Kushinagar disitrict General information
Kushinagar District is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. Padarauna is the district headquarters. The district is named for Kushinagar, a Buddhist pilgrimage site where Gautama Buddha attained parinirvana in the 6th or 5th century BCE.
Kushinagar District is bounded on the east by Bihar state, on the southwest by Deoria District, on the west by Gorakhpur District, and on the northwest by Maharajganj District. It is part of Gorakhpur Division.
Origin Of Name
The district of Kushinagar is named after the sacred death-place of Lord Buddha. At Kushinagar, Lord Buddha, an apostle of peace, comapassion and non-violence, attained Mahaparinirvana (Salvation) in 483 BC.
History
The present Kushinagar is identified with Kushawati ( in pre- Buddha period ) and Kushinara (in Buddha period). Kushinara was the capital of Mallas which was one of the sixteen mahajanpads of the 6th Century B.C.
According to the Valmiki's Ramayana, the Mallas was earlier part of Kosala Janpad. Kushwati capital was built by Kush, son of Lord Ram, the hero of the famous epic, 'The Ramayan'. After Ram's renunciation of the world Kusa left Kusavati for Ayodhya. His cousin, ChandraKetu, son of Lakshman took possession of this region. As per Buddha Pali literature, Kushawati was named prior to the king Kush. The naming of Kushwati was due to abundance of Kush grass found in this region which still holds good. Since then, it remained an integral part of the erstwhile empires of Maurya, Shunga, Kushana, Gupta and Harsha dynasties.
In medieval period, Kushinagar had passed under the suzerainty of Kultury Kings. Kushinara continued to be a living city till the 12th Century A.D. and was thereafter lost into oblivion. Padrauna is believed to be ruled over by a Rajput adventurer, Madan Singh in the 15th century A.D.
However, modern Kushinagar came into prominence in the 19th Century with archeological excavations carried out by A.Cuningham, the first Archeological Surveyor of India and later Nirvana Statue of Lord Buddhafollowed by C.L. Carlleyle who exposed the main stupa and also discovered a 6.10 meters long statue of reclining Buddha, in 1876 A.D. Ven. Chandra Swami, a Burmeses Monk, came to India in 1903 and made "Mahaparinirvana Temple" into a living shrine.
After independence, Kushinagar remained the part of district Deoria. On 13th May, 1994, it came into being as a new district of Uttar Pradesh for an all round balanced and speedy development.
Location, Area and Boundaries
Kushinagar, situated at 53 kms east from Gorakhpur on the National Highway -28, lies between lattitude 26° 45´ N and 83° 24´ E. The district head-quarters is Padrauna, 71 Kms from Gorakhpur and 336 Kms from Lucknow. It is a terai area covering the geographical area of 2873.5 Sq. km. It is bounded by districts - Mahrajganj in the west, Gorakhpur in the southern- west , Deoria in the south and Bihar state in the east.
Culture
Kushinagar has its own cultural and historical importance.
* It belongs to the Great Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism, who delivered his last sermon, attained "Mahaparinirvana" and was cremated at Ramabhar (Kushinagar).Buddha's cremation was done at " Mukut Bandhan" (Ramabhar), where 'Mallas' constructed a big stupa over the ashes. Later, Ashoka, the great, had also renovated it. Chinese travellers, Fa Hien & Hieun Tsang have also mentioned " Kushinara " in their Travel-Memo.
* It is also associated with Lord Mahavir, 24th tirthankar of Jain Sect, founder of Jainism. It is believed that Lord Mahavrir passed away or attained Parinirvana at Pawa. As per Pali Tripitak, Pawa was the second capital of the Mallas, the first being Kushinara. Pawa is now being identified with present day 'Fazilnagar', a place 16 kms south - east of Kushinagar.
* The district of Kushinagar had been witness to the glorious ancient history and culture. It is believed to be an important centre for Vaishnav, Shiv, Shaktipeeth, Buddha, Mahavir etc. Situtaed on the bank of river Gandak and nearerto the terai of the Himalayas, this region was an ideal 'Meditation Place' for sages, saints hermits and Mahatamas who were attracted by its pious. tranquil and charming natural surroundings. Archeological excavation has yielded rich collection of antiquities. Artistic artifacts and statues of various gods and goddesses.
Division
Kushinagar district comes under Gorakhpur Division which came into being on 13th May, 1994. Its headquarter, Padrauna is 20 kms away from Kushinagar . It is divided into Four Tehsils ( Revenue Sub- Divisions) presided over by a Sub Divisional Magistrate. Tehsils are further subdivided into fourteen Development Blocks, Blocks into 140 Nyay Panchayat and these Nyay Panchayats into 944 Gram Sabhas which consists of 1620 Revenue villages.
Tourist Place
Mahaparinirvana Temple
This temple stands on the same plinth as the main Nirvana Stupa behind it. The reclining Nirvana statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is 6.10 metres long and is made of monolith red - sand stone. It represents the "Dieing - Buddha" reclining on his right side with his face towards the west. It is placed on a large brick-pedestal with stone-posts at the corners. There is an inscription datable to the 5th Century A.D. recording that the statue was "the appropriate religious gift of the Mahavihara Swami Haribala".
Nirvana Chaitya (Main Stupa)
Nirvana Chaitya is located just behind the Main Parinirvana Temple. It was excavated by Carlleyle in the year 1876. During excavations, a copper-plate was found, which contained the text of the "Nidana-Sutra" which concluded the statement that plate had been deposited in the "Nirvana-Chaitya" by one Haribala, who also installed the great Nirvana Statue of Buddha in the temple front. A copper vessel was also recovered which contained silver coins of Kumar Gupta, an emperor of Gupta Dynasty, 5th Century A.D.
Ramabhar Stupa
Ramabhar Stupa, also called a Mukutbandhan-Chaitya, is the cremation -place of Buddha. This Site is 1.5 km east of the main Nirvana Temple on the Kushinagar- Deoria road. this Stupa has a huge circular drum with a diameter of 34.14 meters on the top consisting of the two or more terraces and is 47.24 meters in diameter at the base.
Matha Kuar Shrine
A Colossal statue of Lord Buddha is installed, which is carved out of one block which represents Buddha seated under the "Bodhi Tree" in a pose known as " Bhumi Sparsh Mudra " (Earth touching attitude). The inscription at the base of statue is datable to the 10th or 11th Century A.D.
Meditation Park
Recently developed near the main Nirvana Temple, this park has artificial water bodies with raised lush-green platforms for meditation surrounded by Sal-trees and other afforestations, representing a complete Buddhist-ambience.
Indo-Japan-Srilanka Temple
Indo-Japan-Srilanka TempleBuddha Statue inside Indo-Japan-Srilanka Temple Indo-Japan-Srilanka temple is a marvel of Buddhist architectural grandeur of modern times.
Wat Thai Temple
It is a huge complex built in a typical Thai-Buddhist architectural fashion.
Museum
Built by State Government in Buddhist-architectural ambience. Ancient archeological discoveries and antiquities are displayed there. Visiting hours are 10:00 am to 17:00 PM (except Mondays).
Pawanagar /Pawapuri(Fazilnagar)Lord Mahavir
It is a 'Nirvana' place of Lord Mahavir, 22 kms east of Kushinagar on the National Highway-28. Followers of Jain sect organise a festival here on the next day of Deepawali every year, when Lord Mahavir has attained Salvation.It is also believed that Lord Buddha, while going to Kushinagar from Vaishali, stopped here to accept meals from one of his disciples 'Chund'. Here he ate 'Sukar-Maddav' (Mushrooms) and developed dusentry which caused his death at Kushinagar.
Sun Temple, Turkpatti
Situated 17 km east of Kushinagar on Kasia - Tamkuhi Road. There are huge and artistic statues of Sun god, made of black stone.They were recovered during excavations one of which is belonged to 4th - 5th Century A.D. and another 8th - 9th Century A.D.
Kuber Asthan
On Padrauna - Turkpatti route, this place has Shiv Temple, establishedby Kuber as per the saying. Lakhs of Shiv devotees offer JAl on Shivling on the 'Shivratri'.
Devraha Asthan
3 kms from Padrauna cantonment, there is a huge ancient mount having three statues of Tirthankar MAhavir, tirthankar Neminath and Vishnu, one of the Trimurti of Hindu Gods. It is believed there stood a large Buddha Stupa also.
Kurukulla Asthan
It is meditation centre of 'Aadi Shakti' Kurukulla Devi, setup by Nagarjun. It is situated on the river bank in dense forest 8 kms from Kasia - Tamkuhi road.
Sidhua Asthan
Situated 4 kms from Padrauna - Tamkuhi road, it is famous 'Siddhi', place of gods.
Others
There are several other nearby temples to be worth seen like Linh Son Chinese Temple, Myan Mar (Burmese) Temple, Birla Hindu Buddha temple, Japanese Stupa, Korean Temple, Shiva temple, Ram Janaki Temple etc.