THE HISTORY SAYS ABOUT THE PLACE NAMED SANKASIYA OR SANKISA OR SANKASSA OR SANKASSYA Sankasiya lies in central Uttar Pradesh(Dist.: Farrukhabad), 47 KM from Farrukhabad town. It is believed to be the place where Buddha, along with Brahma and Devraj Indra descended after giving sermons to his mother in heaven. At the spot of descent stands a temple with a statue of Buddha. The place is also known for a temple dedicated to Maa Bisari Devi and an excavated Ashokan Elephant Pillar. There is also a colossal Shiva linga here. A large fair is held at Sankasia in the month of Shravan (July-August). The nearest Airport is Agra. Sankassa (also Sankasia, Sankissa and Sankasya) was an ancient city in India. The city came into prominence at the time of Gautam Buddha. According to a Buddhist source, it was thirty leagues from Savatthi. After the Gautam Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana (passing away) King Ashoka developed this place and installed one of his famous pillars of Ashoka in the city from which the elephant capital survives. He also built a Stupa and a Temple commemorating the visit of the Buddha. This temple exist even today and the ruins of the Stupa are also present as a temple of Maa Vishari Devi. It is said that the name Vishari Devi is given to the mother of the Buddha. Currently it has ruins of old monastries and Buddhist monuments. After a long time Alexander Cunninghum (British) discovered the place in 1842. Eighty seven years later (about in 1929) Sir Angarika Dharmapala (Sri Lanka) came here on spiritual quest. In 1957 Panditha Madabawita Wijesoma Thero (Sri Lanka) came to “Sankassa” for few years and started a Buddhist School (Wijesoma Vidyalaya) for poor people. Sankassa is now identified with Sankissa Basantapura on the north bank of the Ikkhumati (Kalindi) river, between Kampil and Kannauj, twenty thee miles west of Fatehgarh, twenty five miles south of Kayamganj and forty five miles north of Kannauj, in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh state of India. ANCIENT BUDDHIST EVENTS AT SANKASSA :- Sankassa received its fame from statement and claims recorded in the ancient commentaries to the Tipitaka. However in the Tipitaka itself the events that are supposed to have occurred at Sankassa are not mentioned at all. It was at Sankassa that (according to the commentaries) the Buddha returned to Earth after preaching the Abhidhamma Pitaka in Tavatimasa, following the performance of the twin miracle under the Gandamba tree. As the time approached for the Buddha to leave Tawatimasa Moggallana (Anuruddha, according to SNA. Ii 570; cf Vsm, P 391) announced his coming return to the multitude, who had been waiting at Savatthi, fed by Culla Anathapindika, while Moggallana expanded the dhamma. They then made their way to Sankassa. The descent of the Buddha took place on the day of the Mahapavarana festival. Sakka provides three ladders for the Buddha’s descent from Sineru to the Earth. On the right was the ladder of Gold for the Gods ; on the left a silver ladder for Maha Brahma and his retinue ; and in middle a ladder of Jewels for the Buddha. The assembled people covered the Earth for thirty leagues round. There was a clear view of the nine Brahma Worlds above and of Avici ( a hell) below. The Buddha was accompanied by Paneasikha, Matali, Maha Brahma and Suyama. Sariputta was the first to welcome him followed by Uppalavama, and the Buddha preached the Law, starting with what was within the comprehension even of a Puthujjama, and ending with what only a Buddha could understand. On this occasion was preached the parosahassa Jataka to pro claim to the multitude the unparalleled wisdom of Sariputta. It is said that the Buddha’s descent to Sankassa had provided opportunity for Moggallana to show his eminence in iddhi, Aniruddha in dibbaeakkhu, and puma in skill in preaching, and the Buddha wished to give Sariputta a chance of shining in his wisdom. He therefore asked of Sariputta questions which no one else could answer. The opening world of the Sariputta Sutta are supposed to refer to his descent from tusita. The site of the city gate of Sankassa is one of the “Unchangeable” spots of the world (avijahitatthaanam). All Buddhas descend at the spot to the world of men after preaching the Abhidhamma. From Sankassa Buddha went to Jetavana. A Shrine was erected on the spot where the Buddha’s right foot first touched the ground Sankassa. When the Chinese pilgrims, Hiouen Thasang and Fa Hien, visited the place, they found three ladders, which had been built of brick and stone by the ancients, to commemorate the Buddha’s descent, but the ladders were nearly sunk in the Earth. There was, in the Buddha’s time, a deer park at Sankassa where Suhemanta Thera heard the Buddha preach. During the Vajiputta Controversy, Revata Thera, on his way from Sorewa to Sahajati, went through Sankassa. The road he took passed through Sankassa, Kannakujja, Udunbara and Aggalapura. Sankisa is related to many Myths pertaining to Lord Buddha, especially his descending from the heaven after death makes it an ideal destination for Buddhist pilgrims. The place is as interesting as the stories related to Buddha, charming, quite and enchanting. Known as Sankasya in Ramayana, this village has been an important centre in the geography of India from earlier times. Huen Tsang named this city as Kapittha in his travelogue and described it as a nice place to visit. The place is renowned for the stone statues found here during the excavations. The remains of Asokan Pillar is also worth a visit, while the pillar with an elephant in lieu of the usual lion is also matter of attraction for many a tourists. This elephant is said to be the representation of the white elephant which Mahamayadevi had dreamt at the time of conception of Siddhartha (Lord Buddha). The excavations by ASI (Archaological Survey/Society of India) has lead to the finding of many items of ancient age contemporary to Buddha, Asoka and some other well-known preacher of Buddhiism. The Shiva linga is also quite exotic and attracts Hindu religious devotees. The Shravan Mela held every year draws a lot of tourists. The kanpur airport is nearest to Sankisa, from which, trains and buses run regularly. The nearest railhead is Pakhna, at a distance of 12 Km. People from all over Uttar Pradesh come to the large fair conducted in the month of shravan (July-August)in Sankisa. Pakhna railway station is the nearest railway station. The closest civil airport is at Agra, which is 207 km away from Sankisa. Accomodation is available at the PWD Inspection House, Fateh Garh and Government Tourist Bungalow AND THE ROYAL RESIDENCY HOTEL, Sankisa. Tourist season starts from October to April. Nearby cities: Kaimganj, Farrukhabad, Mainpuri Coordinates: 27°2049N 79°1648E
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:13:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015