Patna. July 7: Archaeologists have claimed that the serial blasts at Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodhgaya have not caused any major damage to the structure and the interiors of the main temple of the shrine.

A five-member team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) rushed to the shrine after the serial blasts this morning. Based on primary investigation, the ASI team claimed in the evening that no major damage was identified in the structure of the shrine, which is the lone site in Bihar that appears in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (Unesco) World Heritage list.

S.K. Manjul, superintending archaeologist, ASI, Patna circle, told The Telegraph: “Acting on the communication with our headquarters in the morning, a five-member team comprising two archaeological engineers, a restoration assistant and I (superintending archaeologist) along with my deputy arrived at Bodhgaya. Though we could not carry out investigation near the blast sites because of security issues, we inspected the temple interiors, including the sanctum sanctorum and its walls. Based on primary investigation, we have concluded that the structure at Mahabodhi Mahavihara has not suffered any major structural damage owing to the blasts.”

Manjul said though the team was not allowed to go near the Mahabodhi tree, under which Lord Buddha had sat for three weeks after attaining enlightenment, they were informed by Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee officials that the holy tree was left untouched by the blasts.

“The team would carry out detailed investigations and take corresponding restoration measures, if necessary, on the shrine premises over the next one or two days. We would send the report based on our spot assessment to our headquarters as well as to conservation director of ASI, who also looks after the heritage sites of Unesco in India,” said Manjul.

The site was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco on June 27, 2002.

Historians claim that the foundation of Mahabodhi Mahavihara was laid down by King Asoka himself. “Mahabodhi Mahavihara is the place where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment in BC 6th century. In BC 3rd century, Mauryan Emperor Asoka made a diamond throne and an enclosure around it near the Mahabodhi tree. Magadh queen Kurungi developed a bigger enclosure around the Vajrasana. Finally, the Mahabodhi temple was developed in the 6th century AD,” said Vijay Kumar Choudhary, director, KP Jayaswal Research Institute, Patna.

He claimed that there were different views on who developed the shrine. “Famous Chinese pilgrim and traveller Hiuen Tsang, who visited Bodhgaya in 637 AD, wrote that the temple was developed by a Shaiva Brahmin. Other historical texts mention that the shrine was developed by Sri Lankan king Mahanama. It is not clear who developed the temple,” said Choudhary.