Four places of Buddhist Pilgrimage in India
“Four Places of Buddhist Pilgrimage in India”
by Bro. Chan Khoon San, Malaysia 2009
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Lumbini
3. Buddhagaya
4. Sarnath
5. Kusinara
*This article is written for free distribution as a Gift of Dhamma
(Dhammadana) and no permission is required for its circulation.
For more information contact: bro.chan@streamyx.com
ACK OWLEDGEME NTS: The author wishes to thank Bros.
Cheng Chong Hua, Ng Swee Kong and Tony S H Quah for their
kind permission to use their photographs in this article.
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I TRODUCTION`
The idea of a pilgrimage came from the Buddha
himself over 2500 years ago! In answer to Ven.
Ananda’s concern that the monks would no
longer be able to see the Buddha and pay their
respects after his Parinibbana, Buddha advised
pious disciples to visit Four Places, the sight of
which will inspire faith (saddha) and religious
urgency (samvega) after He was gone. These
places are called Samvejaniya-thana in Pali or
places that arouse awareness and apprehension
of impermanence. What are the Four Places?
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LUMBINI: “Here the Tathagata was born! This, Ananda,
is a place that a pious disciple should visit and look upon with
feelings of reverence.”
BUDDHAGAYA: “Here the Tathagata attained the
unexcelled Supreme Enlightenment! This, Ananda, is a
place that a pious disciple should visit and look upon with
feelings of reverence.”
SAR ATH: “Here the Tathagata set rolling the Wheel of
Dhamma! This, Ananda, is a place that a pious disciple
should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.”
KUSI ARA: “Here the Tathagata passed away into
Parinibbana. This, Ananda, is a place that a pious disciple
should visit and look upon with feelings of reverence.”
“And whosoever, Ananda, should die on such a pilgrimage,
with his heart established in faith, he at the breaking up of the
body, after death, will be reborn in a realm of heavenly
happiness.” Mahaparinibbana Sutta V, 16
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Map of India showing the principal places of Buddhist
Pilgrimage. The route starting from Delhi and ending at
Sarnath covers all the Eight Great Places of Pilgrimage.
The return journey by train is shown by the dotted line.
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LUMBI I: BIRTHPLACE OF THE BUDDHA
Lumbini is located in Nepal, about 20 km from the border town
of Bhairawa, just across the Indian border crossing at Sonauli.
The Buddha was born on the full-moon day of Wesak. His
mother was Mahamaya Devi, chief consort of King
Suddhodana. Already 56 years old and in the final stage of
pregnancy carrying the Bodhisatta for 10 full months, she was
traveling to her parents’ home in Devadaha to deliver her first
child following the tradition of her Koliyan clan. Along the way,
the entourage passed Lumbini Garden, a pleasure grove of
Sala trees, which were then in full bloom. She decided to stop
there to admire the flowering trees and plants. Soon she began to
experience signs of impending birth. Quickly she summoned her
female servants to cordon off the area with curtains. Then
holding on to the branch of a Sala tree with her right hand for
support, she gave birth to the Bodhisatta while standing up.
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In 249 BC, King Asoka visited Lumbini
as part of his pilgrimage to the sacred
Buddhist places and worshipped the
sacred spot where the Buddha was born.
To commemorate his visit, he built an
Asokan Pillar with a horse capital and
an edict written in Brahmi. Today only
6.7 metres of the pillar still stands but
without its horse capital. According to
ancient Buddhist literature, when Asoka
visited Lumbini, he erected a brick
shrine and placed a “Marker Stone” on
top, to worship the exact site of the
Buddha’s birth. In 1992, archaeologists
started excavations at the old Maya Devi
temple and discovered the marker stone
pinpointing the exact spot where the
Buddha was born.
Bodhgaya, Place of Supreme Enlightenment
Buddhagaya, where Buddha attained Supreme Enlightenment on
the full-moon day of Wesak in 588 BC, is the most hallowed place
on earth to Buddhists. According to the Commentary, the Seat of
Enlightenment (Bodhi Pallanka) at Buddhagaya is one of the four
places that do not vary for all Buddhas (Avijahitatthanani).
King Asoka was the first to build a shrine at this sacred spot. In the
1st century AD, two Sunga queens enlarged the Bodhi shrine and in
the 2nd century AD, the Kushan king Huviska (111-138 AD) built
a temple on the site to install a Buddha image, which was then in
vogue. Cunningham suggested that the entire Mahabodhi Temple
as seen today follows the Huviska structure. As it was built over
the remains of the Asoka shrine, the position of the Diamond throne
remains unchanged. Inside the temple, one comes face-to-face with
a great gilded image of the Buddha from 10th century AD seated on
a patterned cushion instead of a lotus. It is supported by a pedestal,
decorated with figures of lions and elephants.
At the back of the Mahabodhi Temple is the Bodhi Tree under
which the Buddha attained Supreme Enlightenment. It is a Pipal
tree (Ficus religiosa), also known in Pali as ‘assattha’. The
Diamond Throne is located between the Bodhi tree and the rear
wall of the temple. It marks the actual spot of the Seat of
Enlightenment (Bodhi Pallanka). It is said that the Buddha sat
facing east with his back to the trunk of the Bodhi tree. A red
sandstone slab measuring 2.3 meters long by 1.3m wide by 0.9m
high now marks this holy spot. While in the Mahabodhi Temple,
pilgrims should visit the seven places associated with the Buddha’s
Stay at each place for seven days after Enlightenment:
• First Week on the Throne (Pallanka Sattaha)
• Second Week of the Unblinking Gaze (Animisa Sattaha)
• Third Week on the Walk (Cankama Sattaha)
• Fourth Week in Jewelled House (Ratanaghara Sattaha)
• Fifth Week at Ajapala igrodha Tree (Ajapala Sattaha)
• Sixth Week at Mucalinda (Mucalinda Sattaha)
• Seventh Week at Rajayatana Tree (Rajayatana Sattaha)
SARNATH, PREACHI G OF FIRST SERMON
After spending seven weeks at the seven places in Buddhagaya, the
Buddha was undecided about teaching the Dhamma that he had
discovered to others. Brahma Sahampati, on reading his thoughts,
implored him to teach otherwise the world would be lost without the
Dhamma. Out of compassion, he decided to go to Sarnath to preach to
his former companions, the Five Ascetics, who had abandoned him
when he forsook the path of self mortification and adopted the Middle
Path or the oble Eightfold Path.
Travelling on foot, the Buddha arrived at Deer Park or Isipatana in
Sarnath on the full-moon day of Asalha (Chinese 6th lunar month).
When the Five Ascetics saw him, they were skeptical that he had
realized enlightenment but the Buddha was able to convince them of
his attainment. That night, the Buddha delivered the historic First
Sermon, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta or Discourse on Turning of
the Wheel of Dhamma, which led to Ven. Kondanna attaining first
stage of Sainthood at the end of the discourse.
The remaining four, namely: Ven. Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama
and Assaji attained first-stage sainthood successively over the next
four days. Next day the Buddha preached the Anattalakkhana Sutta
or Discourse on on Self, hearing which all attained Arahantship. In
Sarnath too, the Buddha converted the rich man Yasa and his 54
friends, who all became Arahants. These were the first sixty Arahant
disciples of the Buddha who formed the original Bhikkhu Sangha.
These events occurred during the first rainy season or Vassa. After the
rains had subsided, the Buddha instructed his sixty disciples to
disseminate the Teaching, no two disciples going by the same road.
Thus Sarnath became famous because of the following events:
• First sermon, Discourse on Turning the Wheel of Dhamma.
• Founding of Bhikkhu Sangha & spreading of the Dhamma.
• First Rains Retreat took place in Sarnath.
According to Commentary, all Buddhas preach their first sermon in
Deer Park, Isipatana in Sarnath. It is called Avijahitatthanani or one
of the four places that do not vary for all Buddhas.
KUSINARA, PLACE OF MAHAPARI IBBA A
Three months before he reached the age of eighty, the Buddha
renounced his will to live at the Capala Shrine in Vesali.
Traveling in stages via Pava where he ate his last meal offered
by the smith Cunda, he reached the final resting-place at the
Sala grove of the Mallas by the bank of the Hirannavati River
in Kusinara. There on the full-moon day of Wesak in 543 BC,
the Buddha passed into Mahaparinbbana, the passing away into
Nibbana wherein the elements of clinging do not arise. His last
convert was the wandering ascetic Subhadda. His last words to
the bhikkhus were: “Handa ‘dani bhikkhave amantayami vo:
Vaya-dhamma sankhara. Appamadena sampadetha.”
Translation: “Indeed, bhikkhus, I declare this to you: It is
the nature of all conditioned things to perish. Accomplish all
your duties with mindfulness.”
DISTRIBUTIO OF THE BUDDHA’S BODILY RELICS
As soon as Buddha’s passing away became known, leaders of
eight states came to Kusinara to claim their share of his relics
after the cremation, viz: (1) King Ajatasattu of Magadha, (2)
Licchavis of Vesali, (3) Sakyas of Kapilavatthu, (4) Buliyas
of Allakappa, (5) Koliyas of Ramagama, (6) Brahmin of
Vetthadipa, (7) Mallas of Pava and (8) Mallas of Kusinara.
To satisfy the claimants and prevent fighting, the Brahmin
Dona divided the relics into 8 equal measures using an urn.
Each tribe received one measure of Buddha’s relics while
Dona took the urn. Later when the Moriyas of Pipphalivana
arrived, there were no more relics, so they took the ashes.
These men returned home and built ten stupas; eight for the
relics, a ninth for the urn and a tenth for the ashes.
