Buddha Marga of Magadha Region
The sites of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, spread within a 100 km, located in the Sherghati subdivision of Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Nawada and Gaya districts, are very important from the archeology, tourism, history and religious point of view, are still neglected. If these are connected with the "Buddhist Circuit" on a large scale, then this area will become accessible and economically beneficial for tourism and travellers.
Dr. Shatrughan Dangi, an acclaimed and acclaimed historian and archaeologist from the Governor and Director of Bihar Archaeological Directorate, told that when Siddhartha Gautama went out in search of knowledge from Kapilvastu, he wanted to acquire knowledge before Guru Arad Kalam and Guru Uddak Ramputra, but the truth of which He came out in search, he was above the knowledge of these two gurus and he expressed his inability to tell further. Then he reached "Prague-Bodhi" Uruvela via Rajgir. Along with them, five other monks also accompanied Kaundinya, Vappa, Mahanama, Bhadya and Ashwajit for penance. Everyone started doing hard penance. Buddha had even given up food, due to which his body had become a farmer.
Meanwhile, Bala Sujata of Senani village had received a son Ratna. She reached there for worship. Along with this, she had brought kheer in a gold plate. She dedicated it to them and the meaning of the song she used to sing with the sakhis was that the string of the veena should not be so tight that it should not break and loose so much that it does not even ring, that is, follow the middle path. Hearing this, Gautam did the same. He ate the kheer offered by Sujata. Seeing this, the Panchvargiya monks who were accompanying them left them as misguided and left. Therefore, the area full of forests and mountains, which was known to traders and travelers as the Silk Route, passed through Sher Ghati in the southwest. Taking the same path, they reached Dhobini mountain via Bankedham, Baltharwa and since that was the source of water there, they all started living there by making a hut and doing penance. Food was easily arranged from nearby villages. People started calling the five huts of five ascetics as "Pachmath". The same is famous today by the name Pachmah.
On the other hand Gautam Niranjana crossed the river and meditated under the Ashwattha tree at Uruvela, where he attained "enlightenment". Then Siddhartha was called "Buddha" from Gautam and this place became world famous by the name of Bodh Gaya. Buddha attained enlightenment on Buddha Purnima i.e. Vaishakh Purnima. For 49 days, he concentrated his attention in places like Chankraman, Animesh Lochan, Ratna Mandap, Rajayatan and Muchalind Sarovar near Uruvela.
After this, he wanted to convey the divine knowledge received to his first two gurus, but it was found that both of them had left this world a few days ago. Then they again started to find out about their five class comrades, then they came to know that they had gone towards the south-west direction through the Silk Road. Knowing this, the Buddha now started his journey towards the south-west, so first of all he left from the present Domuhan of Bodh Gaya and reached the cultural city of Devkali. After staying there for some time started the onward journey.
Meanwhile, Gautam Buddha reached Manda mountain via Miradpur, Parsohda, Panniya, Ghatera, Asni. After stopping here, they halted at Bhuraha, Dubba and Guneri, the silk road that runs through Sherghati to Imamganj, Raniganj (a major center of lacquer industry here, a sign of prosperity, a gold chain was placed in the bucket of the well for the passers-by and traders to drink water. ) Via Daltenganj (Jharkhand), Kalinga (Orissa) went to China, caught hold of Bankedham, Dumranwa, Singhpur- Baltharwa (where 10-12 feet wide wall spread over 3 kms covered by 10-12 feet wide wall between Basagat and Viharas have been found inscribed hematite paintings of Buddhist stupas After stopping there, they reached the Dhobini Ghat (Budhani and Buddha hills) of Dumaria block, stopping at the primitive rock shelter, which is a large round shaped boulder near Shankarpur, where the five-class monks were living in huts. Seeing Gautam Buddha coming towards the monastery, the five monks were compelled to think that why are they coming to us looking for Gautam? When everyone came near, they were all astonished to see the aura that was emanating from Buddha. And while worshiping him with great respect, he made him sit on a high place.
Gautam Buddha preached to attain enlightenment and told him that all of you too can attain salvation by taking refuge in Buddha i.e. knowledge. He told that - "Human craving is the cause of all miseries." There are ways to destroy it - they are the eightfold path. In the Eightfold Path there is right vision, right speech, right will, right action, right livelihood, right memory, right effort and right meditation. By giving this sermon, he made him a disciple by saying his "Buddham Sharanam Gachami" sutra. All while prostrating him, accepted his discipleship and joined him. Then all emerged the historical place via Malhari, Lutua, Asurain, Dumri, Sondaha (mint for smelting gold and minting gold coins during the Gupta period) and after this through Sahasram (Sasaram) via Amas and reached the Rishi port- Sarnath and the five-class monks He taught the Dhamma. It was here that he formed "Dhammam Sharanam Gacchami" and also ordered them to go in all directions by forming a Sangh. He founded the Sangh here "Sangham Sharanam Gacchami". At the same time, the famous Seth of Kashi named Yash met him and devoted all his wealth at the feet of Buddha and became his disciple and along with the Sangh, started traveling from village to city in the propagation of Buddhism.
While returning the Buddha from here, he passed through Chyon-Pachar (Rafiganj), stopping at the famous places of the famous city of Jehanabad, Dharaut, Dharawat, Kanchanpur, Dharampur etc. Bhelavar and then reached Nalanda.
Kumaragupta had established the university in this Nalanda, where scholars like the Chinese travelers Hiuen Tsang, Itsing etc. studied. It was the largest famous university in the world, where 10000 students studied and 2000 teachers were there. There were great scholars like Dharmapala, Shilabhadra, Chandrapala, Gunavati and Sthiramati. There was a library in three floors, which contained millions of books, manuscripts and rare texts, which Bakhtiyar Khilji had destroyed by burning it after being damaged by the Hun ruler Mihirkul by the Turk invader.
Buddha had also traveled from Rajgir to places like Kurkihar, Apsadh, Itkhori etc.
Thus we find that the land of Magadha was famous in the world in ancient times through the Buddhist path of Buddhism, in a radius of about 100 km from the Bodh Gaya knowledge site, which is still neglected today due to the neglect of the government. If it is developed, it can become an excellent, comfortable and attractive tourist center for tourists and pilgrims on the world stage.