Four Most Important Pilgrimage site of Buddhism

Author : Peter Vredeveld

The most important Buddhist Holy Pilgrimages: Lumbini, Sarnath, Kushinagar and Bodh Gaya

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that mainly focuses on personal development and spiritual development and attainment of Nirvana state, providing deep insight into life's true nature. It's about teaching beliefs, practices, and traditions based on the teachings left by Gautama Buddha. There are around 376 million Buddhist followers and supporters all around the world.

There are numerous pilgrimage Buddhist sites in Southeast Asia and East Asia. But only the four most crucial pilgrimage Buddhist sites are sacred and significant in Buddhist tradition. These Buddhist sites are located in the Gangetic plains of Northern India and Southern Nepal. These four holy sites refer to those sites that witnessed the momentous event of the life of Lord Buddha. They are connected to Lord Buddha's birth and some of his life's important events. Lord Buddha himself authorized these four sites to be more worthy of pilgrimage and instructed his followers that these sites would produce a feeling of spiritual urgency.

The Four Most Important Pilgrimage sites of Buddhism are as follows:

1. Lumbini

Birthplace of Lord Buddha

Lumbini is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the world and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. Lumbini is the holy site where Lord Buddha was born from Queen Maya Devi in 623 BCE. Lumbini is located in the Southern region of Nepal. In Parinibbana Sutta, Lord Buddha authorizes Lumbini as the fourth holy Buddhist site. Lord Buddha spent most of his childhood in Lumbini in luxury and comfort without knowledge about pain, suffering, aging, and death. According to Buddhist tradition, Prince Siddhartha had a purifying bath from the Nagas (spirit of waters) in the tank in Lumbini.

The Great Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini with his teacher, Upagupta, in 249 B.C. to spread the practices and beliefs of Buddhism. Ashoka erected an inscribed pillar marking the birthplace of Lord Buddha and seven steps taken by Lord Buddha when he was born. This pillar is popularly known as the "Ashoka Pillar."

Some popular places in Lumbini are Kapilvastu, Maya Devi Temple, Devdaha, Ashoka Pillar, Tibetan Temple, etc.

2. Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya is one of Buddhist traditions' most sacred and holy sites. After leaving his birthplace, Lord Buddha attained "Enlightenment" under a pipal tree. That pipal tree is known as the Bodhi tree. It was the critical pilgrimage site where Buddhism started. Thousands of visitors, pilgrims, and Buddhist followers visit this holy site in the Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar.

Bodh Gaya is famous for the Mahabodhi temple, the Bodhi tree, and various ancient Buddhist cultures. The Great Emperor Ashoka came to Bodh Gaya in 259 B.C. and constructed the magnificent Mahabodhi temple near the Bodhi tree. Even though Bodh Gaya became the victim of a serial bomb blast, it remains.

3. Sarnath

First Teaching

Sarnath is one of the four most holy sites in the world and is located northeast of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. According to Buddhist tradition, Sarnath is where Buddha gave his first preaching to five monks (Pañcavaggiya ) and where he taught about Dharma. Specifically, Buddha gave his first preaching in Deer Park, located in Sarnath, and started the "Wheel of Dharma."

Lord Buddha preached about the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path (middle way), and various Suttas. The Four Noble Truths are: there is Suffering, Cause of Suffering, End of Suffering, and Eightfold Path to end the suffering.

The Noble Eight-Fold Path is Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

4. Kushinagar

Death of Lord Buddha

Kushinara, also known as Kushinagar, is one of Buddhism's Four Most Important Pilgrimage sites and is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Kushinagar is the holy site where Lord Buddha chose to die and attain "Parinirvana" for three reasons. The first reason is Kushinagar was the proper venue to preach Maha-Sudassana Sutta. The second reason is related to Subhadra following the path left by Lord Buddha. The third reason is Lord Buddha wanted to leave the critical Buddhist relics in the hands of Brahman Doha.

"Now the Blessed One advised the bhikkhus – Well now, bhikkhus, my counsel is: experience is disappointing, through vigilance you succeed. These are the last words of the Tathagata."

- Lord Buddha

Emperor Ashoka came to Kushinara and made a significant contribution to construct this site. Some attractions of Kushinagar are Mahaparinirvana Stupa, Temples of Kushinara, and Image of Lord Buddha in parinirvana posture and so on.

There are eight other holy Buddhist sites which are collectively known as Astamahapratiharya. These include the four most important pilgrimage sites and other four holy sites. The other four holy sites are:

• Sravasti
• Sankasya
• Vaisali
• Rajgir