx. 2015

==Tham Tha Yar Aye Maha Bodhi Pagoda, Kyaikto, Burma==

established approx. 2016

==Mahabodhi Pagoda, Kyauk Ta Lone Gyi, Burma==

established 2020

==Gallery of photos of the Maha Bodhi Temple Replicas==

<gallery>
Image:Mahabodhipaya2.png|Mahabodhi Paya at Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma est. 1250 CE
Image:Bagan1.jpg|Mahabodhi Temple, Burma est. 1255 CE
Image:Watchetyot1.jpg|Wat Chet Yot, Thailand est. 1453 CE
Image:Mahabuddha1.jpg|Mahabuddha Temple, Nepal est. 1585 CE
Image:VajrasanaChina.jpg|Vajrasana Dagoba, China est. 1765
Image:Watpairongwa.jpg|Wat Pai Rong Wa, Thailand est. 1800
Image:Myomanji1.jpg|Myomanji Temple, Japan est.1870
Image:KotahenaPagoda2.png|Kotahena Pagoda, Sri Lanka est. 1928
Image:Yemathin.jpg|Maha Bodhi Temple, Yemathin, Burma est. approx. 1935
Image:Watnong.jpg|Wat Nong Bua, Thailand est. 1955
Image:Worldpeacebuddhatemple.jpg|Mahabodhi World Peace Buddha Temple, Bangalore, India est. 1956
Image:Linhson1.jpg|Linh Son Temple, Kushinagar, India est. 1990
Image:Watflorida1.jpg|Wat Florida Dhammaram, USA est. 2004
Image:MBLV1.jpg|Maha Bodhi Las Vegas, USA est. 2012
Image:Nuangcho.png|Nuang Cho Pagoda, Burma est. approx. 2013
Image:Thatta1.jpg|Thatta Thattaha Maha Bawdi Pagoda, Burma est. 2013
Image:AungMyayPagoda.jpg|Aung Myay Pagoda, Burma est. approx. 2014
Image:Buddhagayapagoda.jpg|Buddha Gaya Pagoda, Mandalay, Burma est. approx. 2014 
Image:Myaenigone.jpg|Maha Bodhi Pagoda, Myaenigone, Burma est. approx. 2015
Image:Kyaikto.jpg|Tham Tha Yar Aye Maha Bodhi Pagoda, Kyaikto, Burma est approx. 2016
Image:Kyauk.jpg|Mahabodhi Pagoda, Kyauk Ta Lone Gyi, Burma est. 2020
</gallery>

==Distribution of Maha Bodhi replicas by nation==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Nation
!Number of replicas
|-
|[[Burma]]
|10
|-
|[[Thailand]]
|3
|-
|[[United States of America|U.S.A.]]
|2
|-
|[[India]]
|2
|-
|[[China]]
|1
|-
|[[Japan]]
|1
|-
|[[Nepal]]
|1
|-
|[[Sri Lanka]]
|1
|-
|}


==Souvenir replicas==
[[Image:Woini1a.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Buddhist next to a gold Maha Bodhi replica, close-up to the right]]
[[Image:Mahabodhireplica.jpg|thumb|150px|right|A souvenir [[Maha Bodhi Temple]] replica, 36 cm (14 in.)]]

At [[Bodh Gaya]], India there are several shops and street vendors that sell souvenir replicas of the [[Maha Bodhi Temple]]. Some are made of wood, stone, marble, and plaster. 

Most of the souvenir replicas range in size from 5 cm (2 in.) to 20 cm (8 in.). Currently they are difficult to locate outside of India, with only a few shops and temples outside of India offering the souvenir Maha Bodhi Temple replicas for sale.

*The domain name: http://www.mahabodhireplicas.com/ redirects to this page.

[[Category:Temples]]
[[Category:Maha Bodhi Replicas]]