The protestors are questioning why Brahmins are in control of the administration of the Mahabodhi Temple, despite their disdain for Buddhism? Buddhists point to historical texts where Hindu scriptures criticized Buddha and Buddhist philosophy, including the Mahabharata's reference to Magadha as "land of sinners" and texts stating that looking at Buddha warranted death.

Monks and nuns have gathered near the temple for demonstrations. Their demands focus on ending state involvement in Buddhist religious matters and transferring temple administration to the Buddhist community.

<< The Hindu ritual held inside the Mahabodhi temple which caused Buddhist uproar and protests

The temple's management remains under the Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949, which created a committee with Hindu and Buddhist members, led by the District Magistrate.

Protesters from Tripura, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra continue to join the movement. In Patna, monks have assembled at Ashok Maidan to support the Mahabodhi Mahavihara Mukti Movement, calling for the cancellation of the 1949 Act.

The Ladakh Buddhist Association sent appeals to Bihar's government requesting transfer of temple management to Buddhists.

The protest movements have called Buddhists from all over the world to support their cause.


The Buddhist History for Mahabodhi Control

The struggle for Buddhist representation in the management of Mahabodhi Temple spans over 130 years. The temple, marking the site of Buddha's enlightenment, remains under a joint Hindu-Buddhist management structure established by the Bihar government's Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949.

The current management structure splits control between:

- Four Buddhist members
- Four Hindu members
- District Magistrate of Gaya as chairman

This structure has remained unchanged since the Act's implementation in 1949, despite multiple attempts by Buddhist organizations to modify the management system.

Four attempts at restructuring the temple's management - through Dharmapala's campaign, the post-independence legislation, the All Bhikkhu Sangha's advocacy, and the World Fellowship of Buddhists' petitions - have shaped this ongoing discussion about representation at Buddhism's most sacred site.

This management structure arrangement traces back to 1891, when Anagarika Dharmapala first encountered the temple under the control of a Shaivite mahant. Buddhist pilgrims faced restrictions in worship, and the site lacked Buddhist presence. Dharmapala launched a sustained campaign through the Maha Bodhi Society, filing multiple legal cases in the Calcutta High Court between 1906 and 1935.

Despite support from the international Buddhist community and several Indian allies, Dharmapala's efforts did not succeed during his lifetime. The post-independence era brought the Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949, establishing the current management committee structure: four Buddhist members, four Hindu members, and the District Magistrate of Gaya as chairman.

The All India Bhikkhu Sangha, founded in 1947, continues to advocate for Buddhist control of the temple. Their demands focus on amending the 1949 Act and increasing Buddhist representation on the management committee.

The World Fellowship of Buddhists joined these efforts, filing a petition with the Bihar Government in 1989 requesting changes to the management structure. In 1986, during their 15th General Conference in Kathmandu, the World Fellowship of Buddhists passed a resolution requesting the Indian government transfer temple management to Buddhists. This resolution remains unimplemented.

This history raises questions about balancing religious heritage with contemporary management structures. As Buddhist organizations continue their advocacy, the future of Mahabodhi Temple's management remains a matter of significance for the global Buddhist community.