Parinirvana Stupa

Parinirvana Stupa
परिनिर्वान स्तुप

The Parinirvana Temple with the Parinirvana Stupa, Kushinagar
Shown within Uttar Pradesh
Basic information
Location Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh
Geographic 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
Affiliation Buddhism
Country India India
Website kushinagar.nic.in
Architectural description
Completed 413-55 B.C.[1]

Parinirvana Stupa is a Buddhist temple in Kushinagar, India which said to be death place of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.[1] Alexander Cunningham gains the most attention for his work in the area, because he conclusively proved that Gautama Buddha had died in the area.[2] The present temple was built by the Indian Government in 1956 as part of the commemoration of the 2,500th year of the Mahaparinivana or 2500 BE (Buddhist Era). Inside this temple, there is Reclinging Buddha image lying on its right side with the head to the north. The statue is 6.1 m long and rests on a stone couch.[3]

History

After 45 years of missionary activities Buddha, severely stricken with illness finally reached to Kushinagar, where he ordained his last disciple and uttered his last words to sangha and attained Parinirvana in 487 BCE. Maurya king Ashoka reportedly visited Kushinagar in 260 BCE where he built several caityas, stupas to honor the Buddha's place of Nirvana. Kushinagar buddhist sites was steadily expanded during Kushan empire (c. 50-241 CE), while Kushinagar witnessed golden age during Gupta empire(c. 320-647 CE) when Parinirvana stupa was largely expanded and Parinirvana Temple was reconstructed along with huge reclining Buddha statue.[2]

Reclining Buddha statue.

References

  1. 1 2 Knapp, Stephen (2009). Spiritual India handbook : a guide to temples, holy sites[,] festivals and traditions. Mumbai: Jaico Publishing. ISBN 978-81-8495-024-3. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 Phuoc, Le Huu (2010). Buddhist architecture. [S.l.]: Grafikol. p. 282. ISBN 978-0984404308. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Parinirvana Temple". Buddhanet. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
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