India

ZEN – BUDDHA’S LIFE & TIMES

The months of April and May are essential to Buddhists. In these months, Buddha Poornima and Vesak or Buddha Day are celebrated. Here is an exploration of the most significant landmarks in India where Buddha resided over 2,500 years ago. Also included are sites that became popular after his life.

By Vacation India

a monk worships the statue of buddha at mahabodhi temple

A monk worships the statue of Buddha with holy golden fabric at Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya © Charnsitr

ZEN – BUDDHA’S LIFE & TIMES

The Buddha’s Life
Life After Buddha
Buddhism As It Is Now
Buddhist Stupas
The Buddhist Calendar

The Buddha’s Life

In 556 BCE, Gautam Buddha was born in a royal family. His birthplace was Lumbini (Nepal), which is located near the border of Nepal and India. Prince Siddhartha, in which he was also called, inadvertently discovered that people become ill and die. Before that, he had lived a very sheltered life. After his new revelation, he was persuaded to give up the pleasures of the world. The Buddha started meditating and as a result, became enlightened at the age of twenty-nine while sitting under a Bodhi tree located at Bodh Gaya in Bihar (India). This place is deemed one of the most sacred pilgrimages. Bodh Gaya houses the Mahabodhi temple or Vishal Buddha Mandir. There, you will find a huge monument of the Buddha meditating deeply.

Buddhist monks sit on the ground to chant and offer prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Bodh Gaya © Kijja P44

In the third century BC, Emperor Ashoka constructed the first temple close to the Bodhi tree. This is the same place that Siddhartha (the restless one) was transformed into the Buddha (the enlightened one). Situated about 100 km away from the capital of Bihar, Patna, Bodh Gaya has many monasteries that were constructed by foreign Buddhists. The peepal tree or Bodhi on a large podium is thought to be an outgrowth of the very tree under which Buddha got his awakening. Also, the Bodhi Sarovar is said to be the lake where the Buddha took his baths before he started to meditate. The Durgeshwari Cave Temples are some 12 km away from the Buddha’s meditating site. The Jewel Walk or the Chaukramama is where the Buddha took his walks. The Barabar Caves is a set of four of the oldest rock cut-out caves in India. These are called the Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudamaand & Visva Zopri dating way back to the third century BC. They are located 24 km from Bodh Gaya and have engravings and intricately detailed sculptures.

A group of Buddhist monks goes round the Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath, near Varanasi © PHOTO BAZAR INDIA

Another significant site in Sarnath. It is about 12 km from Varanasi and was very essential to Buddha’s life. At Sarnath, Buddha shared his first sermon with his five disciples. One of the prized possessions here is the stupa constructed by Emperor Ashoka back in the third century BC. The Chaukhandi Stupa was also built under the rule of Ashoka. The Dhamek Stupa is a cone-like structure built to commemorate where the Four Noble Truths were presented by the Buddha. Other landmarks you must visit are Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and Sarnath Museum. Taking a stroll along the relics of Sarnath transports you back into another time. A well-known, old monastic university is housed in Nalanda and Rajgir where it is said the Buddha preached. At this place, the top disciples of the Buddha chief Sariputra (had superior intelligence) and Maudgalyayana (power to perform miracles) were indoctrinated to Buddhism.

The Anathapindika Stupa, also known as Kachchi Kuti, in Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh in India

The Anathapindika Stupa, also known as Kachchi Kuti, in Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh © Casper1774 Studio

Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh is said to be the place where the Buddha resided the longest. It is here he preached for almost 24 years. Many historical temples and stupas are found here. The main Buddhist landmark at this site is Sahet. Legend has it that the Buddha stayed at Sahet. Shravasti is considered a sacred place because many believe Buddha did lots of miracles here.

Devotees worship the reclining Buddha statue with a large golden fabric in Kushinagar, India © Charnsitr

The other site of major significance is Kushinagar. This is where the Buddha received the highest level of salvation also known as “Parinirvana.”On the Parinirvana stupa is a six-meter-long, tilted statue of Buddha made of red sandstone. This is symbolic of the dying Buddha. According to folklore, the Ramabhar Stupa represents the spot where Buddha was cremated.

A group of tourists shot with long exposure as they visit a stone carved statue of the Buddha sitting in sunlight © Denis Dymov

Life After Buddha

Buddha lived until he was 80 years old. After his life and times, Buddhism proliferated all over the country. Several of the remnants of Buddha were unearthed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) throughout the country. Moreover, many monasteries spreading his teachings were constructed. These sites can be found mainly in Andhra Pradesh, the Northeast, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. The rock-cut temples that have been carved into the cliff at Ajanta near Aurangabad in Maharashtra have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is believed these were constructed between the second and sixth centuries BC and the lovely sculptures and paintings are compositions to Buddhism. The twelve caves located at Ellora, 100 km from Ajanta are Buddhist caves with places to live and sleep. They have kitchens and other rooms, as well as Buddha’s statues. The Mahayana monastery caves are numbered 11 and 12. They belong to the Vajrayana school of Buddhism.

Other prominent landmarks of Buddhism in Maharashtra are the Aurangabad Caves. There are the:
• Bedse Caves near Pune
• Bhaja Caves near Lonavala
• Pitalkhora Caves near the Satamala hills of the Western Ghats
• Ghorawadi or Ghorawdeshwar Caves near Pune
• Jogeshwari Caves off the Western Express Highway
• Kanheri Caves within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai
• Karla Caves near Lonavala
• Mahakali Caves in Andheri, Mumbai
• Pandavleni Caves near Nashik, an example of Hinayana Buddhist architecture

A Buddha statue carved in stone in Bojjannakonda, Andhra Pradesh in India

A Buddha statue carved in stone in Bojjannakonda, Andhra Pradesh © CatJelli

Many Buddhist memorials are found in Andhra Pradesh around Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Amaravati houses the Great Buddhist Stupa, which is one of India’s largest and has the remnants of Buddhist settlements. At Gudiwada near Vijayawada, an estimated 99 dunes with relics of Buddhist stupas can be seen. In the Guntur district, Chandavaram is also a historic heritage landmark of Buddhism. Bhattiprolu in the Guntur territory is famous for its ancient stupa.

Buddhist monastic settlements are located in Ghantasala town in the Krishna district establishments. Adurru, which is close to Ghantasala houses a Mahastupa. Ancient remnants of rock stupas are located in Visakhapatnam, Sankaram, and on the exterior of the caves in Bojjannakonda are rock carvings. Bavikonda Hill is another heritage site of Buddhism. During excavations there, structures were discovered that give some indication sections of the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism prospered there.

Bojjannakonda located close to Visakhapatnam has existed for 2,000 years. This is also a Buddhist landmark with a stone-cut statue of Buddha. On the summit of Mangamaripeta Hill, Thotlakonda are the Hinayana monastery, votive stupas, a Mahastupa, sculpted panels, Brahmi inscriptions, and a solitude statue with Buddha in a pensive position. Buddhist unearthings at Salihundam near Srikakulam have exposed a significant number of Buddhist Stupas, as well as a huge monastery complex. Another restored Buddhist site, Nagarjunakonda aka Sriparvata, is 145 km from Guntur. There, you will find the striking colossal statue of the Buddha.

The view from the Warrior sculpture in Rani Gumpha caves of the Udayagiri caves complex in Bhubaneswar, Odisha © milosk50

One of the many Buddha statues in Udayagiri Buddhist Complex of Odisha © milosk50

Odisha was a section of Kalinga at the time Emperor Ashoka chose to convert to Buddhism. It houses the Shanti Stupa at Dhauli Hills. This is evidence of the significant decision made by the great king. By the way, the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya says that the first followers of Buddha: Bhallika and Tapusa originated from Ukkala, Kalinga.

The largest Buddhist monastery in South Asia is the Padmasambhava Mahavihara monastery at Chandragiri. Some 100 km from Bhubaneswar is Ratnagiri where Buddhist shrines, consecrated stupas, huge monasteries, and a large stupa are located. An ASI museum is also there. In Udayagiri is a stupa shaped much like a bell. This is a sign that at some point the Vajrayana sect of Buddhism was there. One of the largest Buddhist structures from the 1st century is located on Lalitigiri, some 12 km from Ratnagiri. There, you will also find a gigantic stone monastery. The unearthed images display a variety of Buddhist art. In Odisha, there is also a well-known Buddhist seat of learning, which is situated at Langudi hill where the remnants of stone monastery and stupa are.

A monk constructs an intricately patterned mandala with coloured sand which is believed to emit positive energy at a monastery in Tibet

A monk constructs an intricately patterned mandala with colored sand which is believed to emit positive energy at a monastery in Tibet © Liudmila Kotvitckaia

In Himachal Pradesh, Buddhism is mainly at McLeodganj, Dharamsala. It got its nickname “Little Lhasa’due” due to the significant number of Tibetans living there. The huge monastery is called the home of the Dalai Lama in India. A 10th-century monastery, Tabo monastery, is located in Tabo village of Spiti Valley. Other Buddhist landmarks are:

• Key Monastery in Lahaul
• Guru Ghantal Monastery in Lahaul
• Dhankar Monastery 25 km from Kaza in Spiti
• Namgyal Monastery in Dharamsala
• Kardang Gompa in Kardang village in Lahaul

Old Buddhists sitting during mystical mask dancing called Tsam during the Yuru Kabgyat Buddhist festival at Lamayuru Gompa, Ladakh © OlegD

The impact of Buddhism is also evident in the Ladakh territories of Kashmir & Jammu. The astonishing monasteries here are Spituk, Shey, Hemis, Phyang, Rangdum, Thikse, Alchi, Diskit, and Lamayuru. Tibetan Buddhism, which follows the Vajrayana and Mahayana schools are the main influences of Ladakh. The chief institute where Buddhism is studied in Ladakh is the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies in Ladakh.

A Tantric Buddhist ceremony at Hemis monastery with tantric mask dance, also known as Cham dance, by the name of Hemis Tsechu © Mai Tram

The Hemis Monastery in Ladakh is famous for its Buddha statue made of copper. It has sacred thangkas, silver and gold stupas, artifacts, and murals. The Hemis Festival is held every year in June to honor Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche who was influential in carrying Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century.

Tibetian monks stand outside the vibrant Rumtek Monastery which is one of the most famous monuments of Gangtok © ImagesofIndia

In northeast India, the Rumtek Buddhist Monastery is the biggest in Sikkim. The monks of this monastery are followers of Karma Kagyu heritage. With nearly two hundred monasteries belonging to the Nyingma and Kagyu order, Sikkim is a well-loved Buddhist destination. Some of the most popular monasteries in this region are Pemayangtse, Sanga Chelling Enchey, Labrang, Tashiding, Phensang, Phodang, Pal Zurmang Kagyud, Tsuk-La-Khang, Ralong, and Dubdi.

The biggest monastery in India is the Tawang Monastery located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. It was constructed in the 17th century and is also known as Galden Namgey Lhatse translated as the “heavenly paradise on a fair night.” Included in the oldest temples here is the Buddha Temple at Polo Ground in Shillong.

Two monks stand and overlook the Nubra valley in Ladakh from the Diskit Monastery

Buddhism As It Is Now

To promote Buddhism and the landmarks related to Buddha, the ministry of tourism in India is having discussions with the government of Japan and the World Bank to establish and advance the Buddhist Circuit, as well as trails in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. The Buddhist Circuit is an important destination for some 450 million Buddhist pilgrims. The tourism ministry is also working on advertising other Buddhist sites located in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. The Indian Railway also has a special tourist train, the Mahaparinirvan Express, that takes passengers through the Buddhist pilgrimage sites of Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Varanasi, Sarnath, Lumbini, Kushinagar, and Sravasti in an 8 Nights/9 Days tour that starts at New Delhi. So if you are interested in learning more about the Buddha, simply hop on the train and follow the path he took 2,500 years ago.

The best known Buddhist piece of architecture, the Great Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh

Buddhist Stupas

There are several Buddhist stupas in India; which are hemispherical structures that are places of meditation and house Buddhist relics:

• Sanchi Stupa. Madhya Pradesh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath
• Chaukhandi Stupa, Sarnath
• Amaravati Stupa, Andhra Pradesh
• Shanti Stupa, Leh

The idol of Buddha at the Sanchi Stupa in Sanchi, near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh

The Buddhist Calendar

The Buddhist calendar has many important dates that mainly mark the monthly full moon or Poornima.
• The Buddhist New Year is celebrated from the first full moon day in April for three days.
• Vesak or Buddha Day celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha and is usually on the full moon day in May.
• Magha Puja Day happens on the full moon day of March and commemorates an important event that occurred early in the Buddha’s teaching life when four of his chief disciples assembled to meet him.
• The Asalha Puja Day or Dhamma Day, on the full moon day in July, marks the Buddha’s first teaching.
• Uposatha or Observance Day happens four times a month on the new moon, full moon, and quarter moon days.
• Abhidhamma Day marks the day when the Buddha went to Tushita Heaven (Heaven of Satisfaction) and is celebrated on the full moon day in October.