Buddhist Circuit in Uttar Pradesh
¤ Buddhism
In the 6th century b.c., India witnessed the rise of many
heterodox sects. Their rise can be explained in terms of a reaction
against the increasing rites and rituals of sacrificial Brahmanism.
Contemporary texts attest the presence of as many as 63 such sects at
that time. However, two of these survived the test of time and became
distinct religions. These were Buddhism and Jainism. of these two,
Buddhism spread outside India and is today the major religion of many
South-East Asian countries, while Jainism became a purely Indian
religion.
¤ Lord Buddha- The Founder of Buddhism
The founder of Buddhism was Gautama Buddha, known as the Buddha, the
enlightened or awakened one. He was born at Lumbini near Kapilavastu
in Nepal. Dissatisfied with the life of a prince, he left home at the
age of 29 and led the life of an ascetic for six years before
attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya.
He advocated that the Eight-Fold Middle Path was the way to
salvation. After preaching his sermons for the rest of his life, he
died at the age of eighty at Kushinagara. During these 45 years, he
travelled the length and breadth of eastern India preaching his
doctrines to all and sundry.
Many places in the region were closely associated with his long years
of preaching. They later developed into Buddhist sites.
Apart from in Bodh Gaya, the Buddha taught primarily in eastern Uttar
Pradesh. These presently famous Buddhist sites attract people from all
over the world. The more important ones are Sarnath, Sravasti,
Kausambi and Kushinagar.
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