Ashokan Stūpas Calling!

Footsteps of Bodhisattava Siddhārtha on Prāgbodhi Hill 

Shadow cave, Prāgbodhi Hill (now Dungeswari Hill) has a series of stūpas remains running from East to West on its top. The 7^th CE Chinese monk-scholar Xuanzang who undertook pilgrimage to these stūpas mentions these stūpas were dedicated by emperor Ashoka to mark the footsteps of Bodhisattva Siddhārtha.  From centuries of neglect, these stūpas are in a deplorable condition and need protection and conservation.

Six years of practice (austerities) at the East bank of Nirāñjanā is an integral part of the Enlightenment of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree (Mahābodhi, now Bodhgayā, on the West bank of Nirāñjanā). The places and events associated with the Austerities (that includes Ashokan stūpas on Prāgbodhi Hill) and the Enlightenment of the Buddha should be integrated and developed into an ‘Enlightenment Zone’.

Fig. Prāgbodhi Hill has a series of remains of Ashokan stūpas on its top.
@Alok Jain

 

Pāli accounts maintain that Sujātā offered food to Bodhisattva Siddhārtha on full-moon day of Visākha (Vesāk). After having the food Siddhārtha spent rest of the day in sāla-groove and in the evening, crossed Nirāñjanā (also Nilāñjanā, Nerañjarā) and arrived at the foot of the Pīpala tree (Bodhi tree, Bodhgayā) (A.iii.240; Mtu.ii.136f).  However, the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (7^th CE) mention that after having the food offered by Sujātā,  once the Buddha gained some energy, he embarked again upon the meditative path in order to achieve enlightenment. He left the immediate vicinity of Senānigāma, the village of Sujātā, in search of a new place to make a fresh beginning. In this way walking seven kilometers in north-easterly direction he arrived at a hill which is now called Dungeswari Hill.  Xuanzang mentioned this hill as Prāgbodhi Mountain, meaning ‘the mountain leading to perfect enlightenment (Beal 1914: 114).’ It seems the sāla-groove of Pāli texts and Prāgbodhi mountain of Faxian (5^th CE) and Xuanzang are probably the same place.

Fig. The footsteps of Bodhisattva Siddhārtha on the day of Veshākha Pūrṇimā

When Siddhārtha climbed to the top of this hill, the earth shook, warning Siddhārtha, ‘This Mountain is not a fortunate place for Vajra Samādhi.’ Siddhārtha, while descending, found a cave and as he sat down cross-legged, there was another earthquake. Deva urged him to go further west to the Pīpala tree, perfect for Vajra Samādhi. As Siddhārtha prepared to leave, the dragon of the cave urged him to remain. Siddhārtha, to appease the dragon, left his shadow in the cave and departed (Beal 1914: 114). Faxian saw the shadow of Bodhisattva Siddhārtha in the cave which he says was very bright (Beal 2005: ch xxxi). From the base of the hill, one can see a series of huge stūpas running from east to west, gracing Prāgbodhi Hill. According to Xuanzang, King Ashoka indicated each spot up and down this mountain that Bodhisattva Siddhārtha had passed by erecting distinguished posts and stūpas (Beal 1914: 114).  Xuanzang stated how on the last day of the season of Vassā (a rainy season retreat), religious laymen from different countries ascended this mountain, made offerings, stayed for one night and then returned.
Leaving his shadow in the cave, Siddhārtha was then guided by the deva-s and left the eastern bank of Nirāñjanā, where he had the realization to follow the Middle Path towards the western bank of Nirāñjanā. There ultimately under the Pīpāl tree on the night of Veshākha Pūrṇimā, he attained Enlightenment and became the Awakened One.

Fig. Ashokan stūpas to commemorate the footsteps of Siddhārtha

 

Fig. Shadow cave, Prāgbodhi Hill (now Dungeswari Hill) 
@Arnold Hui

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Walking Pilgrimage Track 

The footsteps of Bodhisattva Siddhārtha on the day of Veshākha Pūrṇimā should be developed as a Walking Pilgrimage trail. This 22 km trail has more than 10 villages on its route. Development of this trail will facilitate revitalization of the sacred trail; the followers of the teachings of the Buddha who want to experience the spiritual journey, the meritorious walk on the Buddha-Path will get opportunity to experience and earn merit. This revitalization will also provide livelihood opportunities to the people who live in many of these villages.    

  

Fig. 'Enlightenment Zone' ( Bodhgayā- Prāgbodhi- Brahmayoni) Pilgrimage Circuit

The Middle Path Avenue

The act of leaving the worldly life by Siddhārtha is called Mahabhinikkhamana, the great renunciation, a renunciation unparalleled in history. Mahabhinikkhamana consisted of Siddhārtha leaving Kapilavastu, walking all the way to the east bank of the river Nirāñjanā, took austerities for six years, crossing the river Nirāñjanā, and finally reaching the Bodhi tree. One of the best ways to celebrate and pay tribute to the Mahabhinikkhamana (the great renunciation) is by dedicating this last stretch of Siddhārtha’s walk from Prāgbōdhi to Bodhi Tree connecting the two banks of the Nirāñjanā, as the ‘Middle Path’ Avenue.

Fig. Venerable Monks crossing the Nirāñjanā river, Mahābodhi (Bodhgayā)
@Arnold Hui 

Fig. Standing on the top of  the remains of  an Ashokan stūpa

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Geographic Information System (GIS) plotting of the Faxian and Xuanzang's description of    six year of Buddha is the Urvelā area (Bodhgayā, Prāgbodhi and Brahmayoni)

            Bibliography

 Beal, S.; 2005, Travels of Fah-hian and Sung-Yun, Buddhist Pilgrims from China to India, Low

        Price Publications, Delhi: (Originally published London: Trubner and Co.: 1869).

--------------. 1914, The life of Hiuen-Tsiang by Shaman Hwui Li, Kegan Paul, Trench Trubner &

Co. Ltd, London. (New Edition 1911).

            ---------------. 1969, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist records of the Western World, Translated from the Chinese Of Hiuen    Tsiang, Oriental Books Reprint Corporation,Delhi, (1^st Pub. 1884. London: Trubner & Co.).

  

Source of Pāli references: http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/dic_idx.html

P.T.S.    Means published by the Pāli Text Society.

 A          Anguttara Nikaya, 5 vols. (P.T.S.).

Mtu.     Mahāvastu, ed. Senart, 3 vols.