At which place did Lord Buddha attain Mahaparinirvana (breathe his last) according to Buddhist tradition?

Introduction / Context:
This question asks about the place where Lord Buddha passed away, an event known in Buddhist tradition as Mahaparinirvana. Understanding the four principal sites of Buddha's life – birth, enlightenment, first sermon and death – is fundamental in ancient Indian and world religious history. These four places together form the core Buddhist pilgrimage circuit and are frequently tested in competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the place where Buddha 'breathed his last'.
• Options include Rajgir, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar.
• We assume the standard narrative of the Buddha's life.
• We must differentiate between different key events associated with different locations.

Concept / Approach:
According to traditional accounts, Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (also written Kusinara) in present-day Uttar Pradesh. This is distinct from Bodh Gaya, where he attained enlightenment; Sarnath, where he delivered his first sermon; and Rajgir, which was an important centre where he spent time and preached but did not die. Therefore, the correct answer among the given options is Kushinagar.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the four main events and locations in Buddha's life: Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon) and Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana).Step 2: Note that the question explicitly refers to the event of 'breathing his last', i.e., his death.Step 3: Identify the corresponding place in the standard sequence – Kushinagar (Kusinara).Step 4: Compare with other options: Rajgir is associated with King Bimbisara and later Buddhist councils, but not Buddha's death.Step 5: Select 'Kushinagar (Kusinara)' as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
All basic Buddhism references and history textbooks clearly state that Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar. Many competitive exam questions directly ask for this place, sometimes along with the other three great sites, and the answer key consistently gives Kushinagar. This makes our selection secure and well supported.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rajgir: Important in the life of Buddha and later Buddhist history, but not the site of his death.Bodh Gaya: The site of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, not of Mahaparinirvana.Sarnath: The place where he delivered his first sermon, not where he passed away.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Kushinagar with Bodh Gaya or Sarnath because all four key places are often memorised together and appear frequently in exams. Another mistake is to respond with whichever place they remember most vividly without reading the specific part of the life event mentioned in the question. To avoid this, keep the simple mapping in your mind: birth – Lumbini, enlightenment – Bodh Gaya, first sermon – Sarnath, death – Kushinagar.

Final Answer:
Lord Buddha breathed his last and attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar (Kusinara).