In the Footsteps of Buddha: Sacred Places of Buddhism

North India and South Nepal are regions where four sacred places of Buddhism are located, often visited by pilgrims and tourists alike.

The most important locations related to Buddhism are: Lumbini in Nepal and Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar in India. These places provide a solid foundation for religion and contribute to the spiritual path. They are also an important element in history, bringing the visitors closer to the tradition, culture of the country, being a treasury of knowledge as well as old art and architecture.

Visiting the sacred places of Buddhism we get to know the life of Buddha Sakyamuni, the founder of one of the world’s greatest religions.

Lumbini – Buddha’s birthplace

Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini / Anandajoti / CC BY 2.0 / FlickrLumbini is a small village in the south of Nepal, located about 12.4 mi from the popular Sunauli/Bhairahawa border crossing. As this is the birthplace of Siddhārtha Gautama known as Buddha, it is one of the most sacred places for Buddhist followers and constantly attracts crowds of pilgrims from around the world.

For many centuries Lumbini was a “lost city” and it was only in 1895 that archaeological excavations confirmed the date of birth of the Buddha and provided material evidence of the beginnings of one of the world’s greatest religions. Researchers came across an inscription-covered Ashoka column from 249 B.C., referring to Emperor Ashoka Maurya, who after many bloody wars to conquer the whole of India, having learned the teachings of Buddha, changed and stopped the bloodshed. To commemorate this event, he placed a column with carved inscriptions of the Buddha’s teachings in the places of worship.

Nowadays, Lumbini is an oasis of peace, a place of reflection and reverie for visitors. The center of this temple complex is a vast park with a number of monasteries and temples founded by countries from all over the world, including Europe. Each of them is built in the architectural style of the country and is home to monks from that country. It is worth to spend more time on a visit and to quietly give in to contemplation, visiting among others Maya Devi – a temple commemorating the birth of Buddha, Pushkarini (Holy Pond), where Buddha’s mother bathed before he was born, and the first time she bathed him after he was born, World Peace Pagoda or Great Lotus Stupa. Some temples or monasteries are still under construction, and some are available for religious practice, with meditation courses lasting several days or more.

Bodh Gaya – Buddha Enlightenment place

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya / Bpilgrim / CC-BY-SA-3.0 / Wikimedia CommonsAnother sacred place of Buddhism is the small village of Bodh Gaya, located in northeastern India, Bihar State.

It is here that more than 2.5 thousand years ago the sacred Bodhi tree grew, under which Siddhārtha Gautama spent 49 days meditating and reached the state of enlightenment, from that moment on he was called Buddha, i.e. Awakened. To commemorate this event, the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002, is located in the place where the Buddha meditated, and there are several Buddhist monasteries nearby.

Bodh Gaya is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world, monks and lay people come in crowds to enjoy silence, meditate and express their wishes. The Dalai Lama alone tends to spend a few winter months here, and the village becomes extremely colorful thanks to the crowds of Tibetan pilgrims. The place is worth visiting late in the evening, when the park and temples are lit up with thousands of candles and lights, and prayers can be heard in every corner.

Sarnath – a place to preach the first sermon

Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath / Ken Wieland / CC BY 2.0 / FlickrSarnath is not only an important pilgrimage center for Buddhist followers, but also due to its short distance from Varanasi (8.1 mi), it is a place of great tourist interest.

According to tradition, the Buddha gave his first sermon to five disciples here on the theme of “Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion,” called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta.

Former Sarnath is now a large park with temple ruins, the Dhamekh stupa dating back to the 5th century and the Chaukhandi stupa as a reliquary of the Buddha’s remains. The nearby area is also home to a deer farm, referring to the legendary beginnings of the city, and around it new monasteries and temples are being built in different styles and characteristic of different Buddhist countries. Places associated with the Buddha’s life are a veritable oasis of peace, beautifully maintained, climatic, slightly modest, ideal to relax, relax and recharge before returning to the crowded Varanasi.

Kushinagar – place of Buddha’s death

Parinirvana Temple, Kushinagar/ Photo Dharma / CC BY 2.0 / FlickrThe fourth important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists is Kushinagar – a small town in northern India, located about 37 mi from Gorakhpur. It is here that the Buddha went on his last journey, choosing Kushinagar as his place of death.

According to legend, the traveling Buddha accepted the invitation of a good-hearted blacksmith, who gave him a poisonous dish without knowing it himself. The Buddha agreed to taste it, not to disappoint him and only on condition that no one else would eat it. Then seriously ill set off on his way to Kushinagar, where he died and went to the highest state of Nirvana, Parinirvana, accompanied by music and an earthquake. The relics remaining after the cremation were divided among eight kings, and the Ramabha stupa was built in the place where it took place.

In this city you can also see Natha Kumarka Kot – a place with a statue of the lying Buddha in Nirvana and Math Kuar – a sanctuary with a three-meter high Buddha statue. There are also many temples built by Buddhists from China, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan.

Written by: Tim Smith Tags: Asia, India, Nepal