Download Sometime during the sixth century BC a solitary, wandering ascetic

Buddhist destinations in India
Sometime during the sixth century BC a solitary, wandering ascetic sat to
meditate beneath a shady tree, resolving not to rise until he had attained the
ultimate knowledge of spiritual enlightenment. Thus began Buddhism, one
of the world's great religions and pilgrimage traditions.
For centuries Indian royalty and merchants patronized Buddhist monasteries
and raised beautiful, hemispherical stone structures called stupas over the
relics of the Buddha in reverence to his memory. Since the 1840s,
archaeology has revealed the huge impact of Buddhist art, iconography, and
architecture in India.
Lumbini, a small village on the Indo-Nepal border is the site of Lord
Buddha’s birth. 300 years later Emperor Ashoka erected a pillar here of
which only the remains still present. The Mahadevi temple the actual site of
the divine birth and a tank nearby are a part of the sacred complex. A couple
of kilometers away, a complex of monasteries is being constructed on a
grand scale in the respective national styles of Myanmar (Burma), China,
Japan, Korea and Thailand. Also in the vicinity are the Lumbini Research
Institute, which has an impressive collection of Buddhist literature, and a
Museum.
Bodh Gaya in Bihar is the greatest pilgrim center for Buddhists. There is the
Mahabodhi temple that has a huge idol of Lord Buddha in ‘Bhumisparsa
Mudra’ and a tree which is an offshoot of the original bodhi tree under
which Prince Sidhartha gained enlightenment and became Lord Buddha.
Constructed by Emperor Ashoka in 3rd century BC it has a structure very
different and attractive from other temples in north India. It is surrounded by
small pillars and delicate lattice work.
Yet another very important Buddhist destination in India is Sanchi, famous
for its world known Sanchi Stupa built by emperor Ashoka. It has 4
gateways each depicting different aspect of Buddha’s life. The eastern
Gateway depicts life of Gautama and his enlightenment to Buddha. The
western Gateway depicts seven incarnations of Buddha and the southern
gateway depicts birth of Gautama. There are in all three stupas. The largest
stupa is also the oldest stone structure in India. The complex also has the
Great bowl- a mammoth sized stone bowl that had food given to the monks
of Sanchi, Buddhist Vihara, Gupta temple and a museum.
Next in line is a picturesque valley called Rajgir surrounded by Banganga
and five hills. It is the place where teachings of Buddha were penned down
and first Buddhist council was held.
A talk on Buddhist destinations in India is incomplete without a mention of
Rumtek, Sikkim, famous for its Gompas and its fascinating monasting
ceremonies. Rumtek, being the seat of His Holiness, the XVIth Gyawla
Karmapa is the head of the Karma Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. On
the 28th and 29th day of the tenth lunar month (July) the cham dance
is performed by monks wearing grotesque masks and colorful dresses,
culminating in a ritual dismembering of an effigy symbolizing evil.
Sravasti, the biggest township during lifetime of Buddha is the site to
magnificent Jetavana where Prince Jeta built seven storied vihara whose
grandeur was commented upon by Chinese travelers several centuries later.
Mahet, to the north of Jetavana, was once a heavily fortified city. All that
remains are two stupas known locally as Pakki Kuti and Kachchi Kuti; the
later identified as Sudatta's Stupa. Pakki Kuti is said to be Angulimala's
Stupa.
Vaishali, situated on the northern banks of the holy Ganga, Vaishali is bound
by the hills of Nepal on the north and the river Gandak on the west. Five
years after the Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, Lord Buddha came to Vaishali.
In Vaishali for the first time women were ordained into the Sangha.
Buddha's foster mother, Mahaprajapati Gautami, along with 500 Sakyan
women made a pilgrimage by foot from Kapilavastu to Vaishali, seeking to
join the Order. Three times the Lord refused their entreaties. Ultimately they
shaved their heads, donned the orange robes and beseeched the Lord once
again. The Enlightened One was finally persuaded to admit the women as
bhikshunis or nuns. It was also at Vaishali that Amrapali, the famous
courtesan, earned the respect of the Sangha and a place in history. Vaishali is
also renowned as the place where the Buddha delivered his last sermon.
Ajanta Caves, situated 108 kms north-east of Aurangabad, are carved in rock
in the form of a horse-shoe. There are thirty Buddhist caves, some
unfinished comprising of either viharas (monastic halls) or chaityas
(chapels). They portray Buddhist architecture and sculpture in India. The
creation of the caves dates back to some period between 200 B.C. and 600
A.D. The caves were accidentally discovered in 1819 by a group of British
Officers on a hunting expedition. The Amanita paintings and sculptures
illustrate the major events from the life of the Buddha and tales from the
'Jatakas'. A visit to Ajanta is incomplete without visiting the nearby caves at
Ellora. Starting from the 7th century AD, Ellora carried on the great legacy
of Ajanta and was subject to Buddhist and later Hindu and Jain. There are 12
Buddhist caves in all.
When China invaded Tibet in 1959, the Tibetan exodus began and they first
went to Dharamshala then shifted their colony to Mecleodganj. Since 1959 it
has become temporary headquarter of the Dalai Lama and often called as the
Little Lhasa in India. So being seat of the Dalai Lama it attracts a lot of
tourists related to Buddhism.
Besides all these places there are several well known monasteries and
gompas throughout the country especially in the Himalayan Region.
There is Twang monastery, situated in the northeast Indian state of
Arunachal Pradesh, one of the largest monasteries in India. The VIth Dalai
Lama was born near here. Tawang Gompa is a 400 year old monastery
Tawang stands isolated from the rest of the world with its community of
500 lamas peacefully performing their daily rituals. The main attractions are
a gigantic 10 meter gilded statue of the Buddha, the large collection of
priceless manuscripts, books and tangkhas, which depict the Buddha and
tutelary deities in different poses. Tabo, situated in the Spiti valley of
Himachal Pradesh, celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 1996. A small
Community of sixty monks resides here. Even today, bad weather permits
trekking for only a limited period in the year. Hemis Gompa is one of the
largest, wealthiest and most important gompas in Ladakh. The special
feature of the Hemis Gompa is the ceremonial Hemis Setchu festival, which
is celebrated in late June or early July when the passes are open. This is one
of the largest and most spectacular of the gompa festivals. At one point of
time it was virtually the only gompa festival that took place during the
summer tourist season.
Along with all these well known destinations I like to mention a little known
Buddhist monastery in Mussuorie, my favorite place. It’s on the outskirts of
main Mussourie town, located on the edge of a cliff. The monastery’s
beautiful canopy hangs over the deep valley below. The view is heavenly
when clouds gather in the valley and the canopy seems to be floating in
clouds. The main feature of the monastery is a huge 15 feet high wishing
bell. The experience of the place simply cannot be described in words.
Buddhist destinations are not just tourist places of pilgrimages but an
experience. They are not savoured in words or pictures but in spirit. Visiting
these places is like walking through the corridors of history of a great
Religion.