Buddhist Circuit India
Buddhism was born and thrived in India for 1,700 years. Between the 5th century BC and 12th century AD the whole of India was rich with the culture of Buddhist life that spread to other parts of the world.
The four famous places of Buddhist pilgrimage are Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar, which are associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The others are in India. Bodh Gaya was the place, under the pipal or Bo tree, where the Buddha was enlightened after practicing meditation for several years. Sarnath was the site of his first teaching and Kushinagar was the place of his death or final Nirvana .
Among the holiest of pilgrim places in the Indian Buddhist circuit is the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya. The Mahabodhi Temple built to the east of the sacred tree stands majestically, 170 feet high on a 50 feet square base, and consists of a soaring pyramidal tower surmounted by a stupa. Vajrasan or the Diamond Throne lying between the Bodhi Tree and the temple marks the actual spot where Buddha sat in meditation and attained supreme knowledge.
Thirty-four kilometres from Gaya lies Rajgir in a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills. Here on Griddhakuta or Vultures Peak the Buddha, set in motion his Second Wheel of Law and for three months every year during the rainy season preached many inspiring sermons to his disciples.
On the Vaibhara hill are the Saptparni caves where the first Buddhist Council was held. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir sulphur springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus.
Twelve kilometres from Rajgir is Nalanda, which was in the Buddha's time a lovely resort of saints and ascetics. Lord Buddha visited Nalanda several times and delivered some important sermons.
The Lord Buddha visited Vaishali on the Gandak River often and at Kolhua, close by, preached his last sermon and announced his approaching Nirvana to his disciples. Emperor Ashoka built a pillar of sandstone at this spot. On the summit of the pillar sits a life-sized lion facing northwards, the direction Buddha took on his last journey.
A hundred years after the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha, Vaishali hoisted the second great Buddhist Council. Two stupas were built to commemorate this event, Buddha's funeral ashes were found in caskets buried in the relic chambers of both these stupas. Vaishali is 56 km north of Patna.
At Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, the Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining Enlightenment, revealing his doctrine of the Eight Fold Path and enshrining the principles of his teachings into laws. The ruined Dharmrajika stupa and the great Dhamekh stupa mark the spot where the Buddha set in motion the Wheel of Law.
To the north of Sarnath is the sacred site of Kushinagar where the Buddha at the age of 80 passed away into Mahaparinirvana, the state of permanent bliss. Kushinagar's partial exploration till today has revealed the remains of at least ten ancient monasteries. The Mukutabandhana stupa was perhaps built to house the relics of the Buddha, while a smaller renovated shrine nearby encloses a great recumbent figure of him. Fa-Hien, Hiuen Tsang and I-tsing, the three great Chinese scholars who travelled to India all visited Kushinagar.
Today, there are over 500 millions Buddhists all over the world especially in the Far East and South East Asian countries. While the south Asians are followers of the Hinayan sects of Buddhism, the followers of the second sect, Mahayana, are mostly in Japan, Korea, Tibet, China and Mongolia. Though the sects and beliefs within Buddhism are many, they all look upon these sites in north India with great reverence.
Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage amongst all these places in India. Apart from being a significant archaeological site, it is renowned for the Mahabodhi Temple, which houses a 50 metre high pyramidal spire and an image of the Buddha. Sarnath near Varanasi is a vital centre of the Buddhist world where he delivered his first sermon and set in motion the wheel of law, the Dharmachakra. Buddhism germinated in Sarnath amidst the deer park.
Nalanda is the famous education centre of Buddhism where the Chinese scholar and traveller Hiuen Tsang stayed in the 7th century to explore the roots of Buddhism. Vaishali is significant to Buddhists as Lord Buddha announced his impending Nirvana here. One of the famous pillars erected by Ashoka to propagate Buddhism also stands here in Nalanda. Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh is known for its numerous stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century BC. to the 12th century AD.
Amaravati on the bank of river Krishna in the South India, is famous for its temple, dedicated to Lord Amarewara. The temple is the dilapidated 2000-year-old Buddhist stupa that draws millions of archaeologists and pilgrims every year. Named after the great scholar of Buddhism, Nagarjunakonda, located on the banks of river Krishna retains its status as the greatest centre of Buddhist learning in the South of Vindhyas. Earlier known as Vijayapuri, Nagarjunakonda was the venue of the massive congregation of monks and scholars during the bygone era. The Buddhist circuit in India thus introduces you with the major townships in India that mark the evolution, development and propagation of Buddhism. After Gautam Buddha, it was Emperor Ashoka followed by his daughter and son Sanghmitra and Mahindra, who took the charge of propagating Buddhism in India as well as the South Asian countries like Burma, Nepal, China, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka etc.
Siddhartha Gautama, the prince of a small kingdom in Nepal, found enlightenment in India and came to be known as Gautam Buddha. Beautiful Buddhist monasteries and stupas over the relics have become an inseparable part of Indian art, culture and architecture. Nalanda was once a world center for Buddhism and its philosophy until it disappeared suddenly in 13th century except for the small kingdoms in the hilly tracts. Early 20th century saw re-emergence of Buddhism and even today some of the famous pilgrimage sites in India related to Buddhism attract large number of devotees and visitors every year. Most of them are situated around the River Ganges. The significant sites to be visited as great Buddhist centres are Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Shravasti, Sankashaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi stupa and other cave temples as in Ajanta and Ellora.
Lumbini is said to be the birthplace of Buddha and the site is marked by ruins a great stupa and pillar by Emperor Ashoka. Buddha finally got enlightenment in Bodhgaya, when he was 29 years old, under the Bodhi tree, which seems to have eternal life as it keeps sprouting even after destroyed completely. The Mahabodhi temple and a monastic order looking after the three monasteries are things of interest here. Sarnath monasteries from 3rd century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E. are in ruins now. The key factors of Buddhism such as the four noble truths and the philosophy of moderation were taught here. There is Shravasti, where there are several legends about Buddha's miracles said to be performed there and there is Sankashaya, where ther are no temples and monasteries but is still a revered place because it was here that Buddha was said to be descended from the Tushita Heaven. Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi Stupa, Amravati, and cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora are the preferred Buddhist pilgrimage spots in India.
The four famous places of Buddhist pilgrimage are Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar, which are associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The others are in India. Bodh Gaya was the place, under the pipal or Bo tree, where the Buddha was enlightened after practicing meditation for several years. Sarnath was the site of his first teaching and Kushinagar was the place of his death or final Nirvana .
Among the holiest of pilgrim places in the Indian Buddhist circuit is the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya. The Mahabodhi Temple built to the east of the sacred tree stands majestically, 170 feet high on a 50 feet square base, and consists of a soaring pyramidal tower surmounted by a stupa. Vajrasan or the Diamond Throne lying between the Bodhi Tree and the temple marks the actual spot where Buddha sat in meditation and attained supreme knowledge.
Thirty-four kilometres from Gaya lies Rajgir in a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills. Here on Griddhakuta or Vultures Peak the Buddha, set in motion his Second Wheel of Law and for three months every year during the rainy season preached many inspiring sermons to his disciples.
On the Vaibhara hill are the Saptparni caves where the first Buddhist Council was held. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir sulphur springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus.
Twelve kilometres from Rajgir is Nalanda, which was in the Buddha's time a lovely resort of saints and ascetics. Lord Buddha visited Nalanda several times and delivered some important sermons.
The Lord Buddha visited Vaishali on the Gandak River often and at Kolhua, close by, preached his last sermon and announced his approaching Nirvana to his disciples. Emperor Ashoka built a pillar of sandstone at this spot. On the summit of the pillar sits a life-sized lion facing northwards, the direction Buddha took on his last journey.
A hundred years after the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha, Vaishali hoisted the second great Buddhist Council. Two stupas were built to commemorate this event, Buddha's funeral ashes were found in caskets buried in the relic chambers of both these stupas. Vaishali is 56 km north of Patna.
At Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, the Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining Enlightenment, revealing his doctrine of the Eight Fold Path and enshrining the principles of his teachings into laws. The ruined Dharmrajika stupa and the great Dhamekh stupa mark the spot where the Buddha set in motion the Wheel of Law.
To the north of Sarnath is the sacred site of Kushinagar where the Buddha at the age of 80 passed away into Mahaparinirvana, the state of permanent bliss. Kushinagar's partial exploration till today has revealed the remains of at least ten ancient monasteries. The Mukutabandhana stupa was perhaps built to house the relics of the Buddha, while a smaller renovated shrine nearby encloses a great recumbent figure of him. Fa-Hien, Hiuen Tsang and I-tsing, the three great Chinese scholars who travelled to India all visited Kushinagar.
Today, there are over 500 millions Buddhists all over the world especially in the Far East and South East Asian countries. While the south Asians are followers of the Hinayan sects of Buddhism, the followers of the second sect, Mahayana, are mostly in Japan, Korea, Tibet, China and Mongolia. Though the sects and beliefs within Buddhism are many, they all look upon these sites in north India with great reverence.
Buddhist Pilgrim in India
Sanchi Stupas India is the birthplace of one of the most widely accepted religions in the world - Buddhism. The four holy places associated with Gautam Buddha in India are - Lumbini, his birthplace, which now lies in Nepal; Bodhgaya, where he attained enlightenment; Sarnath, near Varanasi, where he preached his first sermon; Kushinagar, near Gorakhpur, where he achieved Mahanirvana. The other important tourist places associated with Buddhism are: Sanchi, Vaishali, Nalanda, Amravati and Nagargunakonda. All these places together are known as the famous Buddhist circuit in India.Bodhgaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage amongst all these places in India. Apart from being a significant archaeological site, it is renowned for the Mahabodhi Temple, which houses a 50 metre high pyramidal spire and an image of the Buddha. Sarnath near Varanasi is a vital centre of the Buddhist world where he delivered his first sermon and set in motion the wheel of law, the Dharmachakra. Buddhism germinated in Sarnath amidst the deer park.
Nalanda is the famous education centre of Buddhism where the Chinese scholar and traveller Hiuen Tsang stayed in the 7th century to explore the roots of Buddhism. Vaishali is significant to Buddhists as Lord Buddha announced his impending Nirvana here. One of the famous pillars erected by Ashoka to propagate Buddhism also stands here in Nalanda. Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh is known for its numerous stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century BC. to the 12th century AD.
Amaravati on the bank of river Krishna in the South India, is famous for its temple, dedicated to Lord Amarewara. The temple is the dilapidated 2000-year-old Buddhist stupa that draws millions of archaeologists and pilgrims every year. Named after the great scholar of Buddhism, Nagarjunakonda, located on the banks of river Krishna retains its status as the greatest centre of Buddhist learning in the South of Vindhyas. Earlier known as Vijayapuri, Nagarjunakonda was the venue of the massive congregation of monks and scholars during the bygone era. The Buddhist circuit in India thus introduces you with the major townships in India that mark the evolution, development and propagation of Buddhism. After Gautam Buddha, it was Emperor Ashoka followed by his daughter and son Sanghmitra and Mahindra, who took the charge of propagating Buddhism in India as well as the South Asian countries like Burma, Nepal, China, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka etc.
Siddhartha Gautama, the prince of a small kingdom in Nepal, found enlightenment in India and came to be known as Gautam Buddha. Beautiful Buddhist monasteries and stupas over the relics have become an inseparable part of Indian art, culture and architecture. Nalanda was once a world center for Buddhism and its philosophy until it disappeared suddenly in 13th century except for the small kingdoms in the hilly tracts. Early 20th century saw re-emergence of Buddhism and even today some of the famous pilgrimage sites in India related to Buddhism attract large number of devotees and visitors every year. Most of them are situated around the River Ganges. The significant sites to be visited as great Buddhist centres are Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Shravasti, Sankashaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi stupa and other cave temples as in Ajanta and Ellora.
Lumbini is said to be the birthplace of Buddha and the site is marked by ruins a great stupa and pillar by Emperor Ashoka. Buddha finally got enlightenment in Bodhgaya, when he was 29 years old, under the Bodhi tree, which seems to have eternal life as it keeps sprouting even after destroyed completely. The Mahabodhi temple and a monastic order looking after the three monasteries are things of interest here. Sarnath monasteries from 3rd century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E. are in ruins now. The key factors of Buddhism such as the four noble truths and the philosophy of moderation were taught here. There is Shravasti, where there are several legends about Buddha's miracles said to be performed there and there is Sankashaya, where ther are no temples and monasteries but is still a revered place because it was here that Buddha was said to be descended from the Tushita Heaven. Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi Stupa, Amravati, and cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora are the preferred Buddhist pilgrimage spots in India.
