Kālacakra Stūpa of Bodh Gaya

Kālacakra Stūpa of Bodh Gaya

Kālacakra — the Buddhist "Wheel of Time" teaching

Location

• Place: Bodh Gaya, Gaya, Bihar (24.6965°N, 84.9911°E)

Story & Significance

The Kālacakra teachings (transmitted from Shambhala to Tibet in the 10th c.) are given periodically at Bodh Gaya by the Dalai Lama — the most recent in 2017 drew 200,000+ international pilgrims. The Kālacakra is considered the highest yoga-tantra of Vajrayana Buddhism; initiation requires a commitment to the Bodhisattva path. Bodh Gaya is where the Kālacakra was taught by Buddha to King Sucandra of Shambhala; its site there today is honored by all Tibetan Buddhist schools (Gelug, Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya).

Worship & Festival

Daily aarati (dawn + dusk); abhisheka; flower and coconut offerings; evening deepa-dhyana. Annual festival features procession, special darshan, distribution of prasadam, and gathering of community.

Why This Entry Matters

Each district of India has its own gods, stories, and sacred places. Cataloguing them — with real coordinates and authentic local tradition — respects the richness of India's lived religious diversity.