Uposatha and Thai Temple in Kushinagar- Place of Buddha's Relics

Maha Chetiya

The Maha Chetiya of Wat Thai Kusinara (Kushinagar) Chalemraj wall house the Buddha’s relics, thus it is categorized as a Dhatu Chetiya. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand, has graciously given the design of this Maha Chetiya and donated his personal fund construction. His majesty’s hairs to be enshrined in it. Her Royal Highness Princes Chakri Sirinthorn represented His Majesty to lay the foundation stone of the Maha Chetiya on March 30, 2001. It is the only Royal Chetiya ever built outside Thailand. Eight Buddha images were placed in the outer niched to blesh sentient begins in right directions.

The Buddha’s relics were discovered near Piprahwa, a village in the Basti District on the border of Nepal in 1898 by Mr. William Claxion Peppe. The government of India had offered this relic to his majesty  King Ramv V. King of Thailand who was the only existing Buddhist monarch. The Maha Chetiya is a center of worship for Buddhist all over the globe. It stands as an important landmark on the precinct of Kushinagar. It is one of the finest gifts from Thailand to India. The land of the Buddha-thereby strengthening the bilateral.    

Uposatha

Uposatha is a concerted assembly hall. In the tradition of Theravada Buddhism, it is used by sangha to perform ceremonies concerning the code of Monastic disciplines (Vinaya) for instance bi-weekly recitation of the fundamental disciplines and ordination ceremony. It is established by sanctioned boundaries, usually marked with stones, known as "sima". Layman is not allowed inside these boundaries at certain ceremonies such as the above-mentioned ones. As a place of worship, it houses the most important Buddha statue of the temple. His Majesty King Bhumibol. King of Thailand has graciously given the royal monogram "Bhor Per Rer" to be affixed to the front gable. It is one of the finest Contemporary Thai Style Uposathas and is designed by Assistant Professor Dr. Phinyo Snwankhiria national artist. Its construction started in March 1996 and it is partially completed.

The Uposatha hall in Wat Thai Kusinara Chalermrj is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM. It is occasionally closed for monks ceremonies and ritual. The main attractions are on the first floor of the ceremonial hall. Here all the members of the monastery assemble chanting and meditation every morning at 06:00 AM and every evening at 07:00 PM. The chanting is in Pali, an ancient language of India. Visitors may join chanting at the mentioned time. The painted wall of the ceremonial hall depicts the story of the king Mahajanka in Mahajanka Jataka, who practiced ultimate perseverance without the desire of reward, which resulted in his going a throne and bringing the prosperity to the city of "Mithila". His Majesty King of Thailand modified this story to suit contemporary society. The story was magnificently portrayed by Thai artists from the Department of Fine Art. Ministry of Education, Thailand. There are also the painting of the Celestial's Society (Devasamagama) and social activities of his Majesty King of Thailand.

President Buddha Image

The King of Thailand graciously bestowed the name of "Phra  Buddhasayambhayam " to the presiding Buddha image in the hall. The image represents aesthetics of Thai  Buddhist art, which is immensely influenced by Indian art. The gold leaf, giving a golden brightness to remind us of the Buddha's body before his Parinivarna. The Buddha's principal disciples Seated beside the presiding,  Buddha image of Sariputta on the right and Moggallana on the left; each has his name inscribed on the front and these relics enshrined inside.

Photograph of his Majesty King of Thailand as a Monk

The photograph of the King Bhumibol when he was in monkhood is exhibited inside the Uposatha Hall. His Majesty has graciously given this picture to the monastery.

Ramabhar Stupa- The site of cremation of Lord Buddha

The Ramabhar Stupa-The site of cremation of Lord Buddha

This stupa near a pond called Ramabhar perhaps represents the site of cremation of Lord Buddha. The Buddhist traditions refer to this stupa as "Makutambandhana Chaitya". It was excavated in 1910 A.D. revealing remains of bricks floor and corners of walls in the center and a part of the circular drum which was finally exposed in 1956 A.D. The huge circular drum of stupa measures 34.14m in diameter resting over acicular plinth with two or more Terraces. The main stupa is surrounded by subsidiary structures besides votive stupa of which a large rectangular hall is interesting. A good number of clay seals, ornamental bricks etc. have been recovered in the excavations. 

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Stupa and Nirvana temple- Kushinagar

History and Dimensions of Nirvana temple- Kushinagar

The main stupa, with a shrine in front, from the focus of the extensive remains and both stand on the same platform of 2.74m in height. The stupa with its cylindrical base and dome is 19.81m. High from the ground level excavation of the earlier runs reveled a circular chamber at a depth of 4.27m with a copper vessel and a copper plate inscribed with ‘Pratitya Samutpada Sutra’ and recording its deposition by one Haribala, in Gupta characters of fifth century A.D. Further down, at a depth of 10.36m a circular plinth of small stupa with a figure of Buddha in ‘dhyana mudra’, stylistically datable to first century A.D. was discovered in 1927 A.D. The Stupa was completely restored, out of the donation of Burmese devotees, in the same year.

The Nirvana Shrine House, a colossal monolithic sandstone statue of Buddha in the reclining pose. The 6.1m long statue rests on a brick pedestal once covered with the stone slabs. The western face of the pedestal has a sculptured panel depicting three mourning devotees and an inscription of fifth century A.D. recording the gift of the image by Haribala. Both the statue and the temple ruins were first discovered in 1876 A.D. and later on restored by Carlleyle. The present form of the temple has been given in 1956 A.D. on the occasion of Buddha’s 2500^th Jayanti celebrations, as per the recommendations of a committee appointed by the union government. 

Which Documents are required to visit the buddha's temple in kushiunagar? 

To visit this place government apply a rule for visitors. These are:
1. A national visitor must have an ID proof which may be
       a) Voter ID card.
       b) PAN card.
       c) Driving Licence.
       d) Adhar card.
       e) Employee ID card. etc.
2. For Foreign visitors must have the Passport or any other ID proof which is issued by their country.
3. For group visiting, only the team leader must a have an ID proof which is sufficient for visiting the place.   

What are the restrictions for visitors?

These are some restriction for visitors to Buddha’s temple.

1. Entry without meal package.

2. Allowed maximum 8 mm camera for making videos and pictures.

3. Not allowed to Climbing on monuments.

4. Demolishing or damaging the property is a punishable offense. 

5. Keep silence inside the temple.

    

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Gautama Buddha's death and parinirvana place- Kushinagar UP

Kushinagar- The historical place of Buddha

The Kushinagar is an excavated remains place of India. It is a very religious place for buddha's followers. Kushinagar is a Nagar Palika situated at 53 km east from Gorakhpur on the National Highway-28, lying between latitude 26°45´N and 83°24´E. Gorakhpur is the main railway terminus for Kushinagar while airstrip of UP Civil Aviation is situated in Kasia, 5 km away from Kushinagar, currently being developed as an International Airport by Uttar Pradesh Government and Government of India.

Kushinagar was the capital of Mallas, also called Kushinara, Kushigrama according to the Mahaparinirvana sutta, is one of the four most sacred places as declared by Buddha himself. Here Buddha breathed his last and attained 'Parinivana' on the full moon day of the 'Vaishakha' (April-May) month. The body is believed to have been cremated with due honors by the Mallas of Kushinagara near 'Makutabhana Chaitya'. After a gap of about two centuries, Kushinagara again came to prominence during the Maurya's and reached its peak of glory under the Gupta's during that period. The Chinese pilgrims 'Fa-Hien' (5th century A.D.) 'Huien-Tsang' (7th century A.D.) and I-Tsing (8th Century A.D.) who visited this place have left an elaborate account of this structure remains in their memories. 

The remains unearthed here are the results of extensive excavations by Carlleyle in 1876 and later by the archeological survey of India between 1904-12. They comprise the main stupa, the 'Nirvana' temple on a raised platform surrounded by group monasteries on the western side, a group of small sized 'Stupas' with carved bricks and ornamental pilasters on the southern side, a large two-tiered brick platform and small sized 'Stupas' partly concealed beneath the 'Main Stupas' on the eastern side and votive Stupas and manasteries on the northern side ranging in dateform 'Mauryan' period (3rd Century B.C.) to (10th Century A.D.) numerous antiquites such as inscribed clay seals, gold,, and silver coins, Terracotta figurines have been recovered during the cour se of archological excavation. 

Which Documents are required to visit the buddha's temple in Kushinagar? 

To visit this place government apply a rule for visitors. These are:
1. A national visitor must have an ID proof which may be
       a) Voter ID card.
       b) PAN card.
       c) Driving Licence.
       d) Adhar card.
       e) Employee ID card. etc.
2. For Foreign visitors must have the Passport or any other ID proof which is issued by their country.
3. For group visiting, only the team leader must a have an ID proof which is sufficient for visiting the place.   

What are the restrictions for visitors?

These are some restriction for visitors to Buddha’s temple.

1. Entry without meal package.

2. Allowed maximum 8 mm camera for making videos and pictures.

3. Not allowed to Climbing on monuments.

4. Demolishing or damaging the property is a punishable offense. 

5. Keep silence inside the temple.

https://mohd-aftab-ahmad.blogspot.in/