TheVajrasana (IAST:vajrāsana;diamond throne), orEnlightenment Throne of the Buddha, is an ancient stone slab located under theBodhi tree, directly beside theMahabodhi Temple atBodh Gaya. It is considered asbodhimanda (bodhimaṇḍa;seat orplatform of enlightenment) ofGautama Buddha.^[1] The slab is presumed to have been placed at the location during the reign ofMaurya kingAshoka between 250–233 BCE, at the spot where the Buddha meditated.^[2]

Vajrasana Diamond Throne
Vajrasana inBodh Gaya
Material	Polishedsandstone
Period/culture	circa 250 BCE
Place	Bodh Gaya,Bihar, India
Present location	24°41′46″N84°59′28″E / 24.6960°N 84.9912°E /24.6960; 84.9912
Vajrasana

Theempty throne was a focus of devotion in earlyBuddhism, treated as acetiya or symbolic relic. It was not intended to be occupied, but operated as a symbol of the missing Buddha. Devotees often kneel in prayer before it. Being the site where Gautama Buddhaachieved liberation,Tibetan Buddhist texts also use the term vajrasana to refer to Bodh Gaya itself.^[3]

The Vajrasana, together with the remnants of the ancient temple built by Ashoka, was excavated by archaeologistAlexander Cunningham (1814-1893), who published his discovery and related research of theMahabodhi Temple in his 1892 bookMahâbodhi, or the great Buddhist temple under the Bodhi tree at Buddha-Gaya.

As it survives now, the Vajrasana is a thick slab of polished greysandstone, 7 feet 10-inches long by 4 feet 7-inches broad, and 6-inches thick. The whole top surface was carved with geometrical patterns, circular in the middle, with a double border of squares.^[4]

The sculpted decorations on the Diamond Throne clearly echo the decorations found on the Pillars of Ashoka.^[5] The Diamond Throne has a decorative band made on the sides of carvings ofhoneysuckles andgeese, which can also be found on several of thepillar capitals of Ashoka,^[6] such as theRampurva capitals, and also pigeons on the back relief, nowadays hidden from view.^[4] The geese (hamsa) in particular are a very recurrent symbol on the pillars of Ashoka, and may refer to the devotees flocking to the faith.^[7] The same throne is also illustrated in later reliefs fromBharhut, dated to circa 100 BCE.^[8]

The long frieze at the front is slightly different, and consists in stylizedlotuses with multiplecalyx, alternating with "flame palmettes" of a slightly simpler design than on the side. A rather similar design can also be seen inthe lost frieze of theAllahabad pillar of Ashoka.

The vajrasana has carvings on all sides, suggesting that the original temple built by Ashoka (bodhigriha) was open on all sides, anhammiya structure.^[7] The small statues at the foot of the throne are of a later date, probablyKushan orGupta.^[4]

The Vajrasana was built by Ashoka in order to mark the place where the Buddha reached enlightenment.^[10][11] Ashoka is thought to have visited Bodh Gaya around 260 BCE, about 10 years into his reign, as explained by hisRock Edict number VIII.^[12] He describes his visit toBodh Gaya, known in ancient times asSambodhi ("complete enlightenement") or Uruvela ("Original ancient name of Bodh gaya as mentioned in Pali Canon's Paṭhamauruvelasutta of Anguttara Nikaya and Bodhi Sutta of Khuddaka Nikaya and many other Pali Suttas(Sutras)"):^[13]

In times past theDevanampriyas (Kings) used to set out on so-called pleasure-tours.

On these (tours) hunting and other such pleasures were (enjoyed).

When kingDevanampriyaPriyadarsin had been anointed ten years, he went out toSambodhi.

Therefore tours of morality (were undertaken) here.

On these (tours) the following takes place, (viz.) visitingSramanas andBrahmanas and making gifts (to them), visiting the aged and supporting (them) with gold, visiting the people of the country, instructing (them) in morality, and questioning (them) about morality, as suitable for this (occasion).

This second period (of the reign) of king Devanampriya Priyadarsin becomes a pleasure in a higher degree.

— 8th Major Rock Edict. Translation byE. Hultzsch.Inscriptions of Asoka p.36-37. Public Domain.

The throne slab dating from the time of Ashoka, was built when Ashoka established the first Bodh Gaya temple around theBodhi tree circa 260 BCE.^[6] The throne was initially found hidden behind a bigger throne of the Kushan period, and an even bigger one, probably from thePala period. It is thought that the Vajrasana was initially located at the bottom of the originalBodhi tree.^[6] The slab is made of polished sandstone, and dated to the time of Ashoka.^[6] This is the oldest known piece of architecture at Bodh Gaya.^[6]

According to the inscribed Bharhut relief related to the Vajrasana, the originalMahabodhi Temple of Asoka was an open pavilion supported on pillars. In the middle is seen the Vajrasana decorated in front with four flat pilasters. Behind the Throne appears the trunk of the Bodhi Tree, which rises up high above the building, and on each side of the Tree there is a combined symbol of theTriratna and theDharmachakra, standing on the top of a short pillar. On each side of the Vajrasana room there is a side room of the same style. The top of the Throne is ornamented with flowers, but there is no figure of Buddha.^[8]

The relief bears the inscription: "Bhagavato Sakamunino Bodho" ("The Bodhi (Tree) of the divineShakyamuni", or "The illumination of the Blessed Sakyamuni"),^[14] thereby confirming the meaning of the relief.^[8]

Various gold objects and a talisman with the impression of the bust of theKushan rulerHuvishka were found buried under the Vajrasana.^[15]

• Pillars of Ashoka
• Hellenistic influence on Indian art

• Buswell, Robert E. Jr.;Lopez, Donald S. Jr. (2013).The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton: Princeton University Press.ISBN 9781400848058.