Kushinagar: Difference between revisions

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
>Arjongenius
mNo edit summary
 
(Uttar Pradesh Buddhist sites added)
 
(2 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Town and Business Chacha app is also from Kushinagar by Arjun Gupta created in 2020. Now it's running in all India currently working in Kushinagar Business Chacha if you want to know more about Business Chacha then go on play store and download Business Chacha app in UttarPradesh, India}}
{{short description|Historical city in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{about|the town|the district|Kushinagar district}}
{{about|the town|the district|Kushinagar district}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
Line 16: Line 16:
| pushpin_map                    = India Uttar Pradesh#India
| pushpin_map                    = India Uttar Pradesh#India
| pushpin_label_position          = left
| pushpin_label_position          = left
| pushpin_relief                  = 1
| pushpin_map_alt                =  
| pushpin_map_alt                =  
| pushpin_map_caption            =  
| pushpin_map_caption            =  
Line 32: Line 33:
| governing_body                  =  
| governing_body                  =  
| leader_title1                  = [[District Magistrate|D.M.]]
| leader_title1                  = [[District Magistrate|D.M.]]
| leader_name1                    = S. Rajalingam<ref>{{cite web |title=S. Rajalingam (IAS) - District Kushinagar, Government of Uttar Pradesh - India |url=https://kushinagar.nic.in/whoswho/name-of-the-official-8/ |website=kushinagar.nic.in |access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref>
| leader_name1                    = Ramesh Ranjan<ref>{{cite web |title=Ramesh Ranjan (IAS) - District Kushinagar, Government of Uttar Pradesh - India |url=https://kushinagar.nic.in/whoswho/name-of-the-official-8/ |website=kushinagar.nic.in |access-date=30 November 2022}}</ref>
| leader_title2                  = A.D.M
| leader_title2                  = A.D.M
| leader_name2                    = Bindhvasani Rai
| leader_name2                    = Shri Devi Dayal Verma (PCS)
| leader_title3                  = [[Member of Parliament (India)|MP]]
| leader_title3                  = [[Member of Parliament (India)|MP]]
| leader_name3                    = [[Vijay Kumar Dubey]] ([[BJP]])
| leader_name3                    = [[Vijay Kumar Dubey]] ([[BJP]])
Line 51: Line 52:
| demographics_type1              = [[Language]]
| demographics_type1              = [[Language]]
| demographics1_title1            = Official
| demographics1_title1            = Official
| demographics1_info1            = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=10 February 2019 |page=49|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics1_info1            = [[Hindi]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=10 February 2019 |page=49|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2            = Additional&nbsp;official
| demographics1_title2            = Additional official
| demographics1_info2            = [[Urdu]]<ref name="langoff"/>
| demographics1_info2            = [[Urdu]]
| demographics1_title3            = Regional
| demographics1_title3            = Regional
| demographics1_info3            = [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]
| demographics1_info3            = [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]
Line 60: Line 61:
| postal_code_type                = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code_type                = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code                    = 274403
| postal_code                    = 274403
| registration_plate              = UP 57
| registration_plate              = UP-57
| website                        = {{URL|https://kushinagar.nic.in/}}
| website                        = {{URL|https://kushinagar.nic.in/}}
| footnotes                      =  
| footnotes                      =  
}}
}}
{{BuddhasHolySites}}
{{BuddhasHolySites}}{{Buddhist_pilgrimage_sites_in_India.svg}}
'''Kushinagar''' is a town in the [[Kushinagar district]] of the Indian [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. It is an important [[Buddhist]] pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe [[Gautama Buddha]] attained [[Mahaparinirvana]] after his death. It is an international Buddhist pilgrimage centre. Here is an important locally search engine application Business Chacha is an app for locally search. If you will come to Kushinagar then download Business Chacha app and you can search on every local services from Business Chacha for example any e-ricksaw, car, bolero, Electrician, Plumber, Rajmistri, Halwai, Tent House, Marriage, House, Hotels, Hospitals, Bakery Shop, Welding Workshop, Handpump Mechanic, Milk Man, Salon and Spa and many more things.
 
'''Kushinagar''' ([[Pali]]: {{transliteration|pi|Kusinārā}}; [[Sanskrit]]: {{transliteration|sa|Kuśinagara}}) is a town in the [[Kushinagar district]] in [[Uttar Pradesh]], India. Located {{convert|53|km|abbr=off}} east of [[Gorakhpur]] on [[National Highway 27 (India)|National Highway 27]], Kushinagar is an important and popular [[Buddhist pilgrimage sites|Buddhist pilgrimage site]], where Buddhists believe [[The Buddha|Gautama Buddha]] attained ''[[parinirvana]]''.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
According to one theory, Kushinagar was the capital of [[Kosala Kingdom]] and according to [[Ramayana]] it was built by [[Kusha (Ramayana)|King Kush]], son of [[Rama]], protagonist of the epic Ramayana. While according to Buddhist tradition ''Kushavati'' was named prior to the king Kush. The naming of Kushwati is believed to be due to abundance of [[Desmostachya bipinnata|Kush grass]] found in this region.<ref name=Kushi>{{cite web |url=https://kushinagar.nic.in/history/|title=History |publisher=Kushinagar District |date=20 November 2017}}</ref>
According to Buddhist tradition ''Kushavati'' was named prior to the king Kush. The naming of Kushwati is believed to be due to abundance of [[Desmostachya bipinnata|Kush grass]] found in this region.<ref name=Cunningham1871>{{cite book|last=Cunningham|first=Alexander|author-link=Alexander Cunningham|title=Four reports made during the years 1862-63-64-65|volume=1|pages=76–85|publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]|location=Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India|year=1871|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.94077/page/n187/mode/2up}}</ref><ref name=Kushi>{{cite web |url=https://kushinagar.nic.in/history/|title=History|publisher=Kushinagar District |date=20 November 2017}}</ref>
 
==History==
===Iron Age===
The present Kushinagar is identified with Kusavati (in the pre-Buddha period) and Kushinara (in the post-Buddha period). It was the capital of one of the two [[Malla (tribe)|Malla]] republics. The two Malla republics comprised one of the [[Mahajanapadas|sixteen mahajanpads]] (oligarchic republics) of India in the 6th century BCE. Since then, it remained an integral part of the erstwhile empires of [[Maurya Empire|Maurya]], [[Shunga Empire|Shunga]], [[Kushan Empire|Kushana]], [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]], [[Harsha]], and [[Pala Empire|Pala]] dynasties.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}


==Demographics==
====Location of Gautama Buddha's death and parinirvana====
According to [[2011 Indian Census]], Kushinagar had a total population of 22,214, of which 11,502 were males and 10,712 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 2,897. The total number of literates in Kushinagar was 15,150, which constituted 68.2% of the population with male literacy of 73.3% and female literacy of 62.7%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Kushinagar was 78.4%, of which male literacy rate was 84.5% and female literacy rate was 71.9%. The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] population was 1,117 (5.03%) and 531 (2.39%) respectively. Kushinagar had 3462 households in 2011.<ref name="Census2011Gov">{{cite web |title=Census of India: Kushinagar |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=216153 |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref>
{{Further|The Buddha#Last days and parinirvana}}
When [[the Buddha]] reached his eightieth year, he felt that his time in this world was approaching an end. At that time, according to the ''[[Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta]]'' ([[Sutra|Sutta]] 16 of the ''[[Dīgha Nikāya]]''), he and some of his disciples undertook a months-long journey that would take them from [[Rajgir|Rājagṛha]], through [[Patna|Pāṭaliputta]], [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vesāli]], [[Kesaria|Bhoganagara]], and [[Pāvā]], to their final destination at Kushinagar.<ref name=DN16>{{cite web|title=Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta (DN 16), translated from the Pali by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu|work=[[Dīgha Nikāya]] of the [[Pali Canon]]|publisher=dhammatalks.org|year=2022|url=https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/DN/DN16.html|accessdate=9 October 2022}}</ref> It was at Pāvā that [[Cunda Kammāraputta|Cunda]], a resident of Pāvā, invited the group to a meal that featured a food called ''sukaramaddava''. This would prove to be the Buddha's last meal, as he was afflicted by a painful illness resembling [[dysentery]] soon after consuming the meal.<ref name=BDEA29>{{cite web|title=The Buddha's Last Meal|work=Life of the Buddha|publisher=Buddha Dharma Education Association|location=Tullera, NSW, Australia|year=2008|url=https://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/lifebuddha/2_29lbud.htm|accessdate=9 October 2022}}</ref> After the meal, the Buddha crossed the Kakkuttha River (now called the [[Khanua River]]) and completed his journey to Kushinagar.<ref>D.ii.126 ff.; Ud.viii.5; the road from Pāvā to Kushinagar is mentioned several times in the mss. Vin.ii.284; D.ii.162.</ref>


==History==
According to the ''Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta'', the Buddha attained ''[[parinirvana]]'' shortly after his arrival in Kushinagar. Seven days after his ''parinirvana'', the [[Śarīra|remains of the Buddha]] were cremated at that location. Originally his ashes were to go only to the [[Shakya|Sakya]] clan, to which the Buddha belonged. However, six other clans and [[Ajatashatru|a king]] demanded the ashes of the Buddha. In order to resolve this dispute, a [[Brahmin]] named Drona divided the ashes of the Buddha into eight portions. These portions were distributed as follows: to [[Ajatashatru|Ajātasattu]], king of [[Magadha]]; to the [[Licchavi (tribe)|Licchavis]] of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vesāli]]; to the [[Shakya|Sakyas]] of [[Kapilavastu (ancient city)|Kapilavastu]]; to the [[Buli (tribe)|Bulis]] of [[Allakappa]]; to the [[Koliya]]s of [[Ramgram, Nepal|Rāmagāma]]; to the [[Brāhmaṇa (tribe)|brahmin]] of [[Veṭhadīpa]]; to the [[Malla (tribe)|Mallas]] of [[Pāvā]]; and to the Mallas of Kushinagar.<ref name=Davids1901>{{cite journal|last=Davids|first=T.W.R.|authorlink=Thomas William Rhys Davids|title=Asoka and the Buddha-Relics|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|pages=397–410|year=1901|doi=10.1017/S0035869X00028653|jstor=25208320|s2cid=163441004|url=http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-ENG/rhy1.htm}}</ref> In addition to these eight portions, two other important relics were distributed at that time: Drona (the brahmin who distributed the relics) received [[Kumbha|the vessel]] in which the body had been cremated, and the [[Moriya (tribe)|Moriyas]] of [[Pipphalivana]] received the remaining ashes of the funeral pyre.<ref name=Davids1901/><ref name=Fleet1906>{{cite journal|last=Fleet|first=JF|author-link=John Faithfull Fleet|title=XXIV:The Tradition about the Corporeal Relics of Buddha|journal=[[Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society|Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland]]|pages=655–671|year=1906|doi=10.1017/S0035869X00034857|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZZLPO-SD_ecC&dq=pipphalivana&pg=PA665}}</ref> According to [[Buddhaghosa]], Each of these ten portions was placed in a [[reliquary]] (such as the [[Kanishka casket]] or the [[Bimaran casket]]) and buried in a [[tumulus]].<ref name=Fleet1906/> These tumuli have been expanded or reconstructed over many centuries to form large [[stupa]]s. Of these, the only one which remains intact is the [[Ramagrama stupa]] in [[Ramgram, Nepal]].
The present Kushinagar is identified with Kusavati (in the pre-Buddha period) and Kushinara (in the post-Buddha period). Kushinara was the capital of [[Malla (India)|Mallas]] which was one of the [[Mahajanapadas|sixteen mahajanpads]] of the 6th century BCE. Since then, it remained an integral part of the erstwhile empires of [[Maurya]], [[Śuṅga Empire|Shunga]], [[Kushana]], [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]], [[Harsha]], and [[Pala Empire|Pala]] dynasties.
 
===5th century CE - 18th century CE===
During the medieval period, Kushinagar was under the [[suzerainty]] of [[Kalachuris of Tripuri|Kalachuri]] kings.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} The city was largely abandoned after the [[Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent|Islamic invasions]] of the 12th century, although the region was ruled over by a [[Rajput]] king named Madan Singh in the 15th century.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
 
===19th century===
The earliest mention of the ruins at Kushinagar in modern literature was in 1837, by D. Liston. Liston noted that it was "an object of worship" and pilgrimage site, but misunderstood the ruins to be the remnants of the fortress of a powerful divinity by the name of Mata Koonr.<ref name=Liston1837>{{cite journal|last=Liston|first=D|authorlink=|title=Notice of a Colossal Alto-Relievo, known by the name of Mata Koonr, situated near Kussia Tannah, in Pergunnah Sidowa, Eastern Division of Gorakhpur District|journal=[[The Asiatic Society#Journal of the Asiatic Society|Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal]]|volume=6|pages=477–9|year=1837|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/114382#page/569/mode/1up}}</ref>


In the medieval period, Kushinagar had passed under the suzerainty of Kultury Kings. Kushinara continued to be a living city till the 12th century CE and was thereafter lost into oblivion. Padrauna is believed to be ruled over by a Rajput adventurer, Madan Singh, in the 15th century CE.
Kushinagar came back into prominence when [[Alexander Cunningham]] performed archaeological excavations at Matha Kuar shrine and Ramabhar stupa in 1861-1862. Cunningham was the first archaeologist to identify the ruins as being the site of the ''parinirvana'' of the Buddha.<ref name=Cunningham1871/> [[A. C. L. Carlleyle|Archibald Carlleyle]] exposed the Mahaparinirvana stupa and also discovered a {{convert|6.1|m|ft|abbr=off}} meters long reclining Buddha statue in 1876. In 1901, a Burmese monk named Sayadaw U Chandramani applied to the English Governor of India, seeking his permission to allow pilgrims to worship the reclining Buddha image in Kushinagar. Excavations continued in the early twentieth century under [[J. Ph. Vogel]].<ref>{{cite journal | author = Vogel J Ph. | year = 1950 | title = Some Buddhist Monasteries in Ancient India | journal = Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society | volume = 1 | pages = 27–32 }}</ref> He conducted archaeological campaigns in 1904–1905, 1905-1906 and 1906–1907, uncovering a wealth of Buddhist materials.


[[File:Conjectural reconstruction of the main gate of Kusinagara circa 500 BCE adapted from a relief at Sanchi.jpg|thumb|left|Conjectural reconstruction of the main gate of Kusinagara circa 500 BCE adapted from [[:File:City of Kusinagara in the War over the Buddha's Relics, South Gate, Stupa no. 1, Sanchi.jpg|this]] relief at [[Sanchi]]]]
In 1896, [[Laurence Waddell]] suggested that the site of the death and [[parinirvana]] of Gautama Buddha was in the region of [[Rampurva]].<ref>"A Tibetan Guide-book to the Lost Sites of the Buddha's Birth and Death", [[L. A. Waddell]]. [[Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal]], 1896, p. 279.</ref> However, according to the ''[[Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta]]'', the Buddha made his journey to Kushinagar, where he walked into a grove of [[Shorea robusta|sala trees]] and laid himself to rest. There, he died and was cremated on the seventh day after his death. The accumulated body of [[Archaeological record|archaeological evidence]] and the [[Recorded history|historical record]] both support the assertion that the Buddha died and was cremated in Kushinagar.<ref>{{cite book|author=United Nations|title=Promotion of Buddhist Tourism Circuits in Selected Asian Countries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F9ZhFMWSYKsC&pg=PA23|year=2003|publisher=United Nations Publications|isbn=978-92-1-120386-8|pages=23–24}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Kevin Trainor |title=Buddhism: The Illustrated Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_PrloTKuAjwC |year=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-517398-7 |pages=41 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Elizabeth Lyons|author2=Heather Peters|author3=Chʻeng-mei Chang|title=Buddhism: History and Diversity of a Great Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hkdxmAYVbJUC&pg=PA17|year=1985|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology|isbn=978-0-934718-76-9|page=17}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Fred S. Kleiner |title=Gardner's Art through the Ages: Non-Western Perspectives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TlVeuxIgjwQC |year=2009|publisher=Cengage |isbn=978-0-495-57367-8 |pages=13, 31 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last = Huntington |first = John C |title = Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus |journal = Orientations |date=1986 |volume= September 1986 |pages = 47 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141128233735/http://huntingtonarchive.osu.edu/resources/downloads/jchArticles/Part%205.pdf | archive-date = 28 November 2014 |url = http://huntingtonarchive.osu.edu/resources/downloads/jchArticles/Part%205.pdf }}</ref>


However, modern Kushinagar came into prominence in the 19th century with archaeological excavations carried out by [[Alexander Cunningham]], the first [[Archaeological Survey of India|Archeological Surveyor of India]] and later followed by C.L. Carlleyle who exposed the main stupa and also discovered a 6.10 meters long statue of reclining Buddha in 1876. Excavations continued in the early twentieth century under [[J. Ph. Vogel]].<ref>{{cite journal | author = Vogel J Ph. | year = 1950 | title = Some Buddhist Monasteries in Ancient India | journal = Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society | volume = 1 | pages = 27–32 }}</ref> He conducted archaeological campaigns in 1904–1905, 1905-1906 and 1906–1907, uncovering a wealth of Buddhist materials.
Archaeological evidence from the 3rd century BCE suggests that Kushinagar was an ancient pilgrimage site.<ref name=fogelin2015p23/> For example, [[Ashoka]] built a [[stupa]] and placed a [[Pillars of Ashoka|pillar]] to mark Buddha's attained ''[[parinirvana]]'' in Kushinagar.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Akira Hirakawa |author2=Paul Groner |title=A History of Indian Buddhism: From Śākyamuni to Early Mahāyāna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XjjwjC7rcOYC |year=1993|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0955-0 |pages=101 }}</ref> The Hindu rulers of the [[Gupta Empire]] (fourth to seventh century) enlarged the stupa and constructed a temple containing a reclining Buddha statue.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Gina Barns|title=An Introduction to Buddhist Archaeology|journal=World Archaeology|volume = 27| number = 2|year=1995|pages=166–168|doi=10.1080/00438243.1995.9980301}}</ref><ref name=stoddardp3>{{cite journal|author=Robert Stoddard|year=2010 |journal= Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art |title=  The Geography of Buddhist Pilgrimage in Asia |publisher= Yale University Press |url= http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geographyfacpub/27| volume = 178|pages=3–4}}</ref> This site was abandoned by Buddhist monks around 1200 CE, who fled to escape the invading Muslim army, after which the site decayed during the Islamic rule in India that followed.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Richard H. Robinson|author2=Sandra Ann Wawrytko |author3=Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu |title=The Buddhist Religion: A Historical Introduction|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LhUSAQAAIAAJ | year=1996| publisher=Thomson |isbn=978-0-534-20718-2 |pages=50 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Mark Juergensmeyer|author2=Wade Clark Roof|title=Encyclopedia of Global Religion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WwJzAwAAQBAJ|year=2011|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4522-6656-5|page=148}}</ref> British archaeologist [[Alexander Cunningham]] rediscovered Kushinagar in the late 19th century, and his colleague [[A.C.L. Carlleyle|Archibald Carlleyle]] unearthed the 1,500-year-old reclining Buddha statue.<ref name=stoddardp3/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Asher|first1=Frederick|title=From place to sight: locations of the Buddha´s life|journal=Artibus Asiae|date=2009|volume=69|issue=2|page=244}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Himanshu Prabha Ray|title=The Return of the Buddha: Ancient Symbols for a New Nation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l3s9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA74|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-56006-7|pages=74–75, 86}}</ref> The site has since then become an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.<ref name=fogelin2015p23>{{cite book|author=Lars Fogelin|title=An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tRV0BgAAQBAJ |year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-994822-2|pages=23–24}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Lars Fogelin|title=Archaeology of Early Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3WAnAAAAQBAJ |year=2006|publisher=AltaMira Press|isbn=978-0-7591-1444-9|pages=42–43}}</ref>


Chandra Swami, a Burmese monk, came to India in 1903 and made Mahaparinirvana Temple into a living shrine.
===20th century===
After [[History of India (1947–present)|independence]], Kushinagar remained a part of the district of [[Deoria district|Deoria]]. On 13 May 1994, it came into being as a new district of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name=Kushihistory>{{cite web|title=Kushinagar History|url=http://kushinagar.nic.in/history.htm|website=kushinagar.nic.in|access-date=18 July 2015}}</ref>


After independence, Kushinagar remained part of the district of [[Deoria district|Deoria]]. On 13 May 1994, it came into being as a new district of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name=Kushihistory>{{cite web|title=Kushinagar History|url=http://kushinagar.nic.in/history.htm|website=kushinagar.nic.in|access-date=18 July 2015}}</ref>
==Modern Kushinagar==
===Demographics===
According to the [[2011 Census of India]], Kushinagar had 3462 households and a total population of 22,214, of which 11,502 were males and 10,712 were females. The population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 2,897. The total number of literate people in Kushinagar was 15,150, which constituted 68.2% of the population with male literacy of 73.3% and female literacy of 62.7%. The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] population was 1,117 (5.03%) and 531 (2.39%) respectively.<ref name="Census2011Gov">{{cite web |title=Census of India: Kushinagar |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=216153 |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref>


==Location of Gautama Buddha's death and parinirvana==
<!-- ===Economy=== -->
<!-- ===Education=== -->
<!-- ===Healthcare=== -->


In 1896, Waddell suggested that the site of the death and [[parinirvana]] of Gautama Buddha was in the region of [[Rampurva]].<ref>"A Tibetan Guide-book to the Lost Sites of the Buddha's Birth and Death", [[L. A. Waddell]]. [[Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal]], 1896, p. 279.</ref> However, according to the ''[[Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra]]'', the Buddha made his journey to Kushinagar, died there, and this is where he was cremated.<ref name=fogelin2015p23/><ref>{{cite journal|author=John Guy| title=The Mahabodhi temple|journal=The Burlington Magazine| year=1991| volume=133| number=1059|jstor=884751| pages=356–357}}</ref> It is believed that during his last day he walked into the groves of trees near the city and rejoiced at the blossoms of sala trees ([[Shorea robusta]]) before laying himself to rest.<ref>{{cite book|title=Buddh for the young|last=S.|first=Bhattacharya|isbn=81-237-2006-8|publisher=National Book Trust, India|edition=1st|year=1996|location=New Delhi|page=42}}</ref>
===Government and politics===
Kushinagar comes under [[Kushi Nagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kushinagar Lok Sabha constituency]] for [[Elections in India|Indian general elections]]. The [[List of members of the 16th Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] from this constituency is [[Vijay Kumar Dubey]] of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] who was elected in the [[2019 Indian general election]]. As of 2019, the [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)]] from Kushinagar Assembly constituency is [[Rajnikant Mani Tripathi]] of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].


Modern scholarship, based on archaeological evidence, believes that the Buddha died in Kushinagar, close to the modern Kasia (Uttar Pradesh).<ref>{{cite book|author=United Nations|title=Promotion of Buddhist Tourism Circuits in Selected Asian Countries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F9ZhFMWSYKsC&pg=PA23|year=2003|publisher=United Nations Publications|isbn=978-92-1-120386-8|pages=23–24}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Kevin Trainor |title=Buddhism: The Illustrated Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_PrloTKuAjwC |year=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-517398-7 |pages=41 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Elizabeth Lyons|author2=Heather Peters|author3=Chʻeng-mei Chang|title=Buddhism: History and Diversity of a Great Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hkdxmAYVbJUC&pg=PA17|year=1985|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology|isbn=978-0-934718-76-9|page=17}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Fred S. Kleiner |title=Gardner's Art through the Ages: Non-Western Perspectives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TlVeuxIgjwQC |year=2009|publisher=Cengage |isbn=978-0-495-57367-8 |pages=13, 31 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last = Huntington |first = John C |title = Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus |journal = Orientations |date=1986 |volume= September 1986 |pages = 47 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141128233735/http://huntingtonarchive.osu.edu/resources/downloads/jchArticles/Part%205.pdf | archive-date = 28 November 2014 |url = http://huntingtonarchive.osu.edu/resources/downloads/jchArticles/Part%205.pdf }}</ref>
===Transportation===
[[File:Kushinagar International Airport 2021.jpg|thumb|[[Kushinagar International Airport]]]]
Kushinagar is well connected by air, rail, and road. Within the town, public transport is provided by taxis, [[auto rickshaw]]s, and cycle rickshaws. The city is served by [[Kushinagar International Airport]] and [[Gorakhpur Junction railway station]].


Ashoka built a stupa and pilgrimage site to mark Buddha's parinirvana in Kushinagara.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Akira Hirakawa |author2=Paul Groner |title=A History of Indian Buddhism: From Śākyamuni to Early Mahāyāna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XjjwjC7rcOYC |year=1993|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0955-0 |pages=101 }}</ref> The Hindu rulers of the [[Gupta Empire]] (fourth to seventh century) helped greatly enlarge the Nirvana stupa and Kushinagar site, building a temple with reclining Buddha.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Gina Barns|title=An Introduction to Buddhist Archaeology|journal=World Archaeology|volume = 27| number = 2|year=1995|pages=166–168|doi=10.1080/00438243.1995.9980301}}</ref><ref name=stoddardp3>{{cite journal|author=Robert Stoddard|year=2010 |journal= Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art |title=  The Geography of Buddhist Pilgrimage in Asia |publisher= Yale University Press |url= http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geographyfacpub/27| volume = 178|pages=3–4}}</ref> This site was abandoned by Buddhist monks around 1200 CE, who fled to escape the invading Muslim army, after which the site decayed during the Islamic rule in India that followed.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Richard H. Robinson|author2=Sandra Ann Wawrytko |author3=Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu |title=The Buddhist Religion: A Historical Introduction|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=LhUSAQAAIAAJ | year=1996| publisher=Thomson |isbn=978-0-534-20718-2 |pages=50 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Mark Juergensmeyer|author2=Wade Clark Roof|title=Encyclopedia of Global Religion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WwJzAwAAQBAJ|year=2011|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4522-6656-5|page=148}}</ref> The British archaeologist [[Alexander Cunningham]] rediscovered Kushinagara in the late 19th century, and his colleague [[A.C.L. Carlleyle|A. C. L. Carlleyle]] unearthed the 1,500-year-old Buddha image.<ref name=stoddardp3/><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Asher|first1=Frederick|title=From place to sight: locations of the Buddha´s life|journal=Artibus Asiae|date=2009|volume=69|issue=2|page=244}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Himanshu Prabha Ray|title=The Return of the Buddha: Ancient Symbols for a New Nation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l3s9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA74|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-56006-7|pages=74–75, 86}}</ref> The site has since then become an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.<ref name=fogelin2015p23>{{cite book|author=Lars Fogelin|title=An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tRV0BgAAQBAJ |year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-994822-2|pages=23–24}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Lars Fogelin|title=Archaeology of Early Buddhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3WAnAAAAQBAJ |year=2006|publisher=AltaMira Press|isbn=978-0-7591-1444-9|pages=42–43}}</ref> Archaeological evidence from the 3rd century BCE suggests that the Kushinagara site was an ancient pilgrimage site.<ref name=fogelin2015p23/>
The Government of Uttar Pradesh has proposed the Kushinagar-[[Sarnath]] Buddha Expressway to connect these two Buddhist pilgrimage towns. The expressway will be around 200&nbsp;km long and will greatly reduce the travel time between the towns.


==Geography==
===As a Buddhist pilgrimage site===
{{Buddhist_pilgrimage_sites_in_India.svg}}
;Parinirvana Temple
Kushinagar is a [[nagar palika]] situated at 53&nbsp;km east from [[Gorakhpur]] on the National Highway-28, lying between latitude 26°45´N and 83°24´E. And Business Chacha is also in Kushinagar it's local search engine company. Gorakhpur is the main [[railway terminus]] for Kushinagar while air strip of UP Civil Aviation is situated in Kasia, 2&nbsp;km away from Kushinagar, currently being developed as an [[International Airport]] by [[Uttar Pradesh Government]] and [[Government of India]].<ref name=kushigeo>{{cite web|title=Kushinagar geography|url=http://kushinagar.nic.in/geog1.htm|website=kushinagr.nic.in|access-date=18 July 2015}}</ref>
The statue of the reclining Buddha is inside the [[Parinirvana Stupa|Parinirvana Temple]]. The statue is 6.10 metres long and is made of a single block of red sandstone. It represents the Buddha in the position he was in when he died and attained ''parinirvana'' — reclining on his right side with his head to the north, feet to the south, and face towards the west. It is situated on a large brick platform with stone posts at the corners.<ref name=kushiplaces>{{cite web|title=Places in Kushinagar|url=http://kushinagar.nic.in/places.htm|website=kushinager.nic.in|access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref>


==Tourism==
;Parinirvana Stupa
;Parinirvana Stupa
[[File:058 Parinirvana Temple from Front, Kusinara (9239688442).jpg|thumb|250px|The Parinirvana Temple with the [[Parinirvana Stupa]], Kushinagar]]
The Parinirvana Stupa (Nirvana Chaitya) is located just behind the Parinirvana Temple. It was excavated by Carlleyle in the year 1876. During excavations, a copper plate was found, which contained the text of the ''Nidana Sutra'' and the statement that plate had been deposited in the Nirvana Chaitya by one Haribala, who also installed the reclining Buddha statue in the temple.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
The reclining Nirvana statue of the Buddha is inside the [[Parinirvana Stupa]]. The statue is 6.10 metres long and is made of monolith red sandstone. It represents the "Dying Buddha" reclining on his right side with his face towards the west. It is placed on a large brick pedestal with stone-posts at the corners.<ref name=kushiplaces>{{cite web|title=Places in Kushinagar|url=http://kushinagar.nic.in/places.htm|website=kushinager.nic.in|access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref>
 
;Nirvana Chaitya (Main Stupa)
Nirvana Chaitya is located just behind the Main Parinirvana Temple. It was excavated by Carlleyle in the year 1876. During excavations, a copper plate was found, which contained the text of the "Nidana-Sutra" which concluded the statement that plate had been deposited in the Nirvana-Chaitya by one Haribala, who also installed the great Nirvana Statue of Buddha in the temple front.<ref name=kushiplaces/>


;Ramabhar Stupa
;Ramabhar Stupa
Ramabhar Stupa, also called a Mukutbandhan-Chaitya, is the cremation place of Buddha. This site is 1.5&nbsp;km east of the main Nirvana Temple on the Kushinagar-Deoria road.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
Ramabhar Stupa (also called Mukutbandhan Chaitya) is the cremation place of Buddha. This site is 1.5&nbsp;km east of the Parinirvana Temple on the Kushinagar-Deoria road.<ref name=kushiplaces/>


;Matha Kuar Shrine
;Matha Kuar Shrine
A colossal statue of Buddha is installed, which is carved out of one block which represents Buddha seated under the "Bodhi Tree" in a pose known as "Bhumi Sparsh Mudra" (Earth touching attitude). The inscription at the base of statue is dateable to the 10th or 11th century CE.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
This shrine contains a large statue of Buddha, carved out of one block of stone, which represents the Buddha seated under the [[Bodhi Tree]] in a pose known as ''bhumi sparsh mudra'' (Earth-touching attitude). The inscription at the base of statue dates to the 10th or 11th century CE.<ref name=kushiplaces/>


;Other major places
;Other major places
*Indo-Japan-Sri Lanka Temple: Indo-Japan-Sri Lanka temple is a marvel of Buddhist architectural grandeur of modern times.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
*Mata Bhagawati Devi Mandir: This is a Hindu temple situated at Buddha Ghat.<ref>{{Cite web|title=उपेक्षित है मल्लों की कुल देवी का स्थान|url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/kushinagar-9045146.html|access-date=2021-09-10|website=Dainik Jagran|language=hi}}</ref>
*Wat Thai Temple: It is a huge complex built in a typical Thai-Buddhist architectural fashion.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
*Indo-Japan-Sri Lanka Temple: This is an interesting example of modern Buddhist architecture.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
*Ruins and brick structures: These are located around the main Nirvana Temple and Main Stupa. These are the remains of various monasteries of different sizes constructed from time to time in the ancient period.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
*Wat Thai Temple: This is a huge complex built in a typical Thai-Buddhist architectural fashion.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
*Several museums, meditation parks and several other temples based on architecture of various eastern countries.
*Ruins and brick structures: These are located around the Parinirvana Temple and Stupa. These are the remains of various monasteries and votive stupas constructed in the ancient period.<ref name=kushiplaces/>
*Several museums, meditation parks and other temples based on architecture of various Asian countries.


The [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]] has proposed the Kushinagar-[[Sarnath]] Buddha Expressway to connect Buddhist pilgrimage towns. The expressway will be around 200&nbsp;km long and will reduce the travel time between the towns from seven hours to one and a half hours.
===International relations===
Kushinagar has one official [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister city]]:
*{{flagdeco|Nepal}} [[Lumbini]], Nepal (2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/india-nepal-agree-to-establish-sister-city-relations-between-lumbini-and-kushinagar-check-details-of-mous-signed-today-2464090.html | title=India-Nepal agree to establish sister-city relations between Lumbini and Kushinagar; check details of MoUs signed today }}</ref>


==Government and politics==
===Notable people===
[[File:Stupa ruins in Kushinagar.jpg|250px|thumb|Stupa ruins in Kushinagar.]]
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their OWN article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
Kushinagar comes under [[Kushi Nagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kushinagar Lok Sabha constituency]] for [[Elections in India|Indian general elections]]. The [[List of members of the 16th Lok Sabha|Member of Parliament]] from this constituency is [[Vijay Kumar Dubey]] of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] [[2014 Indian general elections]] who was re-elected in the [[2019 Indian general election]].
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
 
* [[Agyeya]] (Sachchidananda Vatsyayan), noted [[Hindi]] writer
As of 2019, the [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)]] from Kushinagar Assembly constituency is [[Rajnikant Mani Tripathi]] of [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].
* [[Vijay Kumar Dubey]], politician and Member of Parliament for Kushi Nagar
 
==Notable people==
*[[Dharikshan Mishr]], Bhojpuri poet
*[[Sachchidananda Vatsyayan]] 'Agyeya', noted [[Hindi]] writer
*[[Vijay Kumar Dubey]], politician and Member of Parliament for Kushi Nagar
* [[Ram Nagina Mishra]], former Member of Parliament
* [[Ram Nagina Mishra]], former Member of Parliament
* [[Baleshwar Yadav]], former Lok Sabha MP
* [[Rajesh Pandey]], member of [[16th Lok Sabha]], also served as a Member of Legislative Council in Uttar Pradesh
* [[Rajesh Pandey]], member of [[16th Lok Sabha]], also served as a Member of Legislative Council in Uttar Pradesh
*[[Manya Singh]], Indian model and beauty pageant title holder
* [[Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh]], former member of parliament from Indian National Congress, also served as [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways|Minister of State for Road and Transport]], Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas in the cabinet of former Prime minister, [[Dr. Manmohan Singh]]
* [[R. P. N. Singh]], former member of parliament from Indian National Congress, also served as [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways|Minister of State for Road and Transport]], Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas in the cabinet of former Prime minister, [[Dr. Manmohan Singh]]
* [[Baleshwar Yadav (politician)|Mr. Baleshwar Yadav]], former Lok Sabha MP


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="240px" heights="200px">
<!-- images of antiquities before modern -->
<gallery perrow="6" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:058 Parinirvana Temple from Front, Kusinara (9239688442).jpg|The Parinirvana Temple with the [[Parinirvana Stupa]], Kushinagar
File:Stupa ruins in Kushinagar.jpg|Stupa ruins in Kushinagar
File:War over the Buddha's Relics, South Gate, Stupa no. 1, Sanchi.jpg|Siege of Kushinagar the capital of the [[Malla (tribe)|Mallaka]]s by seven [[Mahajanapadas]]’ chiefs and their armies for the posthumous possession of relics of Buddha in 4th century BCE. Depiction of the battle [[Sanchi]] stupa railing, 1st century BCE.
File:Conjectural reconstruction of the main gate of Kusinagara circa 500 BCE adapted from a relief at Sanchi.jpg|Conjectural reconstruction of the main gate of Kusinagara circa 500 BCE adapted from [[:File:City of Kusinagara in the War over the Buddha's Relics, South Gate, Stupa no. 1, Sanchi.jpg|this]] relief at [[Sanchi]]
Image:Burmese Temple in Kushinagar.jpg|Mahasukhamdada Chin Thargyi Pagoda (Burmese Temple)
Image:Burmese Temple in Kushinagar.jpg|Mahasukhamdada Chin Thargyi Pagoda (Burmese Temple)
Image:Watthaikusinara.jpg|Wat Thai Temple
Image:Watthaikusinara.jpg|Wat Thai Temple
Line 147: Line 164:
Image:Buddha Relic Distribution Site 04.jpg|Stone plaque pointing towards Buddha relic distribution site
Image:Buddha Relic Distribution Site 04.jpg|Stone plaque pointing towards Buddha relic distribution site
</gallery>
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Varanasi]]


==References==
==References==
Line 158: Line 171:
*A Literary History of Deoria & Kushinagar by M.A. Lari Azad (USM 1998 Ghaziabad)
*A Literary History of Deoria & Kushinagar by M.A. Lari Azad (USM 1998 Ghaziabad)
*Patil, D R (1981). Kusīnagara, New Delhi : Archaeological Survey of India.
*Patil, D R (1981). Kusīnagara, New Delhi : Archaeological Survey of India.
*Ujjwal Mishra (A student) says; "You can visit kushinagar for picnic as there is so much ancient history to see along with its the calmest place in whole kushinagar district".


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Kushinagar}}
 
{{Commons category|Kushinagar}}
 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180412232436/http://kushinagar.nic.in/gallery.htm Official Photo Gallery of Kushinagar]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180412232436/http://kushinagar.nic.in/gallery.htm Official Photo Gallery of Kushinagar]
* [http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/ku/kusinaaraa.htm Entry on Kusinara (Kushinagar) in the Dictionary of Pali Proper Names]
* [http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/ku/kusinaaraa.htm Entry on Kusinara (Kushinagar) in the Dictionary of Pali Proper Names]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160619032706/http://www.asisarnathcircle.org/docs/Kushinagar%20%20English.pdf Kushinagar, Archaeological Survey of India, Sarnath Circle]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160619032706/http://www.asisarnathcircle.org/docs/Kushinagar%20%20English.pdf Kushinagar, Archaeological Survey of India, Sarnath Circle]


{{Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Kushinagar district}}
{{Kushinagar district}}
Line 175: Line 190:
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian cities]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian cities]]
[[Category:Stupas in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological monuments in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Archaeological monuments in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh]]

Latest revision as of 09:15, 23 November 2023


This article is about the town. For the district, see Kushinagar district.
Kushinagar
Town
Ramabhar Stupa was built over a portion of the Buddha's ashes on the spot where he was cremated by the ancient Malla people.
Ramabhar Stupa was built over a portion of the Buddha's ashes on the spot where he was cremated by the ancient Malla people.
Kushinagar is located in Uttar Pradesh
Kushinagar
Kushinagar
Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh
Kushinagar is located in India
Kushinagar
Kushinagar
Kushinagar (India)
Coordinates: 26°44′28″N 83°53′17″E / 26.741°N 83.888°E / 26.741; 83.888Coordinates: 26°44′28″N 83°53′17″E / 26.741°N 83.888°E / 26.741; 83.888
Country India
StateUttar Pradesh
DistrictKushinagar
Government
 • TypeNagar Palika
 • D.M.Ramesh Ranjan[1]
 • A.D.MShri Devi Dayal Verma (PCS)
 • MPVijay Kumar Dubey (BJP)
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • Total22,214
Language
 • OfficialHindi[3]
 • Additional officialUrdu
 • RegionalBhojpuri
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationUP-57
Websitekushinagar.nic.in
Pilgrimage to
Buddha's
Holy Sites
Dharma Wheel.svg
The Four Main Sites
Four Additional Sites
Other Sites
Later Sites

Template:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India.svg

Kushinagar (Pali: Kusinārā; Sanskrit: Kuśinagara) is a town in the Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh, India. Located 53 kilometres (33 miles) east of Gorakhpur on National Highway 27, Kushinagar is an important and popular Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained parinirvana.

Etymology[edit]

According to Buddhist tradition Kushavati was named prior to the king Kush. The naming of Kushwati is believed to be due to abundance of Kush grass found in this region.[4][5]

History[edit]

Iron Age[edit]

The present Kushinagar is identified with Kusavati (in the pre-Buddha period) and Kushinara (in the post-Buddha period). It was the capital of one of the two Malla republics. The two Malla republics comprised one of the sixteen mahajanpads (oligarchic republics) of India in the 6th century BCE. Since then, it remained an integral part of the erstwhile empires of Maurya, Shunga, Kushana, Gupta, Harsha, and Pala dynasties.[citation needed]

Location of Gautama Buddha's death and parinirvana[edit]

Further information: The Buddha § Last days and parinirvana

When the Buddha reached his eightieth year, he felt that his time in this world was approaching an end. At that time, according to the Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta (Sutta 16 of the Dīgha Nikāya), he and some of his disciples undertook a months-long journey that would take them from Rājagṛha, through Pāṭaliputta, Vesāli, Bhoganagara, and Pāvā, to their final destination at Kushinagar.[6] It was at Pāvā that Cunda, a resident of Pāvā, invited the group to a meal that featured a food called sukaramaddava. This would prove to be the Buddha's last meal, as he was afflicted by a painful illness resembling dysentery soon after consuming the meal.[7] After the meal, the Buddha crossed the Kakkuttha River (now called the Khanua River) and completed his journey to Kushinagar.[8]

According to the Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta, the Buddha attained parinirvana shortly after his arrival in Kushinagar. Seven days after his parinirvana, the remains of the Buddha were cremated at that location. Originally his ashes were to go only to the Sakya clan, to which the Buddha belonged. However, six other clans and a king demanded the ashes of the Buddha. In order to resolve this dispute, a Brahmin named Drona divided the ashes of the Buddha into eight portions. These portions were distributed as follows: to Ajātasattu, king of Magadha; to the Licchavis of Vesāli; to the Sakyas of Kapilavastu; to the Bulis of Allakappa; to the Koliyas of Rāmagāma; to the brahmin of Veṭhadīpa; to the Mallas of Pāvā; and to the Mallas of Kushinagar.[9] In addition to these eight portions, two other important relics were distributed at that time: Drona (the brahmin who distributed the relics) received the vessel in which the body had been cremated, and the Moriyas of Pipphalivana received the remaining ashes of the funeral pyre.[9][10] According to Buddhaghosa, Each of these ten portions was placed in a reliquary (such as the Kanishka casket or the Bimaran casket) and buried in a tumulus.[10] These tumuli have been expanded or reconstructed over many centuries to form large stupas. Of these, the only one which remains intact is the Ramagrama stupa in Ramgram, Nepal.

5th century CE - 18th century CE[edit]

During the medieval period, Kushinagar was under the suzerainty of Kalachuri kings.[citation needed] The city was largely abandoned after the Islamic invasions of the 12th century, although the region was ruled over by a Rajput king named Madan Singh in the 15th century.[citation needed]

19th century[edit]

The earliest mention of the ruins at Kushinagar in modern literature was in 1837, by D. Liston. Liston noted that it was "an object of worship" and pilgrimage site, but misunderstood the ruins to be the remnants of the fortress of a powerful divinity by the name of Mata Koonr.[11]

Kushinagar came back into prominence when Alexander Cunningham performed archaeological excavations at Matha Kuar shrine and Ramabhar stupa in 1861-1862. Cunningham was the first archaeologist to identify the ruins as being the site of the parinirvana of the Buddha.[4] Archibald Carlleyle exposed the Mahaparinirvana stupa and also discovered a 6.1 metres (20 feet) meters long reclining Buddha statue in 1876. In 1901, a Burmese monk named Sayadaw U Chandramani applied to the English Governor of India, seeking his permission to allow pilgrims to worship the reclining Buddha image in Kushinagar. Excavations continued in the early twentieth century under J. Ph. Vogel.[12] He conducted archaeological campaigns in 1904–1905, 1905-1906 and 1906–1907, uncovering a wealth of Buddhist materials.

In 1896, Laurence Waddell suggested that the site of the death and parinirvana of Gautama Buddha was in the region of Rampurva.[13] However, according to the Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta, the Buddha made his journey to Kushinagar, where he walked into a grove of sala trees and laid himself to rest. There, he died and was cremated on the seventh day after his death. The accumulated body of archaeological evidence and the historical record both support the assertion that the Buddha died and was cremated in Kushinagar.[14][15][16][17][18]

Archaeological evidence from the 3rd century BCE suggests that Kushinagar was an ancient pilgrimage site.[19] For example, Ashoka built a stupa and placed a pillar to mark Buddha's attained parinirvana in Kushinagar.[20] The Hindu rulers of the Gupta Empire (fourth to seventh century) enlarged the stupa and constructed a temple containing a reclining Buddha statue.[21][22] This site was abandoned by Buddhist monks around 1200 CE, who fled to escape the invading Muslim army, after which the site decayed during the Islamic rule in India that followed.[23][24] British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham rediscovered Kushinagar in the late 19th century, and his colleague Archibald Carlleyle unearthed the 1,500-year-old reclining Buddha statue.[22][25][26] The site has since then become an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.[19][27]

20th century[edit]

After independence, Kushinagar remained a part of the district of Deoria. On 13 May 1994, it came into being as a new district of Uttar Pradesh.[28]

Modern Kushinagar[edit]

Demographics[edit]

According to the 2011 Census of India, Kushinagar had 3462 households and a total population of 22,214, of which 11,502 were males and 10,712 were females. The population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 2,897. The total number of literate people in Kushinagar was 15,150, which constituted 68.2% of the population with male literacy of 73.3% and female literacy of 62.7%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 1,117 (5.03%) and 531 (2.39%) respectively.[2]


Government and politics[edit]

Kushinagar comes under Kushinagar Lok Sabha constituency for Indian general elections. The Member of Parliament from this constituency is Vijay Kumar Dubey of Bharatiya Janata Party who was elected in the 2019 Indian general election. As of 2019, the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Kushinagar Assembly constituency is Rajnikant Mani Tripathi of Bharatiya Janata Party.

Transportation[edit]

Kushinagar International Airport

Kushinagar is well connected by air, rail, and road. Within the town, public transport is provided by taxis, auto rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws. The city is served by Kushinagar International Airport and Gorakhpur Junction railway station.

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has proposed the Kushinagar-Sarnath Buddha Expressway to connect these two Buddhist pilgrimage towns. The expressway will be around 200 km long and will greatly reduce the travel time between the towns.

As a Buddhist pilgrimage site[edit]

Parinirvana Temple

The statue of the reclining Buddha is inside the Parinirvana Temple. The statue is 6.10 metres long and is made of a single block of red sandstone. It represents the Buddha in the position he was in when he died and attained parinirvana — reclining on his right side with his head to the north, feet to the south, and face towards the west. It is situated on a large brick platform with stone posts at the corners.[29]

Parinirvana Stupa

The Parinirvana Stupa (Nirvana Chaitya) is located just behind the Parinirvana Temple. It was excavated by Carlleyle in the year 1876. During excavations, a copper plate was found, which contained the text of the Nidana Sutra and the statement that plate had been deposited in the Nirvana Chaitya by one Haribala, who also installed the reclining Buddha statue in the temple.[29]

Ramabhar Stupa

Ramabhar Stupa (also called Mukutbandhan Chaitya) is the cremation place of Buddha. This site is 1.5 km east of the Parinirvana Temple on the Kushinagar-Deoria road.[29]

Matha Kuar Shrine

This shrine contains a large statue of Buddha, carved out of one block of stone, which represents the Buddha seated under the Bodhi Tree in a pose known as bhumi sparsh mudra (Earth-touching attitude). The inscription at the base of statue dates to the 10th or 11th century CE.[29]

Other major places
  • Mata Bhagawati Devi Mandir: This is a Hindu temple situated at Buddha Ghat.[30]
  • Indo-Japan-Sri Lanka Temple: This is an interesting example of modern Buddhist architecture.[29]
  • Wat Thai Temple: This is a huge complex built in a typical Thai-Buddhist architectural fashion.[29]
  • Ruins and brick structures: These are located around the Parinirvana Temple and Stupa. These are the remains of various monasteries and votive stupas constructed in the ancient period.[29]
  • Several museums, meditation parks and other temples based on architecture of various Asian countries.

International relations[edit]

Kushinagar has one official sister city:

Notable people[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • The Parinirvana Temple with the Parinirvana Stupa, Kushinagar

    The Parinirvana Temple with the Parinirvana Stupa, Kushinagar

  • Stupa ruins in Kushinagar

    Stupa ruins in Kushinagar

  • Siege of Kushinagar the capital of the Mallakas by seven Mahajanapadas’ chiefs and their armies for the posthumous possession of relics of Buddha in 4th century BCE. Depiction of the battle Sanchi stupa railing, 1st century BCE.

    Siege of Kushinagar the capital of the Mallakas by seven Mahajanapadas’ chiefs and their armies for the posthumous possession of relics of Buddha in 4th century BCE. Depiction of the battle Sanchi stupa railing, 1st century BCE.

  • Conjectural reconstruction of the main gate of Kusinagara circa 500 BCE adapted from this relief at Sanchi

    Conjectural reconstruction of the main gate of Kusinagara circa 500 BCE adapted from this relief at Sanchi

  • Mahasukhamdada Chin Thargyi Pagoda (Burmese Temple)

    Mahasukhamdada Chin Thargyi Pagoda (Burmese Temple)

  • Wat Thai Temple

    Wat Thai Temple

  • Buddha relic distribution site

    Buddha relic distribution site

  • Buddha's body was kept at this location for one week, after he attained Parinirvana.

    Buddha's body was kept at this location for one week, after he attained Parinirvana.

  • Gautama Buddha's statue in Parinirvana, at the Mahaparinirvana Temple

    Gautama Buddha's statue in Parinirvana, at the Mahaparinirvana Temple

  • Ramabhar Stupa was built over a portion of the Buddha's ashes on the spot where he was cremated by the ancient Malla people.

    Ramabhar Stupa was built over a portion of the Buddha's ashes on the spot where he was cremated by the ancient Malla people.

  • Relief on the base of a Buddhist statue

    Relief on the base of a Buddhist statue

  • Stone plaque pointing towards Buddha relic distribution site

    Stone plaque pointing towards Buddha relic distribution site

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Ramesh Ranjan (IAS) - District Kushinagar, Government of Uttar Pradesh - India". kushinagar.nic.in. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Census of India: Kushinagar". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  3. ↑ "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 49. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cunningham, Alexander (1871). Four reports made during the years 1862-63-64-65. Vol. 1. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India: Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 76–85.
  5. ↑ "History". Kushinagar District. 20 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta (DN 16), translated from the Pali by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu". Dīgha Nikāya of the Pali Canon. dhammatalks.org. 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "The Buddha's Last Meal". Life of the Buddha. Tullera, NSW, Australia: Buddha Dharma Education Association. 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. ↑ D.ii.126 ff.; Ud.viii.5; the road from Pāvā to Kushinagar is mentioned several times in the mss. Vin.ii.284; D.ii.162.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Davids, T.W.R. (1901). "Asoka and the Buddha-Relics". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland: 397–410. doi:10.1017/S0035869X00028653. JSTOR 25208320. S2CID 163441004.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Fleet, JF (1906). "XXIV:The Tradition about the Corporeal Relics of Buddha". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland: 655–671. doi:10.1017/S0035869X00034857.
  11. ↑ Liston, D (1837). "Notice of a Colossal Alto-Relievo, known by the name of Mata Koonr, situated near Kussia Tannah, in Pergunnah Sidowa, Eastern Division of Gorakhpur District". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 6: 477–9.
  12. ↑ Vogel J Ph. (1950). "Some Buddhist Monasteries in Ancient India". Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 1: 27–32.
  13. ↑ "A Tibetan Guide-book to the Lost Sites of the Buddha's Birth and Death", L. A. Waddell. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1896, p. 279.
  14. ↑ United Nations (2003). Promotion of Buddhist Tourism Circuits in Selected Asian Countries. United Nations Publications. pp. 23–24. ISBN 978-92-1-120386-8.
  15. ↑ Kevin Trainor (2004). Buddhism: The Illustrated Guide. Oxford University Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-19-517398-7.
  16. ↑ Elizabeth Lyons; Heather Peters; Chʻeng-mei Chang (1985). Buddhism: History and Diversity of a Great Tradition. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-934718-76-9.
  17. ↑ Fred S. Kleiner (2009). Gardner's Art through the Ages: Non-Western Perspectives. Cengage. pp. 13, 31. ISBN 978-0-495-57367-8.
  18. ↑ Huntington, John C (1986), "Sowing the Seeds of the Lotus" (PDF), Orientations, September 1986: 47, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2014
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lars Fogelin (2015). An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism. Oxford University Press. pp. 23–24. ISBN 978-0-19-994822-2.
  20. ↑ Akira Hirakawa; Paul Groner (1993). A History of Indian Buddhism: From Śākyamuni to Early Mahāyāna. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 101. ISBN 978-81-208-0955-0.
  21. ↑ Gina Barns (1995). "An Introduction to Buddhist Archaeology". World Archaeology. 27 (2): 166–168. doi:10.1080/00438243.1995.9980301.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Robert Stoddard (2010). "The Geography of Buddhist Pilgrimage in Asia". Pilgrimage and Buddhist Art. Yale University Press. 178: 3–4.
  23. ↑ Richard H. Robinson; Sandra Ann Wawrytko; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (1996). The Buddhist Religion: A Historical Introduction. Thomson. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-534-20718-2.
  24. ↑ Mark Juergensmeyer; Wade Clark Roof (2011). Encyclopedia of Global Religion. SAGE Publications. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-4522-6656-5.
  25. ↑ Asher, Frederick (2009). "From place to sight: locations of the Buddha´s life". Artibus Asiae. 69 (2): 244.
  26. ↑ Himanshu Prabha Ray (2014). The Return of the Buddha: Ancient Symbols for a New Nation. Routledge. pp. 74–75, 86. ISBN 978-1-317-56006-7.
  27. ↑ Lars Fogelin (2006). Archaeology of Early Buddhism. AltaMira Press. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-0-7591-1444-9.
  28. ↑ "Kushinagar History". kushinagar.nic.in. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 "Places in Kushinagar". kushinager.nic.in. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  30. ↑ "उपेक्षित है मल्लों की कुल देवी का स्थान". Dainik Jagran (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  31. ↑ "India-Nepal agree to establish sister-city relations between Lumbini and Kushinagar; check details of MoUs signed today".

Further reading[edit]

  • A Literary History of Deoria & Kushinagar by M.A. Lari Azad (USM 1998 Ghaziabad)
  • Patil, D R (1981). Kusīnagara, New Delhi : Archaeological Survey of India.
  • Ujjwal Mishra (A student) says; "You can visit kushinagar for picnic as there is so much ancient history to see along with its the calmest place in whole kushinagar district".

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kushinagar&oldid=438329"