Description

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Context:

Odisha’s links to Buddhism date back to Mauryan Emperor Ashoka’s invasion of the ancient kingdom of Kalinga.

About Ratnagiri Buddhist Site

Category	Details
Location	In the north-east of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on a hill between the Birupa and Brahmani rivers.
Famous for	The most famous and excavated Buddhist site in Odisha; is part of the diamond triangle with Udaygiri and Lalitgiri.
Translation	Ratnagiri translates to "Hills of Jewels."
Time Period	5th to 13th centuries AD; peak period of construction between the 7th and 10th centuries.
Religious Importance	Center of Mahayana and Tantrayana (Vajrayana) Buddhism.
Historical Reference	Chinese monk and traveler Hiuen Tsang is believed to have visited Orissa in AD 638-639.
Discovery	First documented as a historic site in 1905.
Excavated Relics	Colossal Buddha head, massive palm tree, ancient wall, and inscribed Buddhist relics (8th–9th centuries AD).

Buddhism in Odisha and links with Southeast Asian countries

In Odisha, Buddhism is said to have particularly flourished under the Bhaumakara dynasty, which ruled parts of the state between the 8th and 10th centuries.
The Mauryan emperor Ashoka is believed to have invaded Kalinga in 261 BC. But, deeply moved by the bloodshed in the war, he finally embraced Buddhism.
Odisha has long enjoyed maritime and trade links with Southeast Asian countries: According to historians, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, silk, camphor, gold, and jewelry were popular trade items between the ancient kingdom of Kalinga and Southeast Asia.
The state also hosts the annual Baliyatra, literally "Voyage to Bali" - a seven-day festival commemorating the 2,000-year-old maritime and cultural ties between Kalinga and Bali, and other regions of South and Southeast Asia such as Java, Sumatra, Borneo. , Burma (Myanmar) and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Buddhist Sites in India

Site	Location	Significance
Sarnath	Uttar Pradesh	Gautam Buddha's first sermon on Dhamma; establishment of Sangha.
Bharhut	Madhya Pradesh	Known for remarkable Buddhist stupa relics; site of an ancient Sanskrit inscription.
Bodhgaya	Bihar	Site where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Pipal tree.
Mahabodhi Temple	Bihar	One of four sacred sites linked to Buddha's life; enlightenment location.
Lumbini	Nepal	Buddha's birthplace; one of four sacred Buddhist sites.
Sravasti	Uttar Pradesh	Capital of Kosala Mahajanapada; significant Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Kapilavastu	Uttar Pradesh	Buddha's birthplace; site with stupas and stone caskets containing remains.
Ajanta Caves	Maharashtra	30 rock-cut Buddhist caves dating from 2nd century BCE to 480 CE.
Ellora Caves	Maharashtra	UNESCO World Heritage Site; 34 caves featuring Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments.
Pitalkhora Caves	Maharashtra	14 rock-cut Buddhist caves; earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India.
Sirpur	Chhattisgarh	Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments from 5th–12th centuries; visited by Hiuen Tsang.
Ratnagiri	Odisha	Buddhist monastery and mahavira from the 5th century; part of Odisha's Diamond Triangle.
Lalitgiri	Odisha	Large Buddhist complex; oldest site in the region with stupas, statues, and monasteries.
Udayagiri	Odisha	Largest Buddhist complex; part of Odisha's Diamond Triangle with Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri.
Nalanda	Bihar	Ancient Buddhist monastic university; first residential university in the world.
Odantapuri	Bihar	8th-century Buddhist Mahavihara; second-oldest Mahavihara in India after Nalanda.
Vikramashila	Bihar	Significant Buddhist monastery during the Pala Empire; among the three key centers of learning.
Rajgir	Bihar	Preaching site of Buddha and Mahavira; offered a wood monastery by King Bimbisara.
Vaishali	Bihar	Site of Buddha's final sermon; venue of the Second Buddhist Council in 383 BCE.
Nagapattinam	Tamil Nadu	Chudamani Vihara, a famous Buddhist Vihara built in 1006 CE with support from Raja Raja Cholan.
Dhauli	Odisha	Known as Dhauligiri; located on the Daya River's banks.
Thiksey Monastery	Ladakh	Hilltop monastery of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism; near Leh.
Pemayangtse Monastery	Sikkim	The oldest and most famous monastery in Sikkim was founded in 1647.
Bharatpur Buddhist Monastery	West Bengal	Excavations revealed a large stupa, pottery, sculptures, and an extended monastery complex.
West Bengal	West Bengal	Flourished during the Mauryan and Pala empires; the medieval Buddhist Kingdom of Mrauk U in SE Bengal.

Source:

Indian Express

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following Buddhist sites in India:

Sarnath
Bodh Gaya
Kushinagar
Nalanda

Which of the above Buddhist sites are located in the state of Uttar Pradesh?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: b

Explanation:

Sarnath: Located in Uttar Pradesh, near Varanasi, Sarnath is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.

Bodh Gaya: Located in Bihar, not Uttar Pradesh, Bodh Gaya is the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Kushinagar: Located in Uttar Pradesh, Kushinagar is where Lord Buddha passed away (Mahaparinirvana) and is a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site.

Nalanda: Located in Bihar, Nalanda was an ancient center of learning and a prominent Buddhist monastic university.