 The history of Buddhism religion dates back to the year 580 BC, which started with the birth of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. Born in the Lumbini, northern India, Siddhartha left his home at a young age of 29 years, in search of enlightenment. After going through a life of self-denial, discipline and meditation, he attained enlightenment, which resulted in the alleviation of all his pain and suffering. He then set on a journey of teaching people the path to enlightenment that would liberate them from the cycle of life and death.
 Gradually, Buddhism spread to numerous countries of the world, which resulted in development of the religion. The original Indian foundation was expanded by the inclusion of Hellenistic as well as Central Asian, East Asian, and Southeast Asian cultural elements. The history of Buddhism also witnessed the development of numerous movements and divisions, such as Theravada, Mahayana, etc. Buddhist ideology does not advocate the practice of worshipping God in a physical form. Hence, quite often, it is not really seen as a religion in the normal sense. The basic tenets of Buddhist teaching are straightforward and practical - nothing is fixed or permanent; actions have consequences; change is possible. It teaches practical methods, such as meditation, which enable people to realize and utilize its teachings in order to transform their experience. They are taught to be fully responsible for their lives and to develop the qualities of wisdom and compassion.
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| Buddhist Sites in Bihar :- Bihar has been the ultimate pilgrimage for the Buddhists. It was in Bodh Gaya (Bihar) where Lord Buddha became enlightened. The prime Buddhist pilgrimages/sites of Bihar include Vaishali (where Lord Buddha preached many a times and announced his impending nirvana), Bodhgaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment (nirvana) and Nalanda, which developed as a great center of Buddhist learning. Rajgir is yet another important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Bihar, where Lord Buddha spent much time giving sermons.
Buddhist Sites in Andhra :- PradeshBuddhism spread to Andhra Pradesh and surrounding areas in the third and second centuries BC. This fact is proved by stupas and other Buddhist structures in various parts of Andhra Pradesh. From Vijayapuri or 'Sriparvata' and Amaravati, Buddhism spread to the Far East including China and Japan and to Srilanka. There are dozens of Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh.
Buddhist Caves in Maharashtra :- The state of Maharashtra in India is dotted with numerous Buddhist caves. Along with Buddhism, these caves are also closely associated with other religions such as Hinduism and Jainism. Some of these Buddhist cave in Maharashtra are Ajanta, Ellora, Junnar, Karle, Kanheri and Bhaja. Of all the Buddhist caves in Maharashtra, Ajanta and Ellora caves are most famous and World heritage sites as they represent one of the masterpieces of sculpture and paintings.
Buddhist Sites in Orissa :-Modern day Orissa (ancient Kalinga) came to be associated with Buddhism when Ashoka invaded the land. In fact, the great King Ashoka did a lot to spread Buddhism in and around Orissa (Kalinga of that time) by starting a new era of art, education, peace and learning. Present day Orissa has inherited the Buddhist heritage, which was nurtured during the ancient Kalinga. One gets mesmerized by the remains of the Buddhist monuments and heritage in Orissa. The Buddhist tourist trail in Orissa brings to light some of the remarkable places that have withstood the ravages of time.
Buddhist Sites in Uttar Pradesh :- Lord Buddha was born in Kapilvastu of Uttar Pradesh. There are numerous sites in Uttar Pradesh that are associated with Lord Buddha and Buddhism religion. In fact, Uttar Pradesh along with modern Bihar formed the hub of early Buddhism. It was from these parts that Buddhism spread to other parts of the World. Some of the prominent Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh/UP are Sarnath, Kausambi, Sravasti, Kushinagar and Mathura. |