Matha Kuar Shrine

Matha Kuar Shrine is a prominent Buddhist shrine located in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, near the Mahaparinirvana Temple. It enshrines a 3-meter tall monolithic statue of the Buddha seated in bhumisparsha mudra, carved from black stone and dated to the 5th century Gupta period. Excavated in the 19th century, the shrine marks the site where Buddha is believed to have delivered his last sermon and is a key pilgrimage stop.

Visitors can expect a small, single-chamber shrine housing a large seated Buddha statue in earth-touching posture under a vaulted roof. The shrine is set in a quiet, open compound with lawns and pathways, located about 400 meters from the Mahaparinirvana Temple. The interior is simple and dimly lit, focused on the monolithic statue. Pilgrims offer prayers and meditate, while tourists can view the sculpture, explore the surrounding archaeological area and take photographs in the outer precincts.

The shrine houses a colossal seated Buddha image dated to the 5th century CE during the Gupta period, inscribed as installed by Haribala. The site was excavated in 1876 by A.C.L. Carlleyle of the Archaeological Survey of India, revealing the statue and temple ruins. It is archaeologically significant as part of ancient Kushinagar (ancient Kushinara), where Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana around 483 BCE.

Matha Kuar Shrine is a revered Buddhist pilgrimage site marking the place where Buddha is traditionally believed to have delivered his last sermon before his Mahaparinirvana. It is an integral part of the Buddhist circuit in Kushinagar and is visited by pilgrims from India and Southeast Asian Buddhist countries for prayer, meditation and veneration of the Buddha image.