LUMBINI

In the plains south of the first foothills of the churia range lies Lumbini, birthplace of Gautam, the Lord Buddha. Lumbini is a sacred place for Buddhists from all over the world, standing on an equal footing with holy places sacred to other world religions. A veteran Asian traveller and author of several books writes, 'As millions of Christians look to Jerusalem for inspiration, as millions of Muslims turn to Mecca, so do three hundred million Buddhists see in the sacred Kingdom of Nepal, a pillar left by the great Emperor Ashoka to mark the site where Buddha was born.

(a) The Ashokan Pillar

In 1895, a German archaeologist and a Nepalese General while wandering about the foothills of the Churia range, discovered a massive stone pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka in 250 B.C. to pay homage to the birthplace of Buddha. It is said that the Indian Emperor visited Lumbini Garden in the twentieth year of his coronation.

The stone pillar bears the following inscription: King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods, having been anointed twenty years, came himself and worshipful one was born here. The village of Lumbini has been made free of taxes and a recipient of wealth.

(b) The Temple of Maya Devi

The next important shrine in Lumbini is the image of Maya Devi, containing a stone relief depicting the birth scene of Siddhartha Gautam. The bas-relief shows Maya Devi supporting herself by holding on to a branch of a sal tree, and the newborn figures are engaged in the act of pouring water and lotuses from the heavens. The Maya Devi shrine the begin worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists since the beginning of the Christian era.

To the south of the Maya Devi shrine is the famous sacred pool of 'Puskarani' , believed to be the same sacred pool in which queen Maya Devi bathed just before giving birth. It is also believed to be the pool where the infant was given his first purification bath. The structure consists of three projecting terraces in descending order and is constructed of fine brick masonry.

(c) Buddhist Monasteries

New Buddhist monasteries have been built into the surrounding complex of Lumbini. The designs of these monasteries are modern. There are also some ruined walls, a restored rectangular pond and some mounds. Archaeological excavations under taken in Lumbini have revealed the sanctum-sanctum the exact spot where the Lord was born, the brick foundations of a monastery, some small votive stupas and large plinths. A large number of historical artifacts have also been unearthed in the surrounding area. These archaeological finds are briefly described in the section on culture.

For visitors planning to stay overnight in Lumbini, there are good facilities for food and accommodation. Lumbini is only a short distance away from the town of Siddharthanagar where there is an airport connected by regular flights from the capital. One can also approach Lumbini by road from Pokhara or Kathmandu via Narayanghat.

An international effort is currently underway to turn Lumbini into a world pilgrimage and tourist site. Massive rehabilitation temple of Maya Devi is being totally rebuilt. Several nations are also constructing monasteries reflecting their respective architecture at Lumbine. The recent excavation of a stone placed by Emperor Ashoka to mark the exact birthplace of the Buddha has been hailed as the greatest archaeological discovery at Lumbini.