| 6 mins read
By Teresa Manring
“Buddham Sharnam Gacchami” which translates to “I am going to the sanctuary of the Buddha” is a prayer that rings true for millions of Buddhist tourists and pilgrims that flock to the Indian subcontinent each year. Here, they walk in the Buddha’s footsteps, visiting the actual sites where the Buddha was born, spent his childhood, attained enlightenment, taught, meditated, and passed away.
The main centres of pilgrimage as declared by the Buddha in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta (holy Buddhist scriptures) are Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar, truly special places, not only for Buddhism but also for world history. No matter whether your interests are spiritual, cultural, or historical, visiting these powerful and peaceful places promises to be an enriching experience; with the knowledge of Buddhism — and oneself.
Tips for your tour/pilgrimage:
➤The best time to travel to these places is between November and March. This allows one to avoid both the monsoon season and the sweltering hot summers of the Indian subcontinent.
➤Background information, stories, and history can really enrich your experience at all of these places, so finding a knowledgeable Buddhist circuit tour guide is essential to get the full experience.
➤In terms of etiquette recommended, be sure to wear modest clothes and a calm and peaceful demeanor, keeping in mind that these are sacred places to many.
1. Lumbini: The Birthplace of the Buddha
Start your journey in Lumbini, where Siddharth Gautam — later known as the Buddha, was born around the year 563 BC. This important religious and historical site is listed as a World Heritage site, and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from around the world.
The centerpiece of Lumbini is the Maya Devi Temple, which sits on the spot where Siddhartha Gautama was born. Many people tend to only visit the Maya Devi temple; however Lumbini itself is packed full of influential artifacts and ruins from the time of the Buddha, so it’s possible to spend a few days there. In the area surrounding the temple, there are ancient ruins of stupas, an ancient bathing pond, the pillar of Ashoka, and an immense, ancient Bodhi tree covered in prayer flags.
Although Lumbini is located in Nepal, it’s very close to the Indian border. It’s such an important part of the Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit that one-day visas are available just to visit.
2. Bodhgaya: Where the Buddha Attained Enlightenment
From here, continue to Bodhgaya, which is considered by many to be the most significant Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. It was here, 2600 years ago, that Prince Siddharth attained enlightenment during intense meditation beneath a Bodhi tree, and became Buddha. In terms of sacredness, Bodhgaya is to Buddhism what Mecca is to Islam. Naturally, it attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the world every year, who come to pray, study, and meditate.
The most blessed and visited spot in Bodhgaya is a Bodhi tree, a descendent of the same Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The tree grows in a beautiful garden setting inside the famous and ornate Mahabodhi temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, many monasteries and temples are scattered throughout the area, each constructed in their national tradition by foreign Buddhist organizations and communities. Local monasteries and temples offer numerous Buddhist meditation and philosophy courses and retreats here, making it the ideal place to stay a while and learn more about Buddhism and Buddhist practices.
3. Sarnath: Where the Buddha First Taught the Dharma
Retracing the Buddha’s steps leads to the next pilgrimage site of Sarnath. In 528 BC, five weeks after the Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya, he travelled to Deer Park in Sarnath to preach his first sermon, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. The Buddha went on to form the first ‘Sangha,’ or community of Buddhist practitioners in Deer Park.
In the 3rd century BC, the Emperor Ashoka had stunning stupas, magnificent monasteries, and an engraved pillar constructed in Sarnath to commemorate the Buddha’s first teaching of the Dharma. However, Buddhism went into decline in India soon after; in the late 12th century Muslim invaders destroyed the city and Sarnath all but vanished. It wasn’t ‘rediscovered’ until 1835, when British architects came upon the ruins by chance.
Popular sites here today include the Dhamekh Stupa, one of the stupas created by King Ashoka in 249 BCE to honor the Buddha’s pilgrimage to Deer Park. The stupa rests on the exact place where the Buddha first taught the five ascetics his Four Noble Truths, his first teachings after attaining enlightenment. In and around Deer Park, one can also see the ruins of the temple where the Buddha spent his first rainy season, called Mulagandhakuti Vihara, and the ruins of the original Ashoka pillar, of which only the base remains. Your Sarnath tour guide will also recommend a visit to the Archaeological museum, which contains a quality collection of items unearthed from the site.
4. Kushinagar (Kusinara): The Buddha Reached Mahaparinirvana
Conclude your journey by following the Buddha to Kushinagar, where his path on this earth ended. Kushinagar is popular for being the last resting place of the Buddha, as well as for its history, stupas and temples.
The most important attraction in Kushinagar is the Mahaparinirvana temple, which, as the name suggests, is the place where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. The focal point of this unassuming temple is its 5th-century statue of the reclining Buddha. Six meters in size, it is a serene and tranquil depiction of the Buddha on his death-bed and is one of the most poignant and moving Buddhist symbols in the world. Other important sites include the Nirvana Stupa and temple, the Wat Thai temple, Japanese temple and the Ramabhar Stupa, where the Buddha was cremated. Kushinagar is the perfect place to meditate, interact with the monks, relax, and soak in your sacred surroundings as you complete your voyage in the footsteps of the Buddha.
(Teresa Manring is a yoga teacher and writer from the US, currently calling Sri Lanka home.)
Image Details and Licenses: https://flic.kr/p/hNkF5 (juicyrai, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/4CqVLd (wonker, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/aEcXj3 (momo, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/eheRxK (Matt Stabile, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/eheRsa (Matt Stabile, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/b12fS4 (Archit Ratan, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/oQ5s8Q (Christine Zenino, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/9kzrUn (Darcey Wunker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/9xYfH (Prince Roy, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/f5sVTU (Photo Dharma, CC BY 2.0)