Walking in the footsteps of Vishnus ninth incarnation A travelogue of a walking pilgrimage through Buddhas homeland in Nepal Bihar and Uttar Prade

Buddhism is known the world over as a religion of peace, harmony and tolerance. Wherever it has taken root in the world, it has been moulded and adapted to form the very diverse set of traditions, cultures and belief systems that it is today. Yet, many pilgrims do not associate Buddha, the "founder" - so to speak - of Buddhism, with India or with the Hindu and Jain traditions that were prevalent during his life. This book is a personal recounter of a journey - mostly taken on foot - starting from where Buddha was born to where he left the body - learning about his life by retracing his footsteps and staying at monasteries and holy places along the way. This book is primarily a brief travelogue. However, in parts, the author seeks to reconcile Buddha as the founder of the separate entity of Buddhism, with the Buddha of the Hindu pantheon, by taking a fresh perspective on archaeological sites and folklore and by reflecting on some of the experiences and information gained during the course of the journey. This book is a sincere homage to the Buddha of the Buddhist fold, as well as one of the most poorly acknowledged aspects of Buddha: the Buddha that is Vishnu's 9th incarnation.