"Nepal, India" "Buddhism Eight Sacred Sites" Pilgrimage

The Buddha was compassionate and saved the people throughout his life. He was in eight places. Later generations built eight spiritual pagodas. Therefore, the ancient Buddhist relics are known as the eight sacred places. The Mahayana Jataka Mind to Observe the Scriptures I."

The eight sacred places of Buddhism are: the birthplace of the Buddha- Lumbini Garden , the place where the Buddha enlightenment- Bodh Gaya, the place where the Buddha first turns the wheel of the Buddha- Sarnath , the emergence of the Buddha Surrender to the Outer Dao Place—— Sheweicheng, the place where the Blessed One’s self-reliance comes from heaven — Qunu City, Buddha’s Transformation Place — Wangshe City, Buddha’s Longevity — Vaishali, Buddha Nirvana — —Kushinaluo. Except for the "Birthplace of the Buddha-Lumbini Park" in Nepal, the eight holy places are all in India. Among them, Lumbini Park, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinara are also known as the most important "Four Holy Lands of Buddhism."

The Sutra of the Sutra of Concentration records: “In the four holy places of the Buddha or one of the holy places, chanting names or mantras in a circle around the Buddha, or practicing merits in the blink of an eye; can outperform other places. The merits of chanting mantras or cultivating over the years...".

I have been to India and Nepal several times, and my theme trip-"Buddhism's eight holy sites pilgrimage" was completed in two trips in 2013 and 2018. The points of the eight sacred sites of Buddhism are scattered, and the transportation to each point is very inconvenient. However, there are many themed tours of the "Eight Sacred Sites of Buddhism", and it is the most convenient to participate in the group. Since I travel on my own, I can only rent a car to reach the pilgrimage sites (Note: You cannot drive by yourself in India, and you must bring a driver when you rent a car at a car rental company). Fortunately, renting a car in India is not expensive. If you rent for a few days, it is about RMB 1 /Per kilometer.

Location map of the eight sacred places of Buddhism

There are temples built by Buddhist countries in these eight sacred places, and there are a dazzling array of temples with national styles of various countries, which is also a highlight.

1. The birthplace of the Buddha-Lumbini Park

Lumbini is translated as "the place of liberation",Between the ancient Kolli and Kapilavas (now Potaria village in southern Nepal), King Shanjue (father of Madame Maya) built a garden for his wife Lumbini, where the Buddha did not live in the garden. Born under the worry tree. About two hundred years after the Buddha’s Nirvana, Ashoka and Venerable Ubahorita came here to visit the remains of the Buddha and build the stupa carved stone pillars ( Ashoka stone pillars) with a height of about 13 meters , The inscription is engraved on it, as proof that this is the place where the world-zun Dajue was born.

The ancient monks Fa Xian and Xuanzang "Masters who have traveled to this _span_span_span7 in the Book of Span 7 of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty" "span8span" is very helpful to later archaeologists in locating the current site. In 1896, the Ashoka stone pillar was unearthed. For decades, this place has gradually received the attention of the Nepalese government and UNESCO for the development and protection of cultural relics and repairs and repairs. Buddhists from all over the world have established various temples with different styles here. It is a holy place for Buddhist disciples' pilgrimage.

Buddha's Birthplace

In 1997, the UNESCO listed Lumbini Garden on the World Cultural Heritage List.

2. The place where the Buddha enlightened-Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya is located by the Nilian Chan River in the ancient Magadha country. The famous holy sites here include the Bodhi Tree, the Vajra and the Buddha The Bodhi Pagoda, the Blessed One is the most enlightened on the vajra seat under the Bodhi tree.

Bodhi (Bodhi) means "wisdom" in Hindi. Bodh Gaya is the place of wisdom in Gaya. It is named after Buddha Shakyamuni enlightened and became Buddha under the Bodhi tree. After Buddha Nirvana, King Ashoka first believed in the outside world. He ordered this Bodhi tree to be cut off. It burned to the sky, and the flame did not stop. Suddenly two trees grew in it. In the fierce fire, there were lush leaves and green, and Ashoka saw a different feeling. Repent of birth, irrigate the remaining roots with perfumed milk, and the tree will grow as before at sunrise, and Wang Shengxinqing. This theory is recorded in "Da Tang Western Regions".

Maha Bodhi Pagoda, first built by Ashoka, was destroyed when it was built by King Ashoka, but it was also destroyed by the Muslims after the invasion of Ceylon The existing building was rebuilt by the Burmese king in the 14th century. It was excavated and restored from 1861 to 1880. The tower is about 52 meters high and majestic. The stone railings outside the tower were built during the Sundanese dynasty and have historical and artistic value. .

3. The Buddha's first turning of the wheel-Sarnath

Naiyah The northern part of Naxi City is also known as the Deer Park. In the ancient times of King Brahma, the Blessed One followed the path of the Bodhisattva, and he appeared in the deer king’s enlightenment and sentimental places. Buddhas and great immortals often lived here, so it was called "the residence of immortals." Five hundred immortals once flew in the air and fell when encountering the five desires and evil conditions, so they are also called "the place where immortals fall."

The Buddha was first established,The Brahma King persuaded the Buddha to turn the wheel of Dharma. The Buddha turns the four noble truths and twelve lines of Dharma Wheel. The Five Bhikkhus prove the Arahant, and the three treasures in the world are sufficient, the Blessed One is the Buddha's treasure, the Four Noble Truths are the magic treasure, and the Five Bhikkhus are the monk's treasure.

IV. The place where the Buddha appears and subdues the outer roads-Sravasti

Sravasti is located in the northern part of Uttar Pradesh, India, adjacent to Nepal, and is a great nation of Salo The capital city was also an important place where Shakyamuni taught the Dharma back then. The Buddha spent 25 years in the city and lived in the "Gion Abode" in the city of Savat and the "Bamboo Forest Abode" in the Wangshecheng. Among them, the "Gion Shrine" was built jointly by Prince Gida and the elders of Xuda. It was the largest shrine in the Buddha's life and the second temple in the history of Buddhism.