BUDDHISM IN INDIA

ANCIENT BUDDISM IN INDIA 

Buddhism stands for 3 pillars:

Buddha : Its founder .

Dhamma : His teachings.

sangha : Order of Buddhist monks and nuns.

The Buddha History :

Also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata.

Born in 563 BC on the Vaishakha Poornima Day

at lumbi (near Kapilavastu)in Nepal.

His father Shuddhodana was the saka ruler.

His mother (Mahamaya, of kosala dynasty) died after 7 days of his birth. Brought up by stepmother Gautami.

Married at 16 to Yashodara. Enjoyed the married life for 13 years and had a son named Rahula.

After seeing an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic, he decided to became a wanderer.

Left his palace at 29 ( with channa,the charioteer and his favourite horse, Kanthaka ) in search in truth ( also called 'Mahabhinishkranama' or the Great Renunciation) and wandered for 6 years.

He first meditated with alara kalam. But he was not convinced that man can obtain liberation  from sorrow  by mental discipline and knowledge . His next teacher are Udarka Ramputra. HE then joined forces with five ascetics-Kondana, Vappa, Bhadhiya, Mahanama and assagi, who were practising the most rigorous self-mortification in the hope of wearing away their karma and obtaining final bliss.

For six years he tortured himsefl until he was nothing but a walking skeleton. but after six years , he flet useless . So he abandoned these things. The five disciples also left him.

Attained 'Nirvana' or  'Enlightenment' at 35 Gaya in Magadha(Bihar)under the pipal tree. 

Delivered the first semonat Samath where his five disciples had settled. His first sermon is called 'Dharmachakrapravartan'or'Tumingof the wheel of law.

Attaned Mahaparinirvana at Khushinagar ( identical with village Kasia in deoria district of  UP ) in 483 BC at the age of 80 in the Malla republic .