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According to the Suttantapitaka (The Basket of Discourses), Dighanikaya (The Collection of Long Discourses), at that time, 'Kusinara' (present day Kushinagar) was called 'Kusavati Royal City'. King Mahasudassana (Buddha-to-be) ruled it with righteousness. The city was full of beautiful palaces decorated residences, abandoned natural resources, numerous lotus ponds built of silver, gold and cat's-eye like bricks, and gardens with flower trees blossoming in different seasons. Beside all beautiful and pleasant lotus ponds, there were alms houses for the people who would like to have food, there was drinking water for the people who would like to drink water, there was money for the people who  would   like to  have money and there was gold for the people who would like gold. The Dhamma Palace with  a length of one Yojana (about 10 miles or 16 kilometers) was built by the well known and highly respected engineering deity named Vissukamma. It was with the perfection of Emperor Maha Sudassana that all were built and the city was prosperous and peaceful. 

On full-moon day, Emperor Maha Sudassana observed 8 precepts, entered meditative attainments and fulfilled 4 noble sentiments. With his Dhamma practise he was physically smarter than all human beings, was of longevity, had fewer diseases and was deeply beloved by all Brahmans and householders. This was the importance of Kusinara in the past which was confirmed by the Buddha with Venerable Ananda that it was the most suitable place for His Attainment of final Nirvana.

  • It was the city where the Buddha delivered many important discourses.
  • It was the city where the Buddha, before His Nirvana admitted a mendicant Subhadra, 120 years of age, as his last follower.
  • It was the place the Buddha chose for His Nirvana.
  • It was the place where the Buddha delivered His last words in the discourse called Mahaparinibbana sutta centered on diligence.
  • It was the place where the Buddha's relics were divided and presented to 8 kings of 8 different states by Drona, a wise Brahamana.
  • It was the place where Buddha's relics were enshrined.
  • It was the place where most Arahant disciples of the Buddha gathered to pay the last respect to the Buddha's body.
  • It was the place where all celestial beings, divine beings, Brahma Gods and Indra Gods from all celestial realms assembled to pay respect to the Buddha's body.
  • It is a holy place where the Buddha would like all of His followers to visit to strengthen their unwavering faith, to pay respect and to have a sense of urgency, so that they, after their deaths, would be born in blissful states of existance in this World and Heaven.


The Buddha Statue at the Nirvana Temple

Currently, Kusinara plays a vital role as a pilgrim center. It is daily visited by tourists and pilgrims from all corners of the world. The great memorial Stupa, built by Mauryan Ashoka the Great, in the place believed to be the area where the Buddha entered Nirvana, attracts not only buddhists but also people worldwide to visit. The Buddha's relics were enshrined therein. It is a holy place where all Buddhists visit to pay their deepest homage to the Buddha and recollect His greatest loving kindness and compassion. It is surrounded by pagodas and other buildings in different sizes which are ruins of a large Buddhist monastery. The pagoda called Makutbandhana was built about 1 kilometer east of the Nirvana Vihara. This was the site where the Buddha's body was cremated. The 4 holy places, Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kusinara, were where Buddhism originated in India 2586 years ago.

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