INDIA'S LARGEST RECLINING STATUE OF LORD BUDDHA

Context

The world's largest reclining Buddha statue is being built in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. Bodh Gaya is a vital part of India's Buddhist pilgrimage circuit currently being repaired. As a result, Gautam Buddha's enlightenment site will soon be home to his grandest reclining statue.

Key points

• Buddha International Welfare Mission is constructing this statue.
• The statue will stand 30 feet tall and span 100 feet.
• The sleeping pose of Lord Buddha is depicted in the statue.
• The construction of the massive statue began in the year 2019.
• This statue is made of fibreglass and is being constructed by Kolkata-based sculptors.
• The enormous statue of Lord Buddha will be exposed to devotees starting in February 2023.
• The statue is being created in Bodh Gaya, where Lord Buddha obtained enlightenment.

The significance of this position

• The Mahaparinirvana has Lord Buddha's idol. Mudra is critical in Buddhism since it was in this stance that Buddha lectured to his people before achieving Mahaparinirvana.
• Lord Buddha's idol in this stance can also be found in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, where he obtained Mahaparinirvana.

Bodh Gaya is a Buddhist temple

• The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is related to Bodh Gaya, a pilgrimage destination and religious landmark in Bihar's Gaya district. 
• It is famous for being the site of Gautama Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Since antiquity, both Hindus and Buddhists have revered and devoted themselves to Bodh Gaya. 
• According to archaeological finds, Buddhists have been using the site since the Mauryan period, including sculptures.
• Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath are the most important pilgrimage sites associated with Gautam Buddha's life. Bodh Gaya is the most important. 
• In 2002, the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.