Buddhist’s Pilgrimages
By Ellie Armstrong
What is a Pilgrimage? A pilgrimage is a religious journey to a significant destination. A pilgrimage often is a place of birth, death, or preaching of their religious leader. A pilgrim is a person who goes on the journey.
Lumbini Grove - Nepal This is the first of four major dominions of the Buddhist Religion. This is the sacred birth place of Siddhartha Gautama. It is important as, Buddha was born there for his final time. They believe it will help Buddhists understand enlightenment.
Bodh Gaya It was here, that Buddha attained supreme knowledge. This happened under what used to be called the Bayan tree. After this happened, it was renamed to the Bodhi tree. This destination is important as the knowledge made him Buddha. He taught his last ‘sermon’ there and finally, he became enlightened there.
Sanarth Buddha taught here. Siddhartha believed it was an important place, and therefore, wanted to educate his religious followers there. Because Buddha was enlightened and that is the aim for all Buddhists, they wish to follow Buddha – quite literally.
Kushinagar This is the place of death of Siddhartha Gautama. The reason this is so vital, is because, Buddha was the first to break the cycle of re-birth.