Key Buddhist Sites: Life of Gautama Buddha Simplified

1. Lumbini (Birth): Located in Nepal, this is where Gautama Buddha was born in 563 BCE to Queen Mahamaya, marked by the Ashokan Pillar and Maya Devi Temple.
2. Bodh Gaya (Enlightenment): In Bihar, India, Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree at age 35, making it the holiest Buddhist site with the Mahabodhi Temple.
3. Sarnath (First Sermon): Near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Buddha delivered his first sermon, the Dharmachakra Pravartana, to five disciples, initiating Buddhism.
4. Kushinagar (Parinirvana): In Uttar Pradesh, Buddha passed away at 80, achieving Parinirvana; the site features the Parinirvana Stupa and Temple.
5. Mahabodhi Temple Dispute: In Bodh Gaya, protests demand Buddhist control over the temple, governed by the 1949 Bodh Gaya Temple Act, highlighting management conflicts.
6. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi: In Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, this sacred fig tree, linked to the original Bodhi Tree, was visited by PM Modi on April 6, 2025, symbolizing Indo-Sri Lankan ties.
7. Buddhist Circuit: A pilgrimage route connecting Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar, promoted for its spiritual and historical significance.
8. Ashoka’s Legacy: Emperor Ashoka built pillars and stupas at these sites, like the Sarnath Pillar with the Lion Capital, India’s national emblem.
9. UNESCO Recognition: The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting its global cultural importance.
10. Chronological Order: Key life events—birth (Lumbini), enlightenment (Bodh Gaya), first sermon (Sarnath), death (Kushinagar)—form a timeline essential for historical context.

Glossary

• Enlightenment: The state of ultimate wisdom and liberation attained by Buddha in Bodh Gaya.
• Dharmachakra Pravartana: The "Turning of the Wheel of Dharma," Buddha’s first teaching in Sarnath.
• Parinirvana: Buddha’s final liberation from the cycle of birth and death, achieved in Kushinagar.
• Stupa: A dome-shaped structure housing Buddhist relics, like those in Sarnath and Kushinagar.
• Bodhi Tree: The sacred fig tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment, with its descendant in Sri Lanka.

Link To The Original Article – https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/knowledge-nugget-life-buddha-sites-upsc-prelims-2025-9929848/