A group of several hundred Buddhist monks, religious leaders, and lay followers have entered the 15th day of an indefinite hunger strike at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, in the Indian state of Bihar. The demonstrators are demanding full Buddhist administrative control of the temple, challenging the existing management structure established under the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949, which grants a majority presence in the governing body to Hindu members.

The Mahabodhi Temple, considered the most sacred site in Buddhism, is revered as the location where Siddhartha Gautama attained awakening. Built during the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the third century BCE, the temple was destroyed following the 12th-century invasions led by Bakhtiyar Khilji of the Ghurid dynasty. The site was later rediscovered and restored through the efforts of Anagarika Dharmapala, a Sri Lankan Buddhist reformer, and others. In recognition of its cultural and historical significance, the temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

Despite its centrality to Buddhism, the governance of the Mahabodhi Temple is regulated by the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, which mandates a nine-member Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC). Under the Act, the committee consists of five Hindu members, including the district magistrate of Gaya, who serves as chairman, and four Buddhist members. Protestors argue that this structure excludes the Buddhist community from its rightful authority over its most sacred site.

Demonstrators are also demanding an end to state interference in Buddhist religious affairs. Many have voiced concerns over what they describe as systematic distortions of Buddhist history and efforts to diminish the temple’s sacred identity. The Bihar state government has been accused of ignoring their grievances, and protestors allege that the authorities have used intimidation tactics, including creating loud noises to disrupt peaceful assemblies and obstructing visibility at the protest site.

Concerns regarding temple administration have been raised beyond governance issues. Protestors have accused the authorities of mismanaging donations and mistreating visiting pilgrims. The hunger strike has drawn increasing national and international support. More than 500 organizations, including the All India Buddhist Forum and the Ladakh Buddhist Association, have expressed solidarity with the movement. Reports indicate that supporters from across India, including Tripura, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, have traveled to Bodh Gaya to join the demonstration.

Since the protest began on 12 February, international Buddhist communities have also voiced their support. A petition titled “In Solidarity: Demand Buddhist Control Over the Mahabodhi Temple” has garnered more than 12,900 signatures from Buddhist communities in Cambodia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United States:

We, the undersigned, stand in unwavering solidarity with the Buddhist monks and followers protesting in Bodh Gaya to demand the rightful transfer of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Temple’s administration to the Buddhist community. This sacred site, where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment, deserves to be managed by those who uphold its spiritual and historical significance. (Change.org)

However, despite the pressure, the Indian government has yet to formally respond to the demands of the protestors.

The movement has revived long-standing debates over religious autonomy and heritage preservation in India. Advocates for Buddhist control argue that, given the temple’s historical and spiritual significance, the current administrative structure is an outdated remnant of colonial-era policies that should be revised. Others maintain that the existing system, which includes Buddhist representation, serves as a balanced approach to managing a site that holds historical importance for multiple religious traditions.

Akash Lama, a prominent voice in the movement, said: “Every religious community has full control over its sacred sites, but Buddhists are denied this right. The government is profiting from the Mahabodhi Temple while ignoring the demands of the Buddhist community.” (The Mooknayak)

As the hunger strike continues, attention remains on the Bihar state government and the central authorities, with observers awaiting a potential resolution to the dispute. Meanwhile, Buddhist leaders and organizations worldwide continue to call for reforms that they believe would restore full autonomy over one of the most sacred sites in Buddhism.

See more

Buddhists demand full control of Mahabodhi temple, stage indefinite hunger strike in Bodh Gaya (Phayul)
Bodh Gaya’s Burning Question — If Hindu Scriptures Denounced Buddha, Why Do Brahmins Control His Sacred Site? (The Mooknayak)
In Solidarity: Demand Buddhist Control Over the Mahabodhi Temple (Change.org)

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