ncient history
Ancient Indian (Bharata) cities and Places(Title and location names are in English.)
Many of the ruined stupas and viharas here date back to 3rd century BCE - 5th century CE when prosperity was at its peak. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka is known to have contributed to significant construction at this site.
Prior to its rediscovery in the 19th century, there was a silence of more than half a millennium at Kasia. Due to violent invasions, Kushinagar lost its vitality and eventually was neglected.
Visits by the Buddha to Kushinagar
During the time of the Buddha, Kushinagar was the capital of the Mallas, and the scene of the Buddha's last breath before Mahaparinirvana. It was twenty-five yojanas from Rajagaha (DA.ii.609; acc. to Fa Hsien, p. 40, it was twenty-four yojanas from Kapilavatthu) and lay on the high road from Alaka to Rájagaha, the road taken by Bávarí's disciples (SN.v.1012). At that time it was a small city, "a branch-township with wattle-and-daub houses in the midst of the jungle," and Ananda was, at first, disappointed that the Buddha should have chosen it for his Parinibbana. But the Buddha, by preaching the Maha-Sudassana Sutta, pointed out to him that in ancient times it had been Kusavati, the royal city of Maha-Sudassana (D.ii.146).It is said that the Buddha had three reasons for coming to Kusinárá to die:
- Because it was the proper venue for the preaching of the Mahá-Sudassana Sutta;
- Because Subhadda would visit him there and, after listening to his sermon, would develop meditation and become an arahant while the Buddha was still alive; and
- Because the brahman Doha would be there, after the Buddha's death, to solve the problem of the distribution of his relics (UdA.402f; DA.ii.573f6).
After Mahaparinirvana the body was carried into the city by the southern gate and out of the city by the eastern gate; to the east of the city was Makutabandhana, the shrine of the Mallas, and there the body was cremated. For seven days those assembled at the ceremony held a festival in honour of the relics (D.ii.160f).
Pilgrimage to |
Buddha's Holy Sites |
---|
The Four Main Sites |
Four Additional Sites |
Other Sites |
Later Sites |
Buddha's cremation stupa, Kushinagar.
According to a late tradition, one-eighth of the Buddha's relics were deposited in a cairn in Kusinárá and honoured by the Mallas (D.ii.167; Bu.xxviii.3).
In Xuanzang's (Hiouen Thsang's) time, there still existed towers and Sarighárámas erected to mark the spots connected with the Buddha's last days and obsequies at Kusinárá. According to his account (Beal. op. cit.li. lii. n) Kusinárá was nineteen yojanas from Vesáli. A copper plate belonging to the thúpa erected at the site of the Buddha's death has recently been discovered (CAGI.i.714).
Parinirvana Temple
The Parinirvana Temple with the Parinirvana Stupa, Kushinagar
Initiatives by the District Administration
Stupa ruins in Kushinagar.
2. The Buddha Ghat was constructed on the banks of the river Hiranyavati—Buddha was cremated on its bank—right behind the Ramabhar Stupa. It is said that Buddha's body wa's given the last bath in this river. 3. Work also started on The Buddha's Last Meal site at Pavanagar, village Satheeau, Fazilnagar, about 20 km before Kushinagar while approaching from Bihar. This is the spot where as per the Mahaparinirvana Suttra, Chunda the goldsmith offered Sukar-maddava, eating which the lord became sick.
4. Work also started at the Kakuttha River, Buddha took his last bath in this river. This is on the Main National Highway 28 at a bridge while approaching Kushinagar from Bihar after the Buddha's Last Meal site.
5. Pampor Stupa. A new Buddhist site was excavated at Village Pampor. The excavation revealed the remains of an old Buddhist Stupa. Rahul Sanskrityan the legendary Buddhist scholar from India is said to have identified Pampor as the famed Pava Kingdom of ancient India. Some decorated bricks were discovered from the site which has been handed over to the local museum at Kushinagar.
Institutions in Kushinagar
Kushinagar has made a lot of progress in education in recent times. Since last decade - dozens of private and governmental institutes have been launched at this little town. Here is a list of all educational institutes at Kushinagar:Governmental Institutes
Medical institutions and hospitals in Kushinagar
There are two governmental and several private hospitals and clinics available at Kushinagar and Kasia. The popular ones are:- Governmental Aayurvedic Hospital, Mahaparinirvana Temple road
- Buddha National Hospital, NH 28
- Government Hospital, Kasia
- al-Shifa Medical College, Kasia
- Vartika Medical Center, Kasia
Important places to visit
Golden Statue of Buddha in Wat Thai Kushinara Chalermaraj Temple.
- Mahaparinirvana Temple and Stupas
- Linh Son Temple
- Wat Thai Temple
- Ramkola Satiansuiya Temple
- Govt. Buddha Museum Kushinagar: The significance of the holy place Kushinagar inspired several countries and organisations to put-up their religious and cultural edifices and Kushinagar gradually ushered into a spot of global attraction. The proposal was mooted by department of Culture, Government of U.P. to found a museum for preserving the archaeological wealth from the region and the present building came in to existence in 1992–93. Remnants from the Mesolithic period to the collectibles of later period are displayed here. The museum reveals the art, culture and historical facts of ancient India. The nucleus of the collection represents sculpture, terracotta, architectural remains, bronzes, clay seals, thankas and coins. Among the sculptures the museum has a good collection of Mathura and Gandhara schools of art. A large number of artifacts are on display in four galleries. Besides Buddha artifacts, some Hindu and Jain antiquities are also on view. The stucco statue of Lord Buddha in the meditation posture is a superb specimen. It represents the zenith of Gandhara school of art. The beautifully decorated votive stupas and bricks are also on view. The museum is at the developing stage and efforts are being made to collect the artifacts from different places and institutions. In this series recently museum acquired a large number of valuable antiquities from Rahul Sankrityayan Sansthan and District administratation Kushinagar.
- Surya Mandir Turkpatti, Kushinagar
0 comments :
Post a Comment