Buddhist monasteries · Magadha and Anga · as at first light, 1 January 1200

The Mahabodhi temple and the Vajrasana at Bodh Gaya

The holiest place of Buddhism, the tree and the Diamond Throne, with the old brick temple, a Sinhalese monastery and repairs paid for by the kings of Pagan (board: Burmese works).

The Pithipati lords (Pithipati of Bodh Gaya) keep it for the pilgrims. English Wikipedia's Mahabodhi page describes the temple as a building of the Gupta and later centuries repaired many times; the Burmese repairs are recorded from the eleventh century.

Who holds it

Name
not named for 1200
Title
The Pithipati lord and the monks of the Seat
Since
not known
Born
not known
Family
not known
Confidence
low

What it holds

  • The temple, the Bodhi tree enclosure, the Sinhalese monastery

Allies and rivals

The kings of Pagan, the Sinhalese sangha, Tibetan pilgrims.

How things stand that morning

Open and repaired, with pilgrims from every Buddhist country; guarded by temple guards alone.

Threats

  • A Turkish raid on the wealth of the temple

Places of note

  • Mahabodhi: The temple.

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Wikipedia and the campaign board.

"The campaign board" is OMNIA's working map. These notes record where its earlier claims were checked against the sources.

On the map: A small disc for the house and its home villages; the granted villages lay scattered.

Primary sources for Magadha and Anga

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

Sources and studies

  1. English Wikipedia, Mahabodhi Temple
  2. English Wikipedia, Pala Empire

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.