Buddhis







m - A Dynamic Faith
Buddha
Buddhism has its origin in India. Although it is not a major religion in India today, Buddhism was the dominant religion during the period between 5th century BC to 12th century AD. The widespread popularity of the religion can still be witnessed in the Buddhist monuments found in the remote corners of Afghanistan and other North West Asian countries. Scholars from distant countries like China walked several hundred thousand mile to learn about Buddhism in India and took back with them manuscripts that led the way fro the immense popularity of Buddhism in China , Japan and Korea.

Buddhism in India started in Lumbini, now part of Nepal. It was here that Gautam Buddha, or Siddhartha, as he was known then, was born in a royal family. Lumbini is among the four most important places associated with Buddhism. The other three are Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar.

Gautam Buddha came wandering to Bodhgaya, and started meditating under a tree. After three days, he attained enlightenment. Since then this place has been revered by people practicing Buddhism in India. Eventually, the tree became an object of devotion and was named the Bodhi tree. The mahabodhi tree and the Mahabodhi temple are the two main attractions in Bodhgaya. The original complex is said to have been built by emperor Ashoka. The complex was seriously damaged by the Turkish armies invading India in the 13th century. There was a gradual decline in Buddhism after the invasion. Bodh Gaya is situated in the state of Bihar in India.

Sarnath is the second important place to be counted among the four Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India. Lord Buddha gave his first preaching about the dharma in the deer park which can still be seen here. This is also the birthplace of the Buddhist Sangha. Ruins of the monasteries and academies can still be seen at Sarnath. The famous Ashokan pillar, which was originally surmounted by the lion capital, was erected in this complex. The base of the pillar can still be seen. The lion capital is the national emblem of India and is exhibited in the museum in Sarnath.

Kushinagar is the third important place associated with Buddhism in India. Lord Buddha died here in 544 BC. The site is famous for the cremation site of Lord Buddha. There are also many ruined monuments like Viharas and stupas that were built here during the heydays of Buddhism. Many of these monuments are said to be built by emperor Ashoka.

Sanchi, Ajanta, and Ellora are some of the other important Buddhist sites in India. Buddhism is still practiced by many people in India. However the past glory of the religion can only be assessed by the grandeur and scale of the many famous Buddhist monuments in India.

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