Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated an international airport at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. The reason behind this move is said to improve Buddhist tourism in India.
How is Kushinagar related to Buddhism??
It was the place where Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism had attained Mahaparinirvana(Death).
Let us understand some important details about Buddhism.
PERSONAL LIFE
Another name - Siddhartha
Year of birth - 567 BC
Father - Suddhodhana
Mother - Mayadevi
Foster Mother - Prajapathi Gautami
Wife - Yasodara
Son - Rahula
IMPORTANT PLACES
Lumbini(Nepal) - Place of birth of Buddha
Bodh Gaya(Bihar) - Place of Enlightenment of Buddha
Saranath(Varanasi) - Place of the first teaching of Buddha
Kushinagar(Uttar Pradesh) - Place of Mahaparinirvana(death)
CAUSES OF ORIGIN
Kshatriya's resistance against Brahmanical domination.
Questioning about life after death.
Speculations about the significance of sacrificial tradition prevailed during the Vedic period.
Questioning the authority of Vedas.
TEACHINGS
4 NOBLE TRUTHS
The world is full of suffering.
The reason for suffering is desire.
To end suffering, end the desire.
The end is in 8 fold path
8 FOLD PATH
WRITINGS
TIPITAKA
Vinaya Pitaka - Rules for Buddhist Sanghas
Sutta Pitaka - Teachings of Buddha
Abiddama Pitaka - Philosophical matters
COUNCILS
SPREAD
Buddhist monks formed sanghas to spread Buddha's teachings.(Mostly in North India)
200 years after the death of Buddha, the great Emperor Ashoka adopted Buddhism.He sent missionaries to several countries and hence it became a world religion.
DECLINE
Revival of Brahmanism.
Brushing aside the usage of the Pali language by Buddhist monks in the later period. Usage of the Sanskrit language restricted laymen from understanding the teachings.
Idol worship of the Mahayana sect showed that Buddhism is deviating from its moral standards, as Buddha was against idol worship.
Huns and Turkish invaders had attacked and destroyed the Buddhist monasteries and killed many monks.
CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN CULTURE
Introduction of the concept of ahimsa, which was later used by many freedom fighters in the Indian Freedom Struggle.
Contributed to Indian Art & Architecture in the form of stupas and cave architecture.
Promoted residential education system(Nalanda University).
Helped in promoting Indian culture in different countries.
An explanation of the topic is in the link given below.
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