********** ********** ********** Buddhist Pilgrimage Places

‘ There are 4 places, Ananda, which the believer should visit with feelings of reverence : the places where he can say “ Here the Tathagata was born” …” Here the Tathagata attained to the supreme and perfect insight” ,… “ Here the Kingdom of righteousness was set on foot by the Tathagata”, “ Here the Tathagata finally passed away in the utter passing-away which leaves nothing whatever to remain behind” . … And there come, Ananda, to these places, believers, brethren and sisters of the Order, and devout men and women. And they, Ananda, who shall die while they, with believing heart, are journeying on such pilgrimage, shall be reborn after death, when the body shall dissolve, in the happy realms of heaven.

‘ There are 4 places, Ananda, which the believer should visit with feelings of reverence : the places where he can say “ Here the Tathagata was born” …” Here the Tathagata attained to the supreme and perfect insight” ,… “ Here the Kingdom of righteousness was set on foot by the Tathagata”, “ Here the Tathagata finally passed away in the utter passing-away which leaves nothing whatever to remain behind” .

… And there come, Ananda, to these places, believers, brethren and sisters of the Order, and devout men and women.

INDIA – The Buddhist Holy Places

THE GANGES AREA

The Holy Places Of a Buddhist Pilgrimage

LUMBINI – Where the Buddha was born

LUMBINI

The Bodhisatta’s Birth - Lumbini

Queen Maya bathed in this pool in Lumbini

Entering Into LUMBINI

At the ASOKA PILLAR IN LUMBINI

At the

ASOKA PILLAR IN LUMBINI

A Silent Prayer or Aspiration at the Asoka Pillar in LUMBINI

At The Asoka Pillar In LUMBINI

At The

Asoka

Pillar

In

LUMBINI

Kapilavattu – Where the Buddha was Raised

The Rohini River Queen Maya crossed. She stopped at Lumbini and gave birth to Siddhatha.

BODH GAYA – Where The Buddha Attained Enlightenment

The MahaBodhi Temple In Bodh Gaya

The

MahaBodhi

Temple

In

Bodh Gaya

Main Stupa At Bodh Gaya

Main

Stupa

At

Bodh

Gaya

The Bodhi Tree – Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya – Meditating and Praying

At The Diamond Throne in Bodh Gaya

The Diamond Throne – Bodh Gaya

The Sacred Bodhi Tree – Bodh Gaya

Meditating At Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya – The Stone Foot Prints were used in the early Centuries as a Symbol of Buddha

The Buddha Image Inside The Mahabodhi Temple In Bodh Gaya

The

Buddha Image

Inside The

Mahabodhi Temple

In

Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya – Worship at The Diamond Throne

Bodh Gaya – Prostrations By A Korean Nun

Bodh Gaya - Prostrations Round the Temple by Tibetan Monks

Bodh

Gaya

-

Prostrations

Round the Temple by Tibetan Monks

From The Main Stupa In Bodh Gaya

The Ratanacankrama in Bodh Gaya where The Buddha meditated in the Third Week After Enlightenment

The Mucalinda Lake Where The Buddha Meditated in The Sixth Week After Enlightenment

A Thai Buddhist Temple in Bodh Gaya

A Japanese Buddhist Temple In Bodh Gaya

A Tibetan Monastery In Bodh Gaya

A Bhutanese Buddhist Temple In Bodh Gaya

A Chinese BuddhistTemple In Bodh Gaya

A Nepalese Buddhist Temple In Bodh Gaya

A Burmese Buddhist Temple In Bodh Gaya

Buddha Statue at a Japanese Buddhist Temple in Bodh Gaya

Uravilva Village Where Sujata Lived

Site Of Sujata’s Village

Uravilva Village Of Beggars URAVIL- VA

Uravilva – Village of Beggars

Dana To The Villagers At Uravilva

The Najanjara River Where The Buddha Tossed The Golden Bowl After Finishing Sujata’s Meal

Mahakala Cave Where The Ascetic Buddha Meditated Mahakala Cave

The Ganges River at VARANASI Varanasi

Along The Ganges River in Varanasi

SARNATH – Where The Buddha Preached The First Sermon

Isipatana – The Moden Sarnath

Dhamekha Stupa In Sarnath

Archeological Work still continues at Sarnath

Listening To The Dhamma In Sarnath

Sarnath – A Building Once Stood Here

“ Original Fragrant Hut” At Sarnath

The Last Monasteries Were Destroyed By Fire, Probably By Muslim Invaders

Meditating At Sarnath

The Dhammacakha Buddha Image At The Vihara In Sarnath

The

Dhammacakha

Buddha Image

At The Vihara

In

Sarnath

At The Archaelogical Museum In Sarnath

Intricate Carvings On The Dhamekha Stupa Sarnath

Jetavana in Sravasti

The Buddha Preached The Mangala Sutta In Sravasti

Sravasti – The Buddha Stayed here for more than 20 Rains Retreats Sravasti

Sravasti – Capital of Kosala. The Buddha spent more time here than anywhere else.

Sravasti – The Story Of Angulimala Took Place Here

Sravasti – Site Of The Twin Miracle

Jetavana Grove in Sravasti was offered to The Buddha by Anathapindika

Sravasti – The Metta Sutta was preached here

Sravasti – Ananda Became The Buddha’s Personal Attendant Here

At a Vihara in Sravasti – The Twin Miracle

Sravasti – Story Of Kisa Gotami Took Place Here

Vaishali – Note The Asoka Pillar & Stupa Pajapati Gotami and other women ordained as Nuns in Vaishali.

Vaishali, in Bihar, was once a Trade Center. The Buddha Preached The Ratana Sutta Here. VAISHALI

Nalanda – The Buddha Stayed Here On A Number Of Occasions. He Preached To Gods and Men.

Nalanda – Sariputta & Mongallana were born in 2 nearby Villages

There was a great Monastic University in Nalanda

Nalanda – Bimbisara first greeted The Buddha here.

Nalanda – Nagarjuna received Ordination here.

Rajgir – One of the oldest cities in India

Rajgir – Ruins of the ancient wall.

Rajgir – Mahakassapa was ordained here.

Rajgir _ Climbing Up to Vulture Peak

Rajgir – Cable Cars To Vulture Peak RAJGIR

Rajgir – The Path to the Peak follows the road that King Bimbisara built for Buddha

Rajgir – Approaching the Peak, note the foundation of a small temple built there in ancient times.

Rajgir – Just below the Peak are several caves often used for meditation by Buddha and His Disciples.

A Meditation Cave in Rajgir

Vulture Peak at Rajgir. At Rajgir, Sariputta & Moggallana met The Buddha. Mahakassapa was ordained at Rajgir.

Vulture Peak at Rajgir.

At Rajgir, Sariputta & Moggallana met The Buddha.

Mahakassapa was ordained at Rajgir.

Vulture Peak at Rajgir – Serene and Perfect for Worship and Meditation

Moggallana was attacked by jealous acetics here and subsequently he died.

The Buddha Preached The Heart Sutra At Rajgir

SANKASYA where the Future Buddha, Metteya Buddha would be born

SANKASYA – In Uttar Pradesh

Sankasya – Identified with Present Day Sankisa

Sankasya – Where The Buddha descended from Tusita Heaven after preaching Abhidhamma to His mother.

The Asoka Pillar At SANKASYA

The

Asoka

Pillar

At

SANKASYA

KUSHINAGAR – Where The Budddha Passed Away

Kushinagar – Around the Temple are the remains of monasteries and stupas erected over the centuries

Kushinagar is a small town 53 km away from Gorakhpur Kushinagar

Kushinagar – The Buddha Image Inside The Temple

Kushinagar – Pilgrims reverently circumambulate the Image and meditate in the Temple

Kushinagar – “Now, Monks, I say to you – all conditioned things are subjected to decay ; strive on with diligence.”

Kushinagar – A Time For Reflection Kushinagar

Kushinagar – The Cremation Ground Kushinagar

Kushinagar – A Stupa marking the place where Buddha’s Body was cremated

The End May You Aspire To Visit The Buddhist Pilgrimage Places And Be Inspired As You Walk The Buddha-Dhamma Path

May You Aspire

To Visit

The Buddhist Pilgrimage Places

And Be Inspired

As You Walk

The Buddha-Dhamma

Path