• Shakado

The Shakado, established in 1983, is the main building of Daijokyo Buddhist Temple. The Main Hall on the first floor enshrines the principal images of Daijokyo: the Eternal Shakyamuni Buddha, Visistacaritra, Anantacaritra, Visuddhacaritra and Supratisthitacaritra. The three-story pagoda atop the rooftop contains Reliquary Hall (third floor) which enshrines holy relics of Buddha, and Founder's Hall (second floor), which houses a bronze bust of the Most Rev. Tatsuko Sugiyama, the founder of Daijokyo.

Buddhagaya, the place of Buddha's Enlightenment (attainment of Buddhahood by Sakyamuni under the Bodhi Tree), is one of the holy places in Buddhism where Buddhist countries around the world have their own temples. As a member of this international circle of Buddhists, Daijokyo established the Shakado to contribute to the prosperity of Buddhagaya and overcome the barriers of differences in tradition and culture.

Everyone is welcome to visit during open hours, regardless of nationality or religion.

Hours: 7:00 to 12:00, 14:00 to 18:00 (to 17:30 in winter)

• Great Buddha Statue (80-foot Buddha Statue)

The unveiling and consecration of the Great Buddha Statue took place on November 18, 1989. The consecration ceremony was graced with the presence of the 14th Dalai Lama, who blessed the 25-meter statue, the first great Buddha ever built in the history of India. The Statue is now a symbol of the holy place Buddhagaya, next to Mahabohdi Temple which is a World Heritage site, and enjoys constant visits of pilgrims from all over the world. Among local people, it is nicknamed "the 80-foot (25-meter) Buddha Statue."

Under the slogan "Spread Buddha's rays to the Whole World," Daijokyo spent seven years on construction of the Great Buddha Statue, mobilizing 120,000 masons in total. The greatest driving force for this massive project was the pure heart of people, who wish for further expansion of Buddhism from the holy place Buddhagaya, as well as for the realization of world peace. We Daijokyo believers shall never forget this fact.

Hours: 7:00 to 12:00, 14:00 to 18:00 (to 17:30 in winter)

• Statues of Ten Great Disciples of Buddha

In the precincts of the Great Buddha Statue, the Statues of Ten Great Disciples of Buddha stand on either side of the Great Buddha, as if protecting or following him. Of the ten standing statues, those of Sariputta and Mahamoggallana were unveiled and consecrated in November 1993. The statues of the other eight great disciples, namely Mahakassapa, Subhuti, Punna, Mahakaccana, Anuruddha, Upali, Rahula and Ananda, were consecrated in March 1996. The ten statues are made of sandstone from Chunar, near Benares — the same material as was used for the Great Buddha Statue.

Seeing the Great Buddha Statue and the Statues of Ten Great Disciples, worshipers familiar with the Lotus Sutra might recall a scene in Chapter 1 — the scene of Buddha surrounded by a large audience, including the Ten Great Disciples, on the summit of Gridhakuta mountain. 

It is indeed a moment of mysterious tranquility, in which Buddha is just about to begin preaching the truth: the Lotus Sutra.

The Great Buddha turns damask when the sun rises in the east, and the tuft of white hair between his eyebrows bears a golden glow. The view almost represents the world of the Lotus Sutra, which begins with the scene in which a ray of light, emitted from the tuft of white hair between Buddha's eyebrows, illuminated all the eighteen thousand worlds in the east and made all sentient beings visible from this world.

• Statue of Founder Tatsuko Sugiyama

In 2001, a statue of the Most Rev. Tatsuko Sugiyama, the founder of Daijokyo, was erected in the precincts of Daijokyo Buddhist Temple to complete a string of facility improvements. The 6-meter statue (including a 2-meter pedestal) was produced in Japan and shipped to India. With her hands clasped in prayer, the founder stands gazing far into the East. Looking up at her noble figure, we Daijokyo believers pray for the eternal divine protection of the holy place Buddhagaya, as well as for the realization of the founder's great ideal to "be the Sun to light the Embudai."

* A brief biography of Rev. Tatsuko Sugiyama, Founder of Daijokyo

• Bronze busts of the late Most Rev.Hozan Sugisaki, former President of Daijokyo (right), and the late Rev. Horyu Shibagaki, former Vice−president of Daijokyo (left)

• Buddhist House

Buddhist House is a three-story accommodation facility built in 1988 on the Shakado premises. As a sacred place associated with Buddha, Buddhagaya attracts pilgrims from around the world who follow in the footsteps of Buddha. However, while Buddhist House was still under construction, the area did not have enough hotels or other accommodations suitable for pilgrims. Consequently, in response to local requests, 
Daijokyo opened Buddhist House to accommodate up to about 100 visitors. The House even serves simple Japanese meals upon guest request.

Staff members of Buddhist House are all Indian nationals, capable of speaking English and Japanese. For reservations, please contact either the House directly or the Administrative Office of Daijokyo Sohonzan Temple.

Contact：Kiran Lama, Manager
Daijokyo Buddhist House
Great Buddha Statue Road
Post Box No.20　
P.O. Buddhagaya 824231 
Gaya, Bihar,India 
TEL. (631) 2200-747
FAX. (631)2200-407 
E-mail: daijokyotemple_bg@yahoo.co.in

*Faxes or e-mails of inquiry to Buddhist House should be written in English. For inquiries in Japanese, please call the Administrative Office of Daijokyo Sohonzan Temple (TEL: 052-671-6146).