SARNATH - AYODHYA - MATHURA. - VRINDAVAN - DWARKA - KASHMIR - SRINAGAR
Lord Buddhas' Advent in India
Once part of the Indus Valley civilisation around 3000 BC, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Asia, this region became a blend of indigenous populations and migrating Indo-Aryan groups, who developed tribal republics and kingdoms. Lumbini was unified into Nepal in the late 18th century. Lumbini is the Buddha’s birthplace. Mayadevi, the Queen of Shakya King Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu, gave birth to Prince Siddhartha. 563 BCE. Buddha was raised by his mothers sister after his mother died.
Now twentyfive Buddhist monasteries, built by diverse countries from Vietnam to France, study Buddhism, meditate and visit the birthplace within the sacred Mayadevi Gardens.
Buddhas' Sarnath
Drive 18 min, plus traffic! (9.5 km) via Varanasi Cantt Overbridge from Varanasi.
Buddha's 'enlightenment' under a Bodi Tree was in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Lord Buddha then set out to find his five former companions. He traveled back up north through India and united with them in Isipatana, later known as the Deer Park, near Sarnath, just outside Varanasi (Kashi or Benares). The Deer Park at Sarnath, near Varanasi, is traditionally said to have been set aside for the Buddha by a local ruler, often associated with King Bimbisara of Magadha.
For many centuries, local memory of the specific location of the Bodi tree had simply faded among Sri Lankan Buddhists. When Europeans asked Ceylonese monks in the 1700s where the Buddha was enlightened, the monks described the location in scripture, but admitted they didn't know where those places were in the modern world. (Presenty. it is popularly believed that the Bodi tree was in Bodh Gaya). Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. the oldest with a recorded planting date of 300 BC, an offspring of the tree where the Buddha found enlightenment.
Visit the Tree of Enlightenment in Anuradhapura ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarnath – Incredible India
Today, the Sarnath site is marked by a number of monuments, including the Dhamek Stupa, which is believed to stand at or near the place where the Buddha gave his first discourse.
The Buddha lived and taught in northern India around the 5th century BCE. From these beginnings, his teachings gradually spread, taking root across the Indian subcontinent. About two centuries after his passing, during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, Buddhism received strong royal support and expanded widely. Over the centuries that followed, Buddhism declined in India for a variety of reasons, including the revival of Hindu traditions. Today, the majority of people in India follow Hinduism, with significant Muslim communities and smaller numbers of Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and others.
The story of the Buddha continues to live in places like Sarnath. Once a thriving center of teaching and monastic life, it eventually fell into ruin and was rediscovered and excavated in the 19th century by Alexander Cunningham. The Buddha had renounced his princely life, studied under established masters , and then went his own wqy in search of truth. His awakening came while meditating beneath a Bodhi tree in Ceylon. From there, he traveled to Sarnath, where he offered his first teachings in the quiet of the Deer Park. Those teachings—the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Middle Way—form the heart of Buddhism and have influenced spiritual life across Asia for centuries.
Shravasti, the ancient capital of the Kosala kingdom, holds a special place in the life of Gautama Buddha. After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha spent 25 of his 45 teaching years in Shravasti—more than in any other location. It became one of the key centers of early Buddhism. Shravasti represents the mature phase of the Buddha’s teaching life, where his Sangha flourished and many lay people achieved high spiritual attainments. He primarily stayed at Jetavana Monastery, donated by the wealthy merchant Anathapindika. Ruins of Jetavana Monastery are still visible today, including the Gandhakuti (Buddha’s hut).
Current images show a well-maintained, peaceful archaeological park with walking paths, green lawns, and nearby modern temples built by various Buddhist nations.
Sarnath to Shravasti: ( about 325 km ) Buses or shared taxis can be taken from Lucknow (175km) to Shravasti. Alternatively, the train to Payagpur followed by a short (33km) road trip to Shravasti. It is an almost 3 hour drive north from Ayodhya.
Finding Shravasti (Savatthi)
-------------------------------------------------------
The Buddha's "Eightfold Path to Enlightenment"
-
Right Understanding: Understanding of the Four Noble Truths - the truth about suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path leading to its cessation.
-
Right Intention: To control our actions, cultivating intentions of renunciation, goodwill, and harmlessness, as opposed to intentions governed by desire, ill-will, and harm.
-
Right Speech: Speaking truthfully, avoiding slander, gossip, and harsh language. Communicating in a truthful, positive, and constructive manner.
-
Right Action: Acting ethical and moral. It involves abstaining from harming others, stealing, sexual misconduct.
-
Right Livelihood: Earning a living that does not cause harm and is ethically positive. Avoiding professions that harm others.
-
Right Effort: Cultivating a positive state of mind:. It's a commitment to mental improvement.
-
Right Mindfulness: Being aware and attentive to our thoughts, feelings, body, and states of mind. Being present in the moment, aware of our actions and thoughts.
-
Right Concentration: Meditation practices, which develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity, and a calm view of the true nature of things.
Carved statue of Lord Buddha in the Sarnath archeological museum.
Buddhism expanded in India in the centuries after the death of the Buddha, particularly after receiving the royal support of the Maura Empire. It spread even beyond India to Central Asia and China. The consolidation of monastic organisations made Buddhism the centre of religious and intellectual life in India.
Harwan is located in the Kashmir Valley, an area known for its rich history and cultural heritage. This region played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism to Central Asia and East Asia. The monastery ruins at Harwan is significant for having been a prominent center of Buddhist learning and culture.
Sarnath remained abandoned until 1834 when Alexader Cunningham excavated the site.
Lion Capital of Ashoka: is now the National Emblem of India, is an important archaeological artifact found at Sarnath. Presently one can visit the archeological museum and walk around the Stupa. There are numerous Buddhist Temples in Sarnath. No written records about Gautama were found from his lifetime or from the one or two centuries thereafter. A complete picture of the life of Siddhartha Gautama are a variety of different, and sometimes conflicting, traditional biographies from a later date
. The Chaukhandi Stupa commemorates the spot where the Buddha met up with his first five disciples. The Sarnath Archeological Museum houses the famous Lion Capital of Ashoka, which miraculously survived its 45-foot drop to the ground, and became the State Emblem of India and national symbol on the flag of India. The museum also houses the original 5th-century CE sandstone sculpture of Buddha Preaching his First Sermon. Buddha died of dysentery. M.B.quote: His “medicine” for the spiritual bimaries (illnesses) of mankind holds the field to this day." Countries in which Buddhism is a major religion have established temples and monasteries in Sarnath ("Lord of the Deer") surrounding Buddhas place in Sarnath, the holiest Buddhist site in the world.
The modern Mulgandha Kuty Vihara is a temple constructed by the Maha Bodi Society. Dharmapala was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who was instrumental in the revival of Buddhism in India after it had been virtually extinct in that country for seven centuries. The temple contains a gilded replica of a 5th-century CE sculpture of Buddha Preaching his First Sermon. Its interior walls are extensively decorated with frescoes by Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu, depicting important events in the life of the Buddha... A standing Buddha statue is located on the grounds of the Thai temple and monastery at Sarnath... Anagarika Dharmapala Museum, located on Dharmapala Road...
Hindu Synthesis and Decline of Buddhism: The period between 500 BCE to 300 AD indeed saw the composition of epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and the Puranic literature, which contributed to the development of Hinduism. The decline of Buddhism as a dominant religious force in India during this period allowed Hinduism to gain more prominence.
Temples of Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam.
THE 5 AVATAR ADVENTS IN INDIA
SARNATH HOTELS: WITH ELEVATORS
Hotel The Fern Residency TC Easy reach, main road. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Very near the Buddha stupa. The rooms were largE. AC, large beds. The bathroom with excellent fixtures, separate shower & bathtub areas. Hot water. Hotel is very calm and soothing. Cilantro Restaurant serves Indian, Western and Chinese. (lots of weddings and events). Good room service. A nice modern hotel .
Hotel Buddha: Easy reach in Sarnath, rooms that are accessible by elevator. The hotel also has a restaurant, 24-hour front desk, and free Wi-Fi.
Hotel Deva Inn: This hotel is located in Sarnath and offers rooms that are accessible by elevator. The hotel also has a restaurant, 24-hour front desk, and free Wi-Fi.
FROM SARNATH: AFTERNOON TRAIN TO FAIZABAD. WHICH IS 8 KM FROM AYODHYA .DRIVE IS ABOUT 4+ HOURS.
The afternoon train to Faizabad, which is next to Ayodhya, takes 4+ hours from Sarnath. There are many nice hotels in Faizabad.. A few hotels in Ayodya too. It is also a 2.5 hour drive to Faizabad from Lucknow.
|
| |
|
