Walking on Buddha's Path
The Initiation of the Buddhist Pilgrimage Responding to Venerable Ānanda’s concern that the monks would no longer be able to see the Buddha and pay their respects after His parinibbāna, Buddha advised His devoted disciples to visit four places, the sight of which will inspire faith (saddha) and religious urgency (saṁvega). The Four Places of Pilgrimage: 1. Lumbinī (Kapilavatthu): The birthplace of the Bodhisatta. 2. Buddhagayā (Bodhgaya): Place of Enlightenment. 3. Varaṇasī (Isipatana, present Sārnath; In Pāḷi: Bārāṇasī): The turning of the Dhamma wheel. 4. Kusināra: Place of Parinibbāna. Mahāparinibbāna Sutta DN16 “...and whosoever, Ānanda, should die on such a pilgrimage, with his heart established in faith, he at the breaking up of the body, after death, will be reborn in a realm of heavenly happiness.” The Earliest Known Buddha’s Rupa Later, King Asoka adde d four more holy places to commemorate the Buddha : 5. Sāvatthi (Uttar Pradesh) 6. Saṅkassa (Uttar Pradesh)