Gorakhpur and Guatam Buddha

Noble light which lighted the entire world with four noble truths emanated from the Terai region of Himalayas when Shakya King of Kapilwastu, Siddhartha decided to renounce the worldly affairs in search of eternal truth. The region in and around Gorakhpur has a lot of significance in this regard as the place where he left his worldly possession and the place where he took his last mortal breath both lies here. The recent excavations of Archaeological survey of India, Uttar Pradesh unit in Taldih and Bawan Morcha also confirmed Buddha connection to the area. There is a dire need to explore and excavate the entire region to unearth the places related to the life of Tathagat that are buried beneath.

  When Siddhartha finally decided to renounce the world for truth he along with his attendant Chandak and horse Kantak reached at the border of Shakya territory and rested along with Chandak and Kantak. “Gautam Buddha’s last journey as a royal prince reveals that he left Kapila in Tilorakot (presently Kapilwastu in Nepal) in a south to south east direction and after travelling the whole night, he reached at the bank of River Anoma presently known as River Ami and stayed at Amravan near Amiyar lake ( Orchid of mango trees).  There are compelling reasons to believe that the last destination of Prince Siddhartha was Taldih in Bansgaon Tehsil in Gorakhpur district as it is situated at the south to south east direction of Kapilwastu in Nepal and also at the bank of River Aami and also mango trees are found there in abundance. Kunnigham (1871) also believed that the Amiyar Lake is actually Taldih at present. The remnants of on which now a temple has been constructed was said to have a chain of rooms built where monks used to live. Further the Kushan period relics, statue of Gautam Buddha, remnants of structure and artefacts found from  hillock ( tila) by Archaeological survey of India, (ASI), Uttar Pradesh unit,  with the help of INTACH(Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) Gorakhpur chapter, strengthens the belief.” Buddhist scholar PK lahiri says. “However ASI Uttar Pradesh unit has declared site as protected site but a lot of work is required to unearth the buried facts. River Ami is also in a very bad shape, cleaning and restoration of the river is urgently required.” INTACH convener Gorakhpur Chapter, MP Kandoi says.

After taking rest at the bank of river Ami, Buddha asked his attendant to return with his horse and crossed the River Anoma and gave up his hair and changed his princely garments. Lahiri says, “After sending Chandak and Kantak back, Siddhartha crossed the river Anoma and entered the territory of Koliyans, he exchanged his royal garments for ascetic robes at a place ‘Kaseyar’ and gave up his hair at a place ‘Chureya’. Alexander Cunningham (1871) believes that Kaseyar is at present Kaseyar village, and Chureya is Chureya village, 10 Km from Kaseyar village. The place where Buddha changed his garments is still a desolated land and there are lot of chances that historical facts related to Buddha could be found here.” “The entire area from Bansgaon to Kaudiram in Gorakhpur requires excavation to explore the places related to Prince Sidhdharth where he took rest before crossing River Anoma, the place where he changed his princely robes and the place where he gave up his hair.” MP Kandoi says.

During his lifetime Buddha visited Tilorakot several times and gave his sermon and when a slave daughter’s son with King Prasanna of Shravasti, Viroodhak, tried to enter the hall erected to welcome Buddha, faced humiliation due to his low origin, he decided to destroy entire Kapilwastu region. Continuously for14 years Buddha use to stay in Shravasti during rainy reason and excavation from 1978 to 1998) done by ASI and Cansai University, Osaka, Japan. “Vidhoorak came along with his force twice to attack Kapilvastu but due to Buddha presence at the place he went back. The third time when Viroodhak came to Kapilwastu, Buddha was in ‘Varshavas’ in Shrvasti and he attacked Shkayas in Kapilvastu and destroyed the whole area. Some people of Shakya Clan went to interior of Himalaya areas, some went to Piplivano in Chaurichaura area and later became Maurays, and some went to Piprahwa and made a new Kapilwastu which is at 7 km crow light distance from Kapilwastu in Tilorakot.” Lahiri says.  “As per Raj Bali Pandey (1946), Buddha stayed in Shravasti during rainy season (Varshavas) for 14 continuous years. One of his disciples Sudat Seth of Shravasti invited him from Taxila to stay in Shravasti for Varshavas(stay during rainy season) and for his stay Sudat Seth bought Jeit Van from Prince Jeit in 18 crore gold coins and now the 1500x 1500 sq ft area is known as Sehat and Mehat village in Shravasti among locals. The remnants of the monastery are still in Shravasti.” Lahiri added.

When Buddha realised that his end time has come he asked his asked his disciple Ananda to take him to Shalvan of Mallas of Kushinara, says, Lahiri, “According to Maha- Parinirvana Suttanta of 5^th century BC, when Lord Buddha realised that his last time has come he asked his disciple Ananda to cross River Kukkut and took him to Shalvan (forest of Sal trees) of Mallas, at present in Kushinagar near Hiranyavati river, and told him to move his head towards north after lying him down between two Sal trees. He asked Ananda to call Mallas of Kushinara and Ananda went to Bawan Morcha castle in Kotwa village around 4 km away from two Sal trees where Buddha was resting. That time, Mallas were doing a meeting at Bawan Morcha castle.”

“He was cremated at the bank of River Hirnyavati and after his cremation a Dror Brahmin distributed the remains in 8 parts including Shakyas, Mallas of both Pavapuri and Kushinara, King Ajatshtru of Magadha, Lichchivis of Viashali, Bulis of Allakappa, Koliyas of Ram Gram and Brahmins of Vethapida , Mauryas came late so they got the ashes of the body. Shakyas made Kapilvastu stupa at present in Piprahva in Kapilvastu, Mall of Pavapuri made Makutabandhana-chaitya ( Ram Bhar Stupa) at the bank of River Hiranyavati, Mall of Kushinara made Parinirvan Chaitra Stupa at the distance of 1.5 Km from Hirnayavati River where Lord Buddha laid between the two Sal trees in the forest , Ajatshtru made stupa in Gaya, Lichchivis made stupa in Sarnath, Bulis made stupa in Kaushambi near Allahabad, Koliyas at Ramgram , Brahmins of Vethapedia at Sri Lanka and Maurya made Angaar stupa at Rajdhani village in Updhoulia in Chauri Chuara area.” Lahiri says.

“Stupa made by Koliyas of Ram Gram is still untraceable and most of the Historians including Pandey (1940), Srivastav (1940), smith (1901) and Mukherji (1901) believes that Ram gram could be in the area of present Maharajganj district  but  Rajbali Pandey (1946) believes that Ramgram is buried under Ram Garh lake in Gorakhpur. However the local administration has initiated restoration of River Ami but a l

ot of work is still remaining. There is a dire need to explore Ramgram of Koliya clan as they made Stupa with Buddha mortal remains there also the excavation of Bawan Morcha (already declared as protected site by ASI Uttar Pradesh)  is required.” INTACH convener MP Kandoi says.

-Arjumand Bano

(ajjugkp@gmail.com)