My Pilgrimage Tour To India - SanKasia Part 2

Sankasia is located in the village of Sankasia -Basantapur in district of Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. From Agra, Sankasia is about 175km via the Farrukhabad-Shikohabad-Mainpuri-Bewar-Pakhna route. Sankasia is a very small in size but renowned an important Buddhist tour destination. 

According to the Dhammapada Commentary, after the Buddha mother, Maya Deva, was reborn in Thirty-Three Gods Trayastrimsa heaven after she died. To repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods in the heaven, Buddha ascended to the heaven where he preached before the divine congregation including his mother, for three months.

Nearby under a tree, is a small shrine with a standing image of Lord Buddha, flanked by Brahma and Sakka to depict the Buddha's descent from Heaven. Behind the shrine,King Asoka has raised a stone column 18 m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, placed Buddha images.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.

Dedication of merits

May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings.

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - SanKasia Part 1

Sankasia, a place when Buddha returns from heaven.  Sankasia is located in the village of Sankasia -Basantapur in district of Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh. From Agra, Sankasia is about 175km via the Farrukhabad-Shikohabad-Mainpuri-Bewar-Pakhna route.

Sankasia is a very small in size but renowned an important Buddhist tour destination. According to the Dhammapada Commentary, the Buddha to repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods in the heaven, Buddha ascended to the Tavatimsa heaven where he preached before the divine congregation including his mother, for three months.

The Buddha informed Sakka Devaraja of his intention to return to earth. Thereupon, Sakka created three ladders, one of gold, one of jewels and one of silver, the tops of which  rested on the summit of Mt. Sumeru and feet of which rested against the gate of the city of Sankasia.

As the Buddha descended upon the jewelled ladder, devas and Brahmas honored the Buddha by accompanying him on each side. With this retinue the Buddha descended and set foot on the earth at the gate of the city of Sankasia, and because of this miraculous event, which was witnessed by a great multitude, Sankasia became an important Buddhist shrine and several stupas and viharas were erected there. 

Nearby under a tree, is a small shrine with a standing image of Lord Buddha, flanked by Brahma and Sakka to depict the Buddha's descent from Heaven. Behind the shrine,King Asoka has raised a stone column 18 m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, placed Buddha images.

King Asoka visited Sankasia as part of his itinerary of pilgrimage and Asoka built a shrine over the spot where the Buddha set foot on earth. Behind the shrine, he raised a stone column 18.3m high with a lion capita on top on its four sides, places Buddha images.

Tourists can witness The Ashokan Elephant Pillar and a Buddha Temple that are situated here. The pillar supports on the large pavillion, surrounded by an iron fence.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and turning the Dharma wheel to the world.

Dedication of merits

May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 4

At the summit, one can see the huge granite rock formation resembling a vulture standing with folded wing, from which the hill derived its name. This spot offers a commanding  view of the valley below. It is a favourite place for pilgrims to perform puja while reciting the virtues of the Buddha.Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir. 

His Ven. Sherap Rinpoche (in the middle) and his elder brother are the pilgrimage planners

To reach the top, one has to climb up a long stone stairway from 6.1 m to 7.3 m wide, called the Bimbisara road, built by the King to enable him to reach the summit to see the Buddha. Recent years, a cement staircase has been constructed to facilitate the pilgrim's climb to the top, which is a flat terrance surrounded by a low retaining wall with a shrine near the precipice.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 3

Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir.  The rocky path ends near the top of the hill where one can see two natural caves, which were probably used by the Buddha and Ven . Ananda.

Near the bottom of the cement staircase are two smaller caves believed to be used by two rich brahmins, Upatissa and Kolita, popularly known as the Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggallana respectively.Both joined the sangha after their conversion by the Arahant Assaji and became followers of the Buddha.

Please take a closer look to find out  where the holy mantras was crafted onto the rocky surface. 

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Vulture's Peak Part 2

Guijjhakuta hill (Vulture's Peak) was the favourite resort of the Buddha and the scene of many important discourses while he was in Rajgir. To reach the top, one has to climb up a long stone stairway from 6.1 m to 7.3 m wide, called the Bimbisara road, built by the King to enable him to reach the summit to see the Buddha. Recent years, a cement staircase has been constructed to facilitate the pilgrim's climb to the top, which is a flat terrance surrounded by a low retaining wall with a shrine near the precipice.

The rocky path ends near the top of the hill where one can see two natural caves, which were probably used by the Buddha and Ven . Ananda. At the summit, one can see the huge granite rock formation resembling a vulture standing with folded wing, from which the hill derived its name. This spot offers a commanding  view of the valley below. It is a favourite place for pilgrims to perform puja while reciting the virtues of the Buddha.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.

Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

My Pilgrimage Tour To India - Bimbisara jail

This is the Bimbisara jail , about 2 1/2 km south of Veluvana beside the main road, is an area about 60 m square enclosed by the remains of a stone wall 2 m thick. This area has been identified as the prison in which Bimbisara was jailed by his son Ajatasattu, who usurped the throne. It is said that from this prison, the King could see the Buddha up in Gijjhakuta (Vulture peak) 

Ajatasattu the king's son at his instigation, usurped the throne imprisoned his father in order to starve his father to death. His mother the Queen secretly applied the sticky honey all over her body to feed the king whenever she visited the Bimbisara jail, and soon the Prince has discovered that his mother the Queen secret tactics  to save his father , and the Prince has prohibited the Queen to visit the King in order to starve him to death as quickly as possible.
The Queen was mourning in grief and was prayed to the Buddha if he could  guide her to a better realm or pure land if she could be reborn there to end the suffering.
At the Gijjhakuta (Vulture peak) where the Buddha was delivered the Prajnaparamita Sutra and the Lotus Sutra.  The Buddha knew the Queen was calling upon him and the Buddha was using his spiritual power to presence there and explained to her the meritorious benefits if any sentient beings who wish to be reborn to the Amitabha Buddha Pure land. (Sukhavati in sanskrit) (Dewachen in Tibetan)

Ajatasattu, later has regretted his evil actions too late, as his father had died before he could release him. In later, Ajatasattu at the suggestion of Jivaka, sought the Buddha's advice and became a lay disciple.

Thank you for reading my blog, and it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.
Dedication of merits
May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings

November 21, 2014 Mahakala prayer day

November 21, 2014 today is the auspicious Mahakala Dharma Protector prayer day according to the Tibetan month calendar and the Mahakala prayer day is to be done on the 29th of the Tibetan lunar month calendar, and this is also to be known as the 'Dharmapala' day. There are certain days are considered auspicious day for certain practices, and on these particular days of the practices,  the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 100 times. 

The  Mahakala is the high level of of Dharma protectors , he is the well known Dharma protectors and he is the wrathful manifestation of the compassion of Chenrizig (In Tibetan) or Avalokitesvara (In Sanskrit) Kuan Yin (In Chinese) Bodhisattva. 

Mahakala using his power to protect the temples, monasteries, protect the precious Vajrayana teachings and help other dharma practitioners. He is typically black color. Just as all colors are absorbed and dissolved into black, all names and forms are said to melt into those of Mahakala, symbolizing his all-embracing, comprehensive nature. 

Black can also represent the total absence of color, and again in this case it signifies the nature of Mahakala as ultimate or absolute reality. Mahakala he is always depicted with a crown of five skulls, which represent the transmutation of the five negative afflictions into the Five wisdom. The wisdom are representations of the five qualities of the  Buddhas. 

With your continuing support to read my blog, it helps to spread the Dharma knowledge and as well turning the Dharma wheel to the world.

Dedication of merits

May those who read and sharing of this blog's information be peaceful and joyful. May the Buddha Dharma be flourished and the merits will be dedicated to the sentient beings