Kushinagar, the Place Where Buddha Left this World

         Gorakhpur, the main city of the area, can easily be reached from Sitapur or Ayodhya, in case we did not want to venture to Naimisaranya. This town is named after the Shaivite yogi, Gorakhnath. Its main spiritual attraction is the temple of Gorakhnath, which is large and on a sizable piece of property.

         Another of the main reasons why we want to visit this place is to see Kushinagar, which is known for being where Buddha left this world, thus entering Mahaparinirvana. Pilgrims will take an eastbound bus from Gorakhpur to Kasia 55 km away. You can get the bus at the stand near the train station. This is why when staying in Gorakhpur, it is best to stay in a hotel across from the train station for ease of making travel arrangements. Buses to other locations can be had at the Katchari bus stand 1 km south of the train station. You can also take a taxi if you want, which is more convenient since the bus drops you off, but the taxi will continue to take you to the various sites or temples you want to see and bring you back whenever you are ready. It is a one-and-a-half hour ride there.

         Once you arrive in front of the main temple, you make your way in through the gate and down the sidewalk to the Mahaparinirvana Stupa. This is considered to be the place where the Buddha left his body. Actually, I was told that there are two Sarasa trees in front of the shrine and between them is the actual spot where this happened. Anyway, the present shrine has been reconditioned and looks much nicer than it did. Here we take the path as it is seen in the early morning fog.

The front building is made in a half-barrel design, and has an image of Buddha reclining in the position he was supposed to have taken when he passed from this world. Behind this building is the Mahaparinirvana Stupa which commemorates the place where the Buddha left his body. It was here that Buddha selected as the place of his passing after having announced his approaching disappearance three months in advance to the person called Ananda. The stupa originally dates back to 413-55 B.C. but was rebuilt in 1927 by the Burmese. However, the present structure is a new outer building that houses the older stupa inside it. Around the area you can see the ruins and foundations of a few old monasteries that are being excavated.

 The image of reclining Buddha is carved out of one piece of chunar stone and measures 20 feet in length.

        About three-quarters of a mile away there is also the old brick Ramabhar Tila (or Angara Chaitya) that is said to mark the spot where the Buddha’s body was cremated. It is said that years ago vandals bore into the stupa to steal whatever valuables they could find. Through this passage the bottom of the stupa can now be reached where one can still see the scorched earth, thus confirming that this was where the Buddha was cremated.

         Nearby and along the main road are other modern monasteries that you can visit, such as the Thai, Burmese, Japanese and Chinese temples. They are quite lovely and ornate, and have images of the Buddha, some of which are quite large. Below is the beautiful Thai temple.