BODHGAYA: The Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of 29 in the town of Bodhgaya in India. After settling under a tree, the Buddha made the resolve not to move until he had achieved enlightenment. After three days and nights of profound meditation this goal was realised. The bodhi tree under which the Buddha sat has been destroyed both intentionally and naturally many times since this time of enlightenment. It has continued to re sprout and is visible today.
The Mahabodhi Temple marks Bodhgaya. The origins of the Temple are unclear. Some claim the Temple could have been built as early as the third century by Ashoka, others claim the Temple was built between the fifth and seventh centuries. A thriving Monastic Order continues in the area today, with three monasteries catering for locals and foreigners alike.
SARNATH: At Sarnath in the
Ganges Valley of India, the Buddha
proclaimed the law of faith. It was here
that he taught the keys aspects of
Buddhism: the four noble truths, the
eightfold path and the middle way
philosophy. The Buddha encouraged
followers to avoid extremes of austerity
or pleasure. The remains of monasteries
dating from the third century B.C.E. to
the first century C.E. indicate a thriving
monastic community.
SHRAVASTI: Another of the most
commonly visited places of Buddhist
pilgrimage is Shravasti. It is here that
the Buddha is said to have performed great
miracles. One story tells of how on
throwing down the seed of a mango, a great
mango tree instantly arose. Another story
tells of how the Buddha stood in the air,
the lower part of his body engulfed in
flames, with five hundred jets of water
streaming from the top of his body.
SANKASHAYA: In Sankashaya the
Buddha descended from the Tushita Heaven.
It is said that during the forty-first
year of the Buddha's life, he went to the
Tushita Heaven to teach Dharma to his
mother, who had died shortly after the
Buddha's death. Ashoka later built a
Temple on the site. Today, little of the
site's glory remains. This is the only
important place of Buddhist pilgrimage
where no temples, or monasteries exist
today.
NALANDA: Nalanda is important both
because it was blessed with the presence
of the Buddha, and because of the famous
monastic university developed there. This
university also named Nalanda (meaning
'insatiable in giving') played a central
role in the development of Buddhism in
India.
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RAJGIR: Rajgir is another place in
the Ganges Valley where the Buddha walked
and preached. Perhaps the most important
event of the Buddha's visits to Rajgir was
the conversion of two future disciples,
Sariputra and Maudgalyayana. While
Sariputra was credited with greater
intelligence, Maudgalyayana wielded a
greater power for miracles.
OTHER PLACES: Other commemorative
monuments to the spread in Buddhism in
India include Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati,
and Nagarjunakonda where great Buddhist
stupas and Buddhist university sites
remain. India also boosts the famous
Buddhist Cave Temples, Ajanta, Ellora,
Kanheri and Karli located in western
India.