About 10 km. from the holy city of Varanasi, Sarnath is the place where more than 2,500 years ago Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. An imposing conical structure, 34 meters in height, called Dhamek stupa signifies the “seat of the holy Buddha.” There are also the ruins of Dharmarajika Stupa, besides the original Mulgandhakuti Temple, which according to Hieun Tsang was about 61 mtr. high. That’s the place where Buddha rested and meditated in Sarnath. After converting to Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism, Emperor Ashoka visited Sarnath in 273-232 B.C. and erected a smooth glistening stone pillar here, to mark the foundation of the Buddhist Sangha. The Lion Capital on top of this pillar is now India’s National Emblem. Then there is the Chaukhandi Stupa, which was a terraced temple during the Gupta period (4th to 6th century) All three stupas– Dharmarajika, Chaukhandi and Dhamek are outstanding in their architectural features. A journey to Sarnath would be incomplete without a visit to the library at Mugandh Kuti Vihara, which houses some amazing frescoes done by Koset Nosu. The Sarnath Museum, not far from the site, also houses some of the finest specimens of Buddhist sculpture.
Sravasti
After attaining Enlightenment Lord Buddha was constantly mobile spreading his message of humanity, Universal brotherhood and salvation amongst the different segments of the Society. This service to humanity would stop for a brief period in the monsoons. This period too, however, would be used by Lord Buddha to meditate and preach, on choosing an ambient place. It was during this process that Lord Buddha turned towards Shravasti, 134km. from Lucknow. The town played host to Lord Buddha for 27 years and was his annual rainy season retreat. Believed to be founded by the mythological King Sravast (hence names after him), the site holds ruins of many ancient Stupas, majestic monasteries and beautiful temples. This place also has an Anand Bodhi tree, an offspring of the original bodhi tree, planted by Buddha’s main disciple Anand.
The site of Mahet is spread over an area of 400 acres. The two main attractions here are the Pakki Kuti and the Kachchi Kuti while Sahet, spread over an area of 32 acres and a little distance away from Mahet, it was here that Anathpindak, a wealthy merchant, constructed the Jetavana Vihar. The remants of several temples, Stupas and Viharas have been found here. Like wise the huge World Peace Bell is another attraction, which was established with the help of the Japanese. The motive was to convey the message of humanity of Lord Buddha through the bell’s toll. There are also the Thai-Sri Lankan-MyanmarChinese-Korean Buddhist Temples, the Shobhnath Temple, Swarna Gandha Kuti, the Ananda Bodhi Tree and the Angulimal Cave here.
Sankisa
Sankisa is identified with the present village of Basantpur in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Situated on the banks of river Kali, Sankisa is most easily accessible from Agra which is 175 km away on the Agra-Mainpuri road. The nearest railhead is Pakhna which is 11.5 km away. Sankisa is the place where the Buddha descended from heaven along with Lord Brahma and Devraj Indra after giving a discourse to his mother, Mayadevi. Emperor Ashoka erected an elephant pillar here to mark this holy spot.
Kaushambi
In his bid to spread his message Lord Buddha also visited Kaushambi, 60km. from Allahabad, counted one amongst the most prosperous cities of those times. It was the Capital city of the then Vatsa Janpada, with Udayan as the king. This place is believed to have been visited by Lord Buddha in the 6th and 9th year after attaining enlightenment. He delivered several sermons here, elevating it to a centre of higher Learning for the Buddhists. Excavations have revealed ruins of an Ashokan Pillar, an old fort and the Ghositaram Monastery, besides a huge number of sculptures and figurines, cast coins and terracotta, objects.
Kushinagar
Kushinagar, is one of the principal centre of Buddhist pilgrimage, is the place where Lord Buddha left his corporeal self and attained Mahaparinirvana. The credit for bringing this ancient site to Light goes to General A. Cunningham and A.C.I. Carlyl, who, after excavating the site in 1861, Later, between 1904 and 1912, several excavations conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India at Kushinagar confirmed its identity. The monuments of Kushinagar are situated in three distinct groups comprising the main site of the Nirvana Temple, the central stupa and surrounding monasteries, the Mathakuar shrine to the southwest, and the Ramabhar Stupa a kilometer to the east.
Nirvana Stupa is a huge brickwork stupa, exposed by Carlyl in 1876, which stands at a height of 2.74 mtr. A copper vessel was unearthed at this site. It bore an inscription in ancient Brahmi, which stated that Lord Buddha’s remains had been deposited here. Mathakuar shrine lies about 400 yards from the Parinirvana stupa. A black stone image of the Buddha in the bhumi sparsha mudra was recovered here. The last sermon by Lord Buddha was given here. Ramabhar Stupa is a large stupa which rises to a height of 49 ft. It marks the site where the Lord Buddha was cremated. In ancient Buddhist texts this stupa has been referred to as Mukut-Bandhan Vihar.
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The Age of Buddha
The Age of Buddha is a period of time in Indian history that is associated with the life and teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, was a spiritual teacher who lived in India between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. He is considered the founder of Buddhism, one of the world’s major religions.
The Buddha’s Life
The Buddha was born into a wealthy family in the kingdom of Kapilavastu. He was raised in a palace and was shielded from the suffering of the world. However, when he was 29 years old, he ventured outside the palace walls and saw the Four Sights: an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a monk. These sights made him realize that suffering is a part of life and that he needed to find a way to end it.
The Buddha left his home and family and embarked on a six-year journey of self-discovery. He studied with various teachers and practiced different forms of meditation. Eventually, he sat down under a Bodhi tree and vowed not to rise until he had found enlightenment. After 49 days of meditation, the Buddha attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, or “the awakened one.”
The Buddha’s Teachings
The Buddha spent the next 45 years teaching others how to achieve enlightenment. His teachings are based on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are:
Suffering exists.
Suffering is caused by attachment.
Suffering can be ended.
The way to end suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path is a set of eight steps that lead to enlightenment. These steps are:
Right understanding
Right thought
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration
The Buddha’s Disciples
The Buddha had many disciples, both men and Women. His most famous disciples were Sariputta and Moggallana. Sariputta was known for his wisdom, while Moggallana was known for his supernatural powers. The Buddha’s disciples helped him to spread his teachings throughout India.
The Buddha’s Death
The Buddha died at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, India. His death is known as Parinirvana, which means “complete peace.” The Buddha’s teachings have continued to be practiced by millions of people around the world for over 2,500 years.
The Spread of Buddhism
Buddhism spread from India to other parts of Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. It also spread to Europe and the Americas in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, there are over 500 million Buddhists in the world.
Important Cities in Uttar Pradesh
Ayodhya is a city in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is considered to be the birthplace of the Hindu god Rama. Ayodhya is also a holy city for Buddhists, as it is believed to be the birthplace of the Buddha.
Varanasi is a city in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and is considered to be one of the holiest cities in Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism. Varanasi is also a major center for Buddhism.
Sarnath is a city in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located about 10 kilometers from Varanasi. Sarnath is considered to be the place where the Buddha gave his first sermon after his enlightenment.
Kushinagar is a city in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located about 250 kilometers from Varanasi. Kushinagar is considered to be the place where the Buddha died.
Lumbini is a town in Nepal. It is located about 27 kilometers from the Indian border. Lumbini is considered to be the birthplace of the Buddha.
The Age of Buddha
When was the Buddha born? The Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, in the 6th century BCE.
What was the Buddha’s name before he became enlightened? The Buddha’s name before he became enlightened was Siddhartha Gautama.
What was the Buddha’s teachings about? The Buddha’s teachings were about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
What is the Four Noble Truths? The Four Noble Truths are:
Suffering exists.
Suffering is caused by attachment.
Suffering can be ended.
The way to end suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path.
What is the Eightfold Path? The Eightfold Path is a set of eight steps that lead to enlightenment. The eight steps are:
Right understanding
Right thought
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration
What is enlightenment? Enlightenment is a state of perfect peace and understanding. It is the goal of Buddhist practice.
What happened after the Buddha died? After the Buddha died, his teachings were spread throughout India and beyond. Buddhism is now one of the world’s major religions.
Important Cities in Uttar Pradesh
What is the capital of Uttar Pradesh? The capital of Uttar Pradesh is Lucknow.
What are some of the major cities in Uttar Pradesh? Some of the major cities in Uttar Pradesh are Agra, Kanpur, Varanasi, and Lucknow.
What is the Population-of-uttar-pradesh/”>Population of Uttar Pradesh? The population of Uttar Pradesh is over 200 million people.
What is the language spoken in Uttar Pradesh? The main language spoken in Uttar Pradesh is Hindi.
What is the religion of the people of Uttar Pradesh? The majority of the people of Uttar Pradesh are Hindu.
What are some of the tourist attractions in Uttar Pradesh? Some of the tourist attractions in Uttar Pradesh are the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, the Red Fort, and the Sarnath Buddhist complex.
What is the economy of Uttar Pradesh like? The economy of Uttar Pradesh is based on agriculture, manufacturing, and Services.
What are some of the challenges facing Uttar Pradesh? Some of the challenges facing Uttar Pradesh are POVERTY, illiteracy, and Corruption.
What is the future of Uttar Pradesh? The future of Uttar Pradesh is bright. The state has a young population and a growing economy.
Question 1
Which of the following is not a city in Uttar Pradesh?
(A) Agra (B) Lucknow (C) Kanpur (D) Mumbai
Answer
(D) Mumbai is not a city in Uttar Pradesh. It is the capital of Maharashtra.
Question 2
Which of the following is not a historical site in Uttar Pradesh?
(A) Taj Mahal (B) Red Fort (C) Qutub Minar (D) Hampi
Answer
(D) Hampi is a historical site in Karnataka. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Question 3
Which of the following is not a river in Uttar Pradesh?
(A) Ganges (B) Yamuna (C) Narmada (D) Chambal
Answer
(C) Narmada is a river in Madhya Pradesh. It is the longest river in India that flows entirely within India.
Question 4
Which of the following is not a festival celebrated in Uttar Pradesh?
(A) Holi (B) Diwali (C) Dussehra (D) Onam
Answer
(D) Onam is a festival celebrated in Kerala. It is a harvest festival that is celebrated for ten days.
Question 5
Which of the following is not a dish from Uttar Pradesh?
(D) Buddhism is a religion that is practiced in many parts of the world, including India. However, it is not a major religion in Uttar Pradesh. The majority of the population in Uttar Pradesh is Hindu.
Question 9
Which of the following is not a sport popular in Uttar Pradesh?
(A) Cricket (B) Hockey (C) Football (D) Tennis
Answer
(D) Tennis is not a popular sport in Uttar Pradesh. The most popular Sports in Uttar Pradesh are cricket, hockey, and football.
Question 10
Which of the following is not a famous person from Uttar Pradesh?