Saptaparni Cave: Venue of the First Buddhist Council

Saptaparni Cave, Rajgir, Bihar

Located near Rajgir (Rajagriha) in Bihar, Sattapanni or Saptaparni Cave is said to be the venue for the First Buddhist Council (sangiti). The first Buddhist council  was held to compile the dhamma (religious doctrines) and the vinaya (monastic code). 

Rajagriha, which once served the capital of 6th century BC Magadhan ruler Bimbisara, is sixty miles to the south-east of the modern Patna, the capital of Bihar. 

The first council was participated in by five hundred monks. At the council, Upali, one of the Buddha’s chief disciples, recited the vinaya pitaka, or Rules of the Order, while another important disciple Ananada recited the sutta pitaka, the collection of the Buddha’s sermons on matters of doctrine and ethics.

Bodhgaya, the most important site of Buddhist pilgrimage in the world

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar

Situated in the eastern state of Bihar in India, Bodhgaya is a sacred site of the first order for the Buddhists. the UNESCO World Heritage listed Mahabodhi Temple is the central temple  of Bodhgaya which is an obligatory stop on the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit. 

Adjacent to the Mahabodhi Temple is the Bodhi tree itself under which Prince Siddhartha Gautama is said to have attained Enlightenment 2,500 years ago. As a result he became the Buddha, meaning the Enlightened One. Bodh Gaya was known as Uruvela during Buddha’s times.  

On the Buddha Purnima day Bodh Gaya teems with devotees who come from almost all parts of the world and participate in the religious activities at the Mahabodhi Temple which begin at dawn and continue till late in the evening.

2024 Amarnath Yatra in Pictures: Surreal Photos from Holy Shrine

Located in one of the world’s most incredible landscapes of Lidder Valley in Kashmir, the cave shrine of Shri Amarnath is situated at an altitude of 3680 mts.

At Amarnath, the Lingam, a symbol of Lord Shiva, waxes and wanes with the moon. The waxing and waning of the Lingam with the moon  has remained a world marvel

To reach the holy shrine of Amarnath devotees have to trek a height of about 14,500 feet.

A visit to Amarnath provides a wonderful opportunity to soak in the sacred energies of the Himalayas.

The Amarnath Yatra involves trekking at high altitudes upto 14000 ft., under difficult conditions and uncertain weather.

Vaishno Devi

One of the most revered pilgrim places for the Hindus, the Vaishno Devi shrine on the Trikuta hills is a steep ascent of 5200 feet from Katra, which is 45km from Jammu. 

The journey to the holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is full of intense religious activity, thrill and joy.