P L A C E S O F P I L G R I M A G E
There are four major Buddhist places of pilgrimage:
Lumbini - Birthplace of Gautama Buddha (in modern day Nepal).
The Buddha’s mother gave birth to the him, standing in a garden holding on to the limb of a tree, and the Buddha issued forth from her right hip. (The reason for the right hip, is that the Buddha was a virgin birth. He was conceived while Queen Maya was dreaming that a white elephant appeared, pierced her right hip, and giving rise to his conception).
Bodhgaya - The location of the Bodhi tree where the Buddha sat at the time of his enlightenment.
The most important Buddhist religious site and place of pilgrimage is Bodhgaya. In addition to the Bodhi tree there is the great Mahabodhi Temple, which is also a stupa. Buddhists from all over the world who visit India inevitably come to Bodhgaya to be in the place where the Buddha achieved his enlightenment.
Sarnath - The place where Gautama Buddha delivered his first teaching.
After his enlightenment, the Buddha initially did not wish to talk about his realization. but after walking many miles from Bodhgaya the Sarnath, he came across his former fellow spiritual seekers, who at first reacted indifferently to him— but after hearing his first words, they recognized his realization and \ listened while he gave his first teaching on The Four Noble Truths.
Kushinagara - The site where Gautama Buddha died and attained Parinirvana.
On his way to Kushinagara, the Buddha stopped at a mango grove and was offered his last meal which contained tainted food, which ultimately led to his death. As he was dying, the Buddha told his followers that this would be his last incarnation, and this became known as Parinirvana. His final instruction to his followers was to, “Be a lamp unto yourself”.
