Kushinagar (Kusinara)
 A bronze sculpture of the reclining Buddha as he passes away into nirvana, inside the Mahaparinirvana Temple. Photo © Prince Roy. |
Kushinagar (also spelled Kusinagar or Kusinara) is the site of the Buddha Shakyamuni's death. It is located next to Kasia, a rural town in the state of Uttar Pradesh, 52 km from Gorakhpur, in northern India.
Kushinagar is one of the four major pilgrimage destinations said to have been authorized by the Buddha himself. The other three sites are: Lumbini (birth); Bodh Gaya (enlightenment); and Sarnath (first teaching).
History
Kushinagar was a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom of ancient India. At this location, near the Hiranyavati River, Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana (passed away), and was cremated.
Many of the ruined stupas and viharas at Kushinagara date back to 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD when prosperity was at its peak. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka is known to have contributed to significant construction at this site.
Prior to its rediscovery in the nineteenth century, there was a silence of more than half a millennium at Kasia. Due possibily to violent invasions, Kushinagar lost its vitality and eventually was neglected. The notable Buddha Temple, when rediscovered, was covered in a 40 foot high mound of bricks surrounded by a dense thorny forest.
Excavations began in the late 1800s and many important remnants of the main site such as the Matha Kuar and Ramabhar stupa were unveiled.
What to See
Today, Kushinagar is a much-frequented pilgrimage site, especially for Buddhists from Asian countries.
Temples have been constructed on the site by Chinese, Sri Lankan, Thai, and Japanese Buddhists alongside the ruins of ancient monasteries and stupas. Temples and sights at Kushinagar include:
- Indo-Japanese-Srilankan Temple
- Mahaparinirvana Temple
- Matha Kuar Shrine
- Meditation Park
- Museum
- Ramabhar Stupa
- Thai temple
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of Kushinagar. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of India from space on our India Satellite Map.
More Information
- Kusinara - place of the Great Passing Away - BuddhaNet
- Kushinagar Buddhist Pilgrimage - Buddhist Temples
- Kushinagar.com
