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Home , Deekshabhoomi, Patacara, Sankissa, Somapura Mahavihara, Vihara, Vikramashila

Journey to The Buddhist Sacred Places This book is released on the occasion of 2600th “Dhamma Chakka Pavattana” Day

This book is offered as Dhamma Dana with the sole intention of “Bahujana hitâya, Bahujana Sukhâya”

“Sabha Danâm Dhamma Danâm Jainâti” “Among all gifts the gift of Dhamma Excels !” Buddha

Maha Bodhi Society Bangalore,

Buddhist Sacred Places

Published by Buddha Vachana Trust Maha Bodhi Society 14th Kalidasa Road, Gandhinagar Bangalore - 560 009, Tel : 080 2225 0684, Fax : 080 2226 4438 E-mail : info@mahabodhi. info Web : www.mahabodhi.info c Buddha Vachana Trust - July 2011 All rights reserved

Copies : 1000

Printed at: ARVIND PRINTERS Saraswathipuram, Bangalore - 560 096 Tel : 23498198, Mob : 99164 61691 PREFACE

The Maha Bodhi Society is one of the active organizations in expounding the teachings of the Lord

Buddha in India. It has brought out many publications on Dhamma and it continues to do so in future also. It is bringing out this book to make known about the

Buddhist sacred places, that are existing even after many catastrophic devastations. This also emphasises a better understanding of the historical existence of the ancient monuments which still remain now. This book may inspire the upasakas, upasikas and the monks and nuns to pay a visit to these places at least once during their life time and help to acquire merits on their spiritual pursuit. To achieve this goal Maha

Bodhi society is very much there to assist all on the path of spiritual progress Upasakas Sathyasila Bodh,

Krishnamuthy Bodh & Siribodh have worked hard to make this book.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We wish to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to all those who have rendered their valuable services in bringing out this book, particularly the valuable guidance of Ven. Bhante Ananda and also for his effort in going through in detail for bringing out this book.

We also thank especially upâsakas Mr.Sudhakar Rao.G and Dr.Rajananda Murthy Bodh, the Dhammacâris for their selfless and devoted valuable time givien to proof reading and guidance.

We also thanks Mr. Thimmarayappa Gowda of Aravind

Printer who has shown keen interest in printing this book beautifully.

upâsakas Sathya Sila Bodh Krishna Murthy Bodh Siribodh CONTENTS

List of Photographs iii Dhamma Bell iv Snap Shot of the life of On Lord Buddha v Paticca Samupada - The dependent origination 1. Glimpses of a few Sacred places of Lord Buddha 1 2. Map showing Buddhist sites 2 3. Map showing Buddhist sites in state 2 4. Map showing Buddhist sites in 3 5. : The Birth place of Buddha 4 6. Buddhagaya: The Place of Enlightenment 14 7. : The Place of first sermon 25 8. Kusinara: The place of Maha Parinibbana 39 9. Sâvatthi: The city where The Buddha spent his twenty five 47 10. 53 11. Vesâli 54 12. Kesariya: Where the Buddha taught the famous Kalama Sutta 57 13. : The Buddhist University 59 14. Râjagaha 62 15. Sânchi 71 16. Pragbodhi: The Mountain where Prince Siddhatha practiced austerities 77 17. Prabhosa: The hill where the Buddha spent his six rain retreats 78 18. Lauriya Nandangarh: Where Emperor Asoka raised a great pillar 79 19. Kurkihar 80 20. 21. Champanagar 83 22. Gurpa: the Mountain where Mahakassapa waits for Buddha 85 CONTENTS

23. Indasala Cave: Where Sakka came to ask the Buddha his eight questions 86 24. Jethian: Where the Buddha and King Bimbasara first met 87 25. 100 26. Important Buddhist festivals 105 27. The 108 28. Henry Steel Olcott 109 29. The Followers of in India 110 30 Emperor Asoka the Great 110 31. Menander-I Soter (Milinda) 122 32) Emperor Kanishka 124 33) Emperor Harshavardhana 127 34) Pâla Empire 128 35) Sir. 130 36) Pandit. Iyothee Thass 131 37) Anagarika 132 38) Mahabodhi Society - Bangalore 134 39) - 136 40) Vipassana Research Institute - Igattpur 139 41) Six Sangayanas (Buddhist Council) 140 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS

LUMBINI: Page No:

1. Maya Devi with new born child 5 2. The Asokan pillar with its inscription 6 3. The Exact Birth place of Siddhatta Gotama 6 4. Asoka Pillar 7 6. Eternal peace flame 8 8. Old Lumbini 9 9. Renovated Lumbini 10 10. Maya Devi 11 12. Nigrodharama 12

BODHGAYA : Page No:

1. Seat of Enlightenment 14 2. The Sacred 15 3. The Shwedagon 17 4. before & after restoration 18 5. Mahabodhi Buddha vihar 19 6. Mahabodhi Buddha vihar 20 7. The Buddha walked in meditation 21 8. Brahmayoni hill 22 9. Lotus Pond 22 10. Niranjana River 23 11. Foot print of Lord Buddha 23 SARNATH : Page No:

1. Eight fold path 26 2. Buddha's first sermon to his five disciple monks 27 3. Five Disciples paying respect to the Wheel of the Dhamma 27 4. Asoka pillar view-1 28 5. Asoka pillar view-2 29 6. Dhammekha view-1 30 7. Dhammekha stupa view-2&3 31 8. - Asokan Era 32 9. Chinese traveler - The Buddhist monk Hiun Tsang 33 10. Hiun Tsang Memorial Hall at Nalanda & his route map from 34 11. The National Emblem of India 35 12. Ruins of Sarnath & Mulagandhakuti (View-1) 36 13. Mulagandhakuti Vihara View-2 37 14. Japanese vihar 37

KUSINARA : Page No:

1. Mahâparinibbâna vihar 40 2. Mathakuar shrine and monastery & Mathakuar Shrine Buddha 41 3. Image of reclining Buddha view-1 42 4. Image of reclining Buddha view-2 43 5. Rambhar Stupa & Japanese Vihar 44 6. Dhamma Bell & its Inscriptions on the bell 45 7. Deoria Buddhist shrine 46

SÂVATTHI : Page No:

1. Painting- The Buddha serves the sick 47 2. Monastery 48 3. Anandabodhi tree in Jetavana Monastery 48 4. Mulagandhakuti in Jetavana Monastery 49 5. Gandhakuti in Jetavana 50 6. Jetavana monastery 50 7. Pubbarama monastery 51 8. Stupa or Sudatta Stupa 51 9. Angulimala Stupa 52 10. Visakha Stupa 52 SANKISSA : Page No:

1. Descending from tusita heaven back to Sankissa 53

VESÂLI : Page No:

1. Relic Stupa 54 2. Stupa with relics of Ananda 55 3. Kutagarasala Vihara 55 4. Inscriptions on the pillar 56 5. Asokan pillar 56 6. Vishwa santhi stupa 57

KESARIA: Page No:

1. stupa 57 2. Kesaria stupa with broken Buddha idols 58

NALANDA: Page No:

1. Ven.Sariputta stupa 59 2. Ruins of Nalanda 60 3. The relics of Ven. Sariputta 61

RÂJAGAHA: Page No:

1. Vulture Peak 63 2. Bimbisara's Jail 65 3. Ajatasattu stupa 65 4. Venuvana Monastery 66 5. Bamboo forest at Venuvana Monastery 66 6. Kind Bimbisara handing over Venuvana Monastery to lord Buddha 67 7. Remains of Jivakambavana 67 8. The Pipphali Cave 68 9. The Sattapanni Cave- First Buddhist Council 68 10. Ven.Ananda cave 69 11. The Buddha subduing the elephant Nalagiri 69 12. Burmese Buddhist vihar 70 :

1. map 71 2. Sanchi old vihara 72 3. Great Sanchi Stupa View-1 & 2 73 4. Northern Gateway-Great Sanchi Stupa 74 5. Stone carving at Sanchi 75

Photos of different Buddhist sites:

1. Pragbodh 77 2. Prabhosa 78 3. Lauriya Nandangarh 79 4. Kurkihar 80 5. Kosambi 81 6. Barbara cave built by Asoka 82 7. Brahmini inscription on the wall of Barabar cave 82 8. Champanagar 83 9. Dona 84 9. The Mountain Gurpa 85 10. Indasala Cave 86 11. Jethian 87 12. Udayagiri Odissa (Formerly Odisha) 88 13. Udaiyagiri rock cut caves near Bhubaneswar Odisha 88 14. Buddhist sculptural and rock cut cave work- Udayagiri Odisha 89 15. Lalit Giri 90 16. Ratanagiri Maha Vihara 91 17. Udayagiri 92 18. Near Borivali Maharastra 93 19. Kanheri main vihara & Keheri Stupa 94 20. The seen from afar 95 21. The Bhaja caves -Entrance to the rock-cut Buddhist vihara 96 22. Caves 97 23. Entrance of Karla cave 98 24. Karle, Hall 99 25. Panoramic view of Ajanta Caves 100 26. Facade Cave 19, Ajanta 101,102 27. Three Storeyed Vihara, Ellora 103 28. Buddhist Flag 108 Photos related to Followers & Revival of Buddhism:

1. Emperor Asoka the great 110 2. The sculpture of The Emperor Asoka the great 110 3. Shanti Stupa at Dhauli hill 111 4. Buddha statue in Shanti Stupa at Dhauli Hill 111 5. The War memorial near Peace Pagoda at Dhauli Hill 112 6. River Daya at Dhauli Odisha 113 7. River Daya from Shanti Stupa 113 8. 13th Rock Edict 114 9. Map of the Satavahana Empire 119 10. Map of the Sunga Empire 120 11. Menander I 122 12. Bronze coin of Menander I 123 13. Bamiyan Buddha & Kanishka coin 125 14. Gold relic casket 126 15. Kanishka casket 126 16. Buddha's sculpture - 11th century- 128 17. Vihar & vihar(Pala Empire) 129 18. Somapura in Paharpur, -Pala Empire 129 19. Sir. Alexander Cunningham 130 20. Pandit. Iyothee Thass 131 21. 132 22. MBS - Old meditation hall 134 23. MBS- Bodhi Tree 135 24. MBS - Front view 136 25. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar & Savitha 137 26. Mahashavir Candamani Maha Thera 138 27. Arial view of Golden Vipasan 139 DHAMMA BELL Paticca Samuppâda

The Dependent Origination

The basic understanding of the Dependent Origination which explained in depth as a chain of causes that leads to other causes which form a cycle of endless births and rebirths, as such there is no first link (Nidana).The Twelve plus Twelve links totally 24 Links (Nidanas) represent Law of Dependent Origination and Law of Dependent Cessation of endless cycle of births and rebirths. The wheel shown below depicts how the Life Arises, Exists, Continues and Cease to exits. The wheel which forms with 24 spokes is featured in the middle of Indian National flag as a commendable respect to the Emperor Asoka as Asoka chakra, which was derived from the core teaching of Lord Buddha.

The Endless cycle of Birth and Meaning of pâli terms in Paticcha Samuppâda

1. Avijjâ : Ignorance

2. Sañkhârâ : Kamma-formation…..(Kamma= Action)

3. Viññaòa : Consciousness

4. Nâmarûpa : Mind & Body

5. Salâyatanam : Six-sense faculty

6. Phassa : Contact

7. Vedanâ : Feeling

8. Taòhâ : Craving

9. Upâdâna : Clinging

10. Bhava : Becoming

11 Jâti : Birth

12. Jarâ : Decay

13. Maraòa : Death

14. Soka : Sorrow:

15. Parideva : Lementation

16. Dukkha : Pain

17. Domanassa : Dejection

18. Samudayo : Despair.

19. Paccaya : Depending on SNAP SHOT

LIFE OF LORD BUDDHA IN PICTORIAL FORM:

Bodhisattva Setaketu is invited by the Devas in the Heaven to come down on earth to save all beings

Queen Mahamaya had a dream of a six- tusked white elephant coming to her and she was then pregnant.

The Siddhatta was born at Lumbini Garden now in .The baby began to walk seven steps forward and at each step a lotus flower appeared beneath his foot on the ground.

N a m e d a s P r i n c e Siddhattha, he was brought up with much c a r e b y Q u e e n Pajapathi Gotami. P r i n c e S i d d h a t t h a attends the Ploughing Festival with his father, King Suddhodana.

Prince Siddhattha treats the wounded Swan, shot by his cousin Devadatta

During his outings through the four gates of the city, prince Siddhattha realizes the true cycle of life: birth, old age, sickness and death.

Prince Siddhattha looks at his wife and son before leaving the palace.

Prince Siddhattha and the charioteer ride the horse Kanthaka leaving the city of Kapilavattu, cross over the Anoma River . Cutting off his hair, the Prince instructs Channa to return to the palace with his garments, ornaments and precious sword. He leads a homeless life

P r i n c e S i d d h a t t h a dwells in caves to engage in spiritual practice.

Prince Siddhattha in his six years of continuous practicing of all forms of severe austerity.

P r i n c e S i d d h a t t h a abandons life of self fortune and accepts a bowl of milk-rice offered by a rich lady Sujatha

Mara and his followers trys to disturb through t e m p t a t i o n o f defilement, attachment, jealousy and conceit - the lord of illusion, the evil forces, disturbs the Prince.

Prince Siddhattha meditates under the Bodhi tree near the River Niranjana

P r i n c e S i d d h a t t h a attains Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree after defeating Mara

Turning the Wheel of Dhamma for the first time at the Deer Park, the Buddha expounds the to transform the first five ascetic friends.

In the Bamboo grove ( V e n u v a n a ) a t Rajagaha, the Buddha gave the sermon to his disciples Mara and hisThe followers Buddha tries exhorts to disturb the through temptation fromDhamma the demons to Sariputta, of defilement, attachment, jealousMoggalana, and conceitand other disciples.

Mara deva - theThe lord Buddha of illusion, expounds the evil forces, disturbs the Prince.the Dhamma to Queen Mahamaya

Prince SiddhatthaThe Buddhameditates returns under tothe Bodhi tree near the RiverK aNiranjanapilavatthu to visit King Suddhodana and to preach Dhamma to his royal relatives.

The buddha asks Sunita, a scavenger to join the and exhorts against untouchability.

Turning the WheelThe Buddha of Dhamma transforms for the first time at the Deer Park,Patacara, the Buddha an unfortunate expounds the Four Noble Truthswoman, to convert to thebecome first five a ascetic friends. Bhikkhuni in the Sangha Mara and hisThe followers Buddha tries explainsto disturb through temptation fromS i g athel a demons a b o u oft defilement,t h e attachment, jealousmeaning and of conceitworshiping six directions: East, West, North, South, to the sky and to the ground.

Mara deva - Thethe lordBuddha of illusion, transforms the evil forces, disturbs the Prince.the fierce and ferocious A n g u l i m a l a , w h o murdered for want of fingers (Anguli=finger , Mala= garland)

PrinceA Siddhattha mother agonized meditates over under the the sudden Bodhi tree near thedeath River of her Niranjana only son, came to Buddha, asking him to help her to save her son. The Buddha delivered a sermon on . She was then Enlightened leading a life of happiness and serenity.

Prince SiddhatthaW i t hattains h i sEnlightenment g r e a t under the Bodhi treec o afterm p defeatinga s s i o n , Mara t h e Buddha subdues the ferociously drunken elephant released by Nalagiri King Ajatasattu.

Turning the WheelThe B ofu dDhammadha att aforin sthe first time at the Deer Park,Parinibbana the Buddha in the expounds Sala the Four Noble TruthsG toro convertve, be tthewe efirstn fivethe ascetic friends. twin Sala tress, in the vicinity of Kusinara.