{"id":5391,"date":"2026-01-05T00:05:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T18:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=5391"},"modified":"2026-01-06T17:54:46","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T12:24:46","slug":"buddhist-centres-of-learning-and-pilgrimage-sites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/buddhist-centres-of-learning-and-pilgrimage-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"Buddhist Centres of Learning and Pilgrimage Sites"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Patronage of Buddhism<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Ancient Period<\/strong>:\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Emperor\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Ashoka<\/strong>: He played a major role in spreading Buddhism in India and beyond through his rock edicts and support for Buddhist institutions and missionaries.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>King Kanishka<\/strong>: He was a great Kushan ruler who convened the Fourth Buddhist Council and patronised the development of Mahayana Buddhism.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>King Milinda:\u00a0<\/strong>He was a Bactrian Greek king who converted to Buddhism and became a disciple of Nagasena.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Medieval Period:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Pala Dynasty:<\/strong>\u00a0It was a dynasty of Bengal that patronised the development of Mahayana Buddhism and supported the renowned<strong>\u00a0Nalanda and Vikramshila\u00a0<\/strong>universities.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Srivijaya Empire:\u00a0<\/strong>It was a maritime empire in Southeast Asia that patronised the spread of Buddhism throughout the region, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Modern Period:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Dalai Lama<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0He is the spiritual leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, who has been influential in promoting Buddhism and Tibetan culture worldwide.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Chulalongkorn, King of Siam:<\/strong>\u00a0He is a Thai monarch who supported the revival of Buddhism in Thailand and established the Buddhist Institute to promote Buddhist scholarship.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>B. R. Ambedkar<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0He was an Indian social reformer and politician who converted to Buddhism and advocated for the rights of Dalits, or the \"untouchables,\" through Buddhism.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Buddhist Centres of Learning:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Nalanda University<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It was established in the 5th century CE by\u00a0<strong>Kumaragupta I,<\/strong>\u00a0who ruled from 415 to 455 CE, and is often mentioned as the primary patron of Nalanda University.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It was a major centre for the study of Buddhism and other subjects like philosophy, medicine, and astronomy.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Numismatic evidence discovered at Nalanda corroborates that\u00a0<strong>Kumaragupta I<\/strong>\u00a0was the\u00a0<strong>founder and patron<\/strong>\u00a0of the Nalanda monastery-university<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Taxila University<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Taxila was located in present-day\u00a0<strong>Pakistan<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It was founded in the 5th century BCE and was a major centre for the study of Buddhism, as well as other subjects like mathematics, astronomy, and medicine.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Vikramshila University<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Located in Bihar, it was founded in the 8th century CE.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It was a centre for the study of the Mahayana school of Buddhism and attracted students and scholars from all over India and beyond<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Sarnath University<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, it was founded in the 3rd century BCE and was associated with the study of Buddhism.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It was a major centre for the dissemination of Buddhist teachings and attracted scholars and pilgrims from all over India and the world.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Mahabodhi Mahavihara<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>A prominent Buddhist monastery and university located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, it was founded in the 3rd century BCE.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>It is associated with the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment and is a major centre for the study and practice of Buddhism.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>Other<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Odantapuri, Jagadala, Valabhi, Pushpagiri, Nagarjunakonda, Manyakheta.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h2><strong>Important Buddhist travellers and scholars\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Fa-Hien:<\/strong>\u00a0A Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled to India during the\u00a0<strong>Gupta period<\/strong>(<strong>4th-5th century CE<\/strong>) and wrote a detailed account of his travels and the Buddhist sites he visited in his book\u00a0<strong>\"Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms\"<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Hsuan Tsang<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0a Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled to India during the\u00a0<strong>7th century CE<\/strong>\u00a0and spent several years studying at the ancient Buddhist university of\u00a0<strong>Nalanda<\/strong>. He later wrote about his experiences in his book\u00a0<strong>\"Great Tang Records on the Western Regions\".<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>I-tsing (or Yi Jing):<\/strong>\u00a0A Chinese Buddhist monk who visited India during the\u00a0<strong>7th century<\/strong>\u00a0CE and also studied at the University of Nalanda. He wrote a detailed account of his travels and the Buddhist culture he encountered in his book\u00a0<strong>\"A Record of Buddhist Practices Sent Home from the Southern Sea\".<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Kumarajiva<\/strong>: He was an Indian Buddhist scholar who travelled to China during the\u00a0<strong>4th century CE<\/strong>\u00a0and played a significant role in translating Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into Chinese.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Important Buddhist scholars:\u00a0<\/strong>Nagarjuna, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Dignaga, Dharmakirti, Shantarakshita, Atisha, Padmasambhava, Tsongkhapa.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><strong>Buddhahood and Cycle of Buddhas<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Buddhahood is the\u00a0<strong>state of perfect enlightenment<\/strong>\u00a0that is achieved by a Buddha, which is a fully awakened being who has attained complete liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. In Buddhism, there is a belief in the cycle of Buddhas, which is the idea that<strong>\u00a0there have been and will be many Buddhas\u00a0<\/strong>throughout history.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Krakucchanda<\/strong>: According to Buddhist tradition, Krakucchanda was the\u00a0<strong>first Buddha of the current age<\/strong>, known as the\u00a0<strong>Bhadrakalpa<\/strong>. His teachings emphasised moral conduct, meditation, and the attainment of spiritual powers.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Kankamuni<\/strong>: He was the second Buddha of the\u00a0<strong>Bhadra Kalpa<\/strong>. He was born into a Brahmin family, and his teachings emphasised the cultivation of compassion and the practice of meditation.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Kasyapa<\/strong>: He is also known as Kassapa and was the third Buddha of the Bhadra Kalpa. His teachings emphasised the importance of<strong>\u00a0ethical conduct and the cultivation of wisdom.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Sakyamuni<\/strong>: He is also known as<strong>\u00a0Gautama Buddha<\/strong>. He is the\u00a0<strong>fourth and most well-known Buddha\u00a0<\/strong>of the Bhadra Kalpa. His teachings, known as Buddhism, emphasise the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as a means of University enlightenment.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Maitreya<\/strong>: Maitreya is a\u00a0<strong>bodhisattva\u00a0<\/strong>who is believed to be the<strong>\u00a0future Buddha of the next Bhadrakalpa.<\/strong>\u00a0He is said to\u00a0<strong>reside in the Tushita heaven\u00a0<\/strong>and will be\u00a0<strong>reborn\u00a0<\/strong>on Earth\u00a0<strong>when the teachings\u00a0<\/strong>of the current Buddha, Sakyamuni,\u00a0<strong>have been forgotten<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Major Buddhist pilgrimage sites<\/strong><strong>:<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Bodh Gaya<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/vtx4x7I5eZBI3eHSewZbHi1PFG8GdGnv2w3pug8S5Ks0hnZoaCJDu-z29mYjYbii9rKtIHFfMT7L-vugUIu9mOT7orjz4RyfyXBujDMJoQDFr2yKFP17AHmSLJ0U4rFetM9H_OL8m3DN5MVuJsGAng\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is the\u00a0<strong>most important\u00a0<\/strong>Buddhist pilgrimage site as it is the place where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Sarnath<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/VEoz6rjZkYUfN9KJKwIfcepRIfkZWZzkopG72sM2XR867dJpSShw9KP1VbTomIII8LfySfXNhG7muxhyoEPhED9_sJDd6vHGd9Fwn1PkciuVf9TKd8RhiWdGNnMPrqhRKpt1jFxViWds2U2a0v4hcg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is the place where Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. The famous<strong>Dhamekh Stupa<\/strong><strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Ashoka Pillar<\/strong>\u00a0are located here.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Kushinagar<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/QmghmmHi-W95fTcQBuTiWsGMI2pGH-Mtnl4QJH44gExeQSI9zVs84WNEJVJi2W2pySEPqVAojLUJkh5XMGdD7_kRmiact8wm2H9pZXkG83ys474AxtoJywcp76ENXraThzNOtwfWXes4sNkTbomARw\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is the place where Buddha passed away and achieved Parinirvana. The Mahaparinirvana temple and the Ramabhar Stupa are the main attractions here.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Sravasti<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/SSV7OvzsV3UGu9wzf9tk7S-K7Ryh7rQ6R5M3dX7fjKm1-bPtBna84q1mHvkzZCXcsk8W_DDhP0yVn07O5mxqB-oHIeOrxuGbVeErPhWLS8sljJBZfcOqfp8-0lbmayux4A_Znt5gjj6JacaCD84_pw\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is an important site as Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons here and performed many miracles. The Jetavana monastery, Anandabodhi tree, and Angulimala's stupa are located here.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianculture.gov.in\/stories\/sanchi-monument-rediscovery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>Sanchi<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/6XYQfcnEDs27ZTFYJ0I5AwSKR9xoP-VDdDG35qMnQNIfnZqoHprNdOy_LmiLnX6PqY3nVsVyK3dibhASaOdr6ARF2KHg0QzgwMY-Cv77eCkBxm5l6WwwfskoO4XoQGdSehqWbmBCX2Tp1maPlhKsBw\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/524\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>UNESCO\u00a0<\/strong>World Heritage site<\/a>\u00a0and has several Buddhist stupas, monasteries, and temples. The Great Stupa of Sanchi is the most famous and attracts a large number of pilgrims.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Sanchi Stupa is one of the oldest structures in India that was<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>commissioned by emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Ajanta<\/strong><strong>\u00a0and Ellora Caves<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/9lcaxLbgpoOFK1cfs1g_sPICLa_TM_GupTVBtqbH-jSDUzl29CRpMqStMgMnyDVH7Vz_JfXBB75kWZZD4Kri51NsfQtc5m2SyktR20rZqG6dqoKHvkjuYURTPh22EmrBXGCiirKGTxNjdJMyyv2E2A\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Ajanta is a series of rock-cut caves in the Sahyadri ranges on the Waghora River near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, and Ellora caves are located nearly 100 km away from Ajanta caves.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>These are\u00a0<strong>UNESCO\u00a0<\/strong>World Heritage sites\u00a0and have several rock-cut Buddhist caves with beautiful paintings and sculptures.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Rajgir<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/05WDI7qv-vo995C8Oa4Hm1p_eU9NXT-YvOKaCIh28u6MjK_k8O7QlPaQPxP6DnmeoFEcCKQPzCHOxfko9HZJy-ZQTadtjOB_gksNrT96gQG0rGTK-Ic0AxzaBSOwpOrwn7ltER9ezNFySA8wsjwngw\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is an important site as Buddha spent several years here and delivered many important sermons. The<strong>\u00a0Vulture's Peak, Griddhakuta Hill, and Saptaparni<\/strong>\u00a0Cave are located here.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Vaishali<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/AchznEkqX6jRIpKaT1aW1JVCUwi710XvfQBFFW8D6_VRDPqp_T05xoymPXi1gwhWPXSxatU5vpZsfz09I1B7vn1awx11OwRjqtGSQ7WJScVUBE1FBAsGB6TFid7_L9eOHJMvtsLNkTKoeUOHUB2KOQ\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is an important site as Buddha visited here several times and delivered many important sermons.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The Ananda Stupa, the Kutagarasala Vihara, and the Coronation tank are located here.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Nalanda<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/zIDO1HyQxUEAsnumh3MRQ1-4SpPd8exK1zs5TEjK7bdXCIuCAjVRl461lsMac-Jv79mYbqMz-2SCDNdEgSGYygJsK2DpzHrKmMZnhXKa8CmhJe8efAF18-iMzoAVVfQFT-c4QqLFOK_9gJWl-aeFkg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is an important site as it was a renowned Buddhist centre of learning in ancient times. The ruins of Nalanda University, the Nalanda Museum, and the Hiuen Tsang Memorial Hall are located here.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><strong>Dharamsala<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/TmdLE2phTsb9aCpkGIR7IlZywkt2jPuAEQCgvAyJS208EL_cAeHPuxrSRsa96hHPpQxAe9VIj6dRL4EkuMVv1RbxwY2vh8coW9I-5-hIzGsZuffQP5hrgPI5tb23DLOmkSuIplWKFvpBLTmGQs151g\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>It is the<strong>\u00a0residence of the Dalai Lama\u00a0<\/strong>and is an important site for Tibetan Buddhism.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>The Namgyal Monastery, the Tsuglagkhang complex, and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives are located here.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patronage of Buddhism explains royal and popular support from Ashoka and Kanishka to Pala rulers highlighting Buddhist centres Nalanda Taxila scholars pilgrims councils and sacred sites.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8197,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[288,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-5391","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-quest-level-3","8":"tag-buddhist-centres-of-learning-and-pilgrimage-sites","9":"tag-quest"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5391"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5391\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22864,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5391\/revisions\/22864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}