Lumbini

Buddhist Stupa in Lumbini

Lumbini is the sound birth place of
Lord Siddhartha Gautam Buddha-the Apostle of Compassion & Non-Violence.

Lumbini

Brief introduction to Lumbini city:
Lumbini is the sound birth place of Lord Siddhartha Gautam Buddha-the Apostle of Compassion & Non-Violence. He is not only the Light of Asia but the Messenger of Universal Peace as well. The auspicious garden of Lumbini is situated amidst the newly established town of Siddharthanagar in the hot Terai plains of west Nepal. The broken Ashokan Pillar, holy remnants of an old Buddhist monastery, divine images of the Buddha's mother Great Maya Devi, etc are still well preserved here. Extensive excavation task is being carried out with promising effects. It is accessible by air from the capital city to Bhairahawa whence you can continue proceeding by a motor-car.

Some of the major spots to visit in Lumbini:

The Buddhist Temple
The monastery of the Buddhist temple is built inside the surrounding complex of Lumbini in the manner of modern Buddhist shrines in Nepal. The prayer-hall contains a big image of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha in the medieval style. Colorful artistic murals decorate the large walls.

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The Ashokan Pillar
Discovered by the now famous German archaeologist Dr. Fuhrer, the pillar is the first epigraphic evidence relating to the life history of Lord Buddha and is also the most visible land-mark of the auspicious garden. The historic importance of the pillar is evidenced by the inscription engraved on the pillar (in Brahmi characters). It is said that the Hindu Indian Emperor Ashoka-the Great, who got converted, visited the site in the twentieth year of his accession to the throne and as a homage to the pure birth-place erected the pillar. The inscription on the pillar roughly translates as : "King Piyadesi the beloved of the Gods, having been anointed 20 years, came himself and worshipped saying, Here Buddha Sakyamuni was born. He caused to make a stone (capital) representing a horse and he caused (this) stone pillar to be erected. Because here the worshipful one was born the village of Lumbini has been made free of taxes and recipient of wealth."

Sanctum-Sanctorum of the Birthplace
The single most important place Lumbini (and to the entire Buddhist world for that matter) is the stone-slab located deep in Sanctum-Sanctorum.

Revealed after a hard and meticulous excavation under the three layers of ruins over the site of a famous Maya Devi Temple, the stone-slab foundation pinpoints the location of the original place, marking the precise spot of the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Image of Maha Maya Devi
In addition to the Ashokan Pillar, the other shrine of importance is the bas relief image of Maha Maya Devi (Mother of Gautama Buddha). Enshrined in a small pagoda like structure, the image shows Maya Devi. She is seen supporting herself by holding on with her right hand to a branch of a Sal tree, with the newly born infant Buddha standing upright on a lotus pedestal on an oval halo. Two other celestial figures are depicted in an act of pouring holy water and lotuses bestowed from heaven. Earlier the image was placed in the famous white temple of Maya Devi besides the pillar now totally dismantled to make way for the excavations which revealed the Sanctum, the exact spot where Our Lord was born.

Puskarni-the Sacred Pool
South of the Ashokan Pillar, there is the famous sacred pool named "Puskarni" believed to be the same holy pool in which Maya Devi took a pious dip just before giving birth to the Lord and also where the infant Buddha was given its first purification bath. Architecturally the pool has three projecting terraces in ascending order and is revealed with a fine brick masonry.

Kapilbastu
Located some 27 kilometers west of Lumbini lies the ruins of the historic town of "Kapilbastu". Believed to be the capital of Shakya republic where the Lord lived and enjoyed his life until his thirtieth year, Kapilbastu has been identified with Tilourakot by the archaeologists. Also, the place is believed to have been associated with different important episodes. There are ruins and mounds of old stupas and monasteries made of kiln-burnt bricks and clay-mortar. The remains are surrounded by a moat and the walls of the city are made of bricks. In fact, the ruins of the ancient city of Kapilbastu are in such a grand scale that it could easily be visualized as a high seat of authentic culture.