Buddhism is a religion that began in ancient India more than 2500 years ago. The teachings of Buddhism were imparted by Siddhattha Gotama who was believed to be born into a royal family and came to reject materialism and a privileged lifestyle. He went on a spiritual quest and discovered a path to enlightenment about… Continue reading Why India’s Ancient Religion Buddhism Continues to Gain Followers Today
Category: Buddhism
Buddhism is a nontheistic religion or philosophy that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha, commonly known as the Buddha
The Enigmatic Cliff Monastery of Phugtal Gompa
The Phugtal Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located in the Ladakh region of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. This monastery was constructed inside a natural cave, and is considered to be one of the most isolated monasteries in its region.
Top 20 Buddhist Stupas in India
Stupa is a hemispherical structure containing Buddhist relics and place of meditation used by Buddhists monks. In the period between the Mauryas and the Guptas the older stupas were greatly enlarged and beautified. Of these three are noteworthy—those at Bharhut and Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh, and at Amaravati in the lower Krishna valley.
The Great Stupa at Sanchi (Video)
The ‘Great Stupa’ at Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha. It was crowned by the chatra, a parasol-like structure symbolizing high rank, which… Continue reading The Great Stupa at Sanchi (Video)
Fascinating Ruins of Ancient Chaukhandi Stupa in Sarnath
Chaukhandi Stupa is one of the important Buddhist Stupas at Sarnath and a popular tourist site in Uttar Pradesh.
Mystery of 550 year old Mummy of Sangha Tenzin
The monk, or lama, known as Sangha Tenzin is probably the only mummy in India to have undergone natural mummification. Buddhist monk remarkably preserved because he started the mummification process while still living.
One of Tallest Buddhist Stupa of Kesariya in State of Neglect
Rising high out of the earth from where the dying Buddha donated his begging bowl, the enormous Kesariya Stupa is an enthralling example of how nature can reclaim a deserted monument. Excavated from under a grassy and wooded veil is what is thought to be one of the tallest Buddhist Stupa in the world. The Stupa,… Continue reading One of Tallest Buddhist Stupa of Kesariya in State of Neglect
Ratnagiri – Ancient Buddhist Site in Odisha
You could be forgiven for not knowing about the sacred Buddhist sites in Orissa (Odisha). After all, they’ve only been excavated relatively recently and are largely unexplored. Yet, more than 200 Buddhist sites, scattered across the length and breadth of the state, were revealed by these archeological excavations. They show the prominence of Buddhism in… Continue reading Ratnagiri – Ancient Buddhist Site in Odisha
Somapura Mahavihara – Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Somapura Mahavihara is an 8th century Buddhist monastery and an important archaeological site located in Paharpur, Naogaon District, Bangladesh. It is one of the largest and best known Buddhist monasteries in Indian subcontinent with the complex itself covering more than 20 acres, almost a million square feet (85,000 sq. meters). With its simple, harmonious lines and its profusion of… Continue reading Somapura Mahavihara – Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur
Bhaja Caves – Rock Cut Buddhist Temples
Bhaja Caves is a group of 22 rock-cut Buddhist caves located in Pune District in Maharashtra, India. The rock-cut caves are situated 120 m above the mountain with beautiful architecture, sculptures, and painting. These Buddhist shrines are believed to date back to as far back as the 2nd century BC, when the Theravadin (a branch of Buddhism that adheres to Pali scriptures and… Continue reading Bhaja Caves – Rock Cut Buddhist Temples
