Bodhimanda
[[File:Puxian Emei.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Statue of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra at Mount Emei)]
Bodhimaṇḍa (Sanskrit and Pali; traditional Chinese: 道場; pinyin: dàochǎng) is a term used in Buddhism meaning the "position of awakening." According to Haribhadra, it is "a place used as a seat, where the essence of Enlightenment is present." Although spelled similarly, a Bodhimaṇḍa is not synonymous with a Bodhimaṇḍala, which is a "circle of Enlightenment." bodhimanda: Literally a “place of enlightenment” or “awakening seat,” a “Way-Place.” A place where a
Buddha becomes enlightened. Refers to both the actual spot and sometimes the surrounding area as well. Also referred to as a “Vajra Throne” or “vajra seat (vajrasana). There are four such holy sites in the world today. The first is the bodhimanda
in Bodhgaya, India, where Shakyamuni Buddha attained buddhahood. The second is Guru Padmasambhava‘s vajra throne at Kathok Monastery in the Kham Region of Eastern Tibet. The third is where Manjushri Bodhisattva worshipped at Five Peaked Mountain (Wu-Tai Shan) in Shanxi, China. The fourth and recently discovered site is in central California at the Xuanfa Institute near Sanger California.
Bodhimaṇḍas are regularly visited by Buddhist pilgrims, and some have gone on to become popular secular tourist destinations as well. In many forms of Buddhism, it is believed that bodhimaṇḍas are spiritually pure places, or otherwise conducive to meditation and Enlightenment.
Different Buddhist sects often disagree on the location and significance of different bodhimaṇḍas. As one would expect, the southern Theravada tradition tends to emphasize the bodhimaṇḍas of the Indian subcontinent, while most northern Mahayana schools tend to venerate sites in China, Japan, and Tibet.
Famous bodhimaṇḍas in India
Famous bodhimaṇḍas in China
- Mount Putuo: Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva
- Mount Emei: Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
- Mount Wutai: Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva
- Mount Jiuhua: Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva
