Tibetan leader saddened by Bodh Gaya blasts

The Tibetan government-in-exile Sunday expressed sadness over the series of blasts at the Mahabodhi temple area in Bihar's Bodh Gaya town.

"I am deeply saddened to learn about the series of bomb blasts at Mahabodhi temple. My prayers for the injured and their family members," prime minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay said in a statement here.

Hundreds of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from across the world flock to Mahabodhi temple, which stands on the spot where Buddha attained enlightenment.

Nine blasts took place early in the morning in quick succession at the over two millennia-old Mahabodhi temple, annually visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the world. The deafening explosions triggered panic, and left two monks injured. The temple structure suffered no damage.

The temple complex, which is a Unesco Heritage site, has direct association with the life of the Buddha (566-486 BC) as the place where, in 531 BC, he attained enlightenment while seated under a Bodhi tree.

The Bodhi trees near the temple too are held in reverence for being descendents of that tree under which the Sakya Muni gained enlightenment.