Gautama Buddha and Bihar

Gautama Buddha has a significant and profound relationship with Bihar, India. Bihar is considered to be the place where he attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, which marks the beginning of Buddhism.

In the ancient city of Bodh Gaya, located in present-day Bihar, Siddhartha Gautama, the prince who later became Buddha, meditated under the Bodhi tree and achieved enlightenment around 2,500 years ago. This event is one of the most important milestones in the history of Buddhism and is known as Bodhi or Enlightenment.

After his enlightenment, Buddha spent some time in Bodh Gaya before proceeding to Sarnath, another place in Bihar, where he gave his first sermon known as Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (the Turning of the Wheel of Dharma). This sermon set in motion the propagation of Buddhist teachings, known as the Dharma.

Throughout his life, Buddha visited various places in Bihar, delivering teachings and spreading his philosophy. He established a monastic community and gathered a significant number of followers in the region. As a result, Bihar holds a special place in the heart of Buddhists around the world and is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Buddhism. Many temples and stupas were later built in Bihar to commemorate his life and teachings, making it an important religious and historical destination for Buddhists and tourists alike.