BUDDHISM & JAINISM IN UTTAR PRADESH

1.1 Sarnath (Rishipatana / Isipatana - Varanasi)

• Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Site where Lord Buddha preached his First Sermon to his five former companions (Pancavaggiya monks).
• Dhamek Stupa: Massive cylindrical brick stupa marking the exact spot of the first sermon; original construction initiated by Emperor Ashoka.
• Chaukhandi Stupa: Terraced brick structure marking the site where Buddha met his first five disciples; later topped with an octagonal Mughal tower by Govardhan (son of Raja Todar Mal) to commemorate Humayun's visit.
• Ashokan Lion Capital: Four back-to-back lions atop a polished sandstone pillar, housing the Dharmachakra (now India's National Emblem).
• Mulgandha Kuti Vihara: Modern Buddhist temple housing sacred relics of Buddha discovered at Taxila and Nagarjunakonda.

1.2 Kushinagar (Kusinara)

• Mahaparinirvana Site: Capital of the Malla Republic where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (c. 483 BCE) under a pair of Sal trees at the age of 80.
• Mahaparinirvana Temple: Contains a 6.1-meter-long monolithic red sandstone statue of the Reclining Buddha, carved during the Gupta period (endowed by monk Haribhadra).
• Ramabhar Stupa (Mukutbandhana Chaitya): Massive 15-meter-high brick mound marking the precise cremation site of Lord Buddha.

1.3 Shravasti (Saheth-Maheth)

• Capital of Kosala Mahajanapada along the Rapti River.
• Maximal Vassa (Rainy Retreats): Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons (Vassa) here—21 at Jetavana Monastery and 3 at Pubbarama (donated by Visakha).
• Jetavana Monastery: Purchased by merchant Anathapindika from Prince Jeta by covering the ground with gold coins (Kahapanas).
• Great Miracle of Shravasti: Event where Buddha displayed supernatural powers to defeat rival non-Vedic teachers.

1.4 Kaushambi & Sankissa

• Kaushambi: Capital of Vatsa; Buddha visited during the 6th and 9th years after enlightenment. Home to Ghoshitarama Monastery (built by merchant Ghosita).
• Sankissa (Farrukhabad): Mythological site where Buddha descended back to Earth from Tavatimsa heaven accompanied by Brahma and Indra after preaching Abhidhamma to his mother Mayadevi. Features an Ashokan Elephant Capital pillar.

1.5 Devdaha & Piprahwa (Kapilavastu)

• Devdaha: Capital of the Koliya Republic and the maternal home of Buddha—birthplace of his mother Maya Devi and foster-mother Mahaprajapati Gautami; Buddha visited here on multiple occasions during his ministry.
• Piprahwa (Siddharthnagar): Archaeological site identified with Kapilavastu; yielded relic caskets inscribed with Brahmi script reading "These relics of the Blessed Buddha belong to the Shakya clan".

2.1 Birthplaces of 13 Jain Tirthankaras in UP

Uttar Pradesh is the birthplace of more Jain Tirthankaras than any other state—13 of the 24 in total, spread across six sites:

Note: UPPCS prelims material sometimes cites only 9 Tirthankaras (Ayodhya, Varanasi, Shravasti, Kaushambi combined), excluding Ratnapuri and Hastinapur. Both figures—9 and 13—have appeared across reference sources; this table lists the fuller count of 13 for completeness.

2.2 Mathura (Kankali Tila) & Jain Art

• Kankali Tila (Mathura): Excavated by Anton Führer; yielded rich Ayagapatas (inscribed votive tablets for worship), Tirthankara images, and stupa railings.
• Proven center for the early division and formalization of Digambara and Svetambara traditions during the Kushana era.
• Deogarh (Lalitpur): Complex of 31 Jain temples built between the 8th and 14th centuries (Gurjara-Pratihara and Chandela era) featuring intricate carvings of Jain iconography alongside Hindu deities.

3.1 Mathura School of Art (Kushana Period)

• Indigenous Genesis: Developed indigenously using local Spotted Red Sandstone (unlike the Schist stone of Gandhara).
• First Anthropomorphic Images: Carved the earliest human statues of Buddha (differentiating from early aniconic symbols like footprint, umbrella, wheel).
• Features of Mathura Buddha: Delighted expression, shaved head or snail-shell curls, broad shoulders, right hand in Abhaya Mudra, thin clinging drapery leaving the right shoulder bare.
• Secular Sculpture: Statues of Kushana rulers (headless statue of Kanishka at Mat village near Mathura) and Yaksha/Yakshini figures.

3.2 Harsha's Assemblies at Kanauj & Prayag

• Kanauj Assembly (643 CE): Organized by King Harshavardhana to honor Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) and promote Mahayana Buddhism. Attended by 20 vassal kings and thousands of Buddhist, Brahmin, and Jain scholars.
• Prayag Assembly (Moksha Parishad): Quinquennial assembly held at the confluence of Ganga-Yamuna where Harsha distributed his entire accumulated wealth in charity every 5 years.