Patna,
Feb 3 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama
Saturday consecrated the Buddha's relics, which were
shifted from Sri Lanka, to a newly built temple in Bihar's
Bodh Gaya, the birthplace of Buddhism, a senior monk
said.
The
Dalai Lama, along with dozens of monks, consecrated
the relics amid chanting of Buddhist scriptures near
Buddha's statue at Jaya Sri Mahabodhi Vihara - the new
branch of the Mahabodhi Society of India, said D. Rewath
Thero, general secretary of the society.
The
relics were shifted to Bodh Gaya two days ago and hundreds
of Buddhists monks and devotees took out a colourful
procession in the holy town.
The
Buddha, who was born as Prince Siddhartha, founded Buddhism
and is said to have attained enlightenment under the
Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, about 110 km from here.
The
relics were handed over to Buddhist monks by Sri Lankan
President Mahinda Rajapakse Tuesday. They had been kept
in a Sri Lankan temple for decades. Sri Lanka decided
to shift the holy relics to Bodh Gaya because it is
the holiest shrine of Buddhism in the world.
Relics
of Buddha's two disciples from Kolkata were also moved
to the temple, which is now set to draw Buddhists from
across the globe.
The
Dalai Lama, who arrived in Bodh Gaya Friday, offered
prayers at the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple as well.
The spiritual leader will also inaugurate a three-day
international conference at Bodh Gaya starting Sunday.
He
is staying at a Tibetan monastery in the town and security
has been tightened during his visit, said a police official.