Enlightenment of the Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who had become a wandering ascetic, meditated under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya and, according to Buddhist tradition, attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha. The emperor Ashoka marked the place with a shrine in the 3rd century BC. The Mahabodhi Temple and a descendant of the original tree now draw pilgrims from across Asia.