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Lumbini : In the plain south
of the first foothill of the Churia
range, lies Lumbini, birthplace of
Gautama, the Buddha. Lumbini is
asacred placefor 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.
Pillar in Lumbini : The
Ashokan Pillar-In 1895, a German
archaeologist, white 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 birth
place 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
worshipped saying: "Here Buddha
Sakyamuni was born. He caused a
stone pillar to be erected, because
the worshipful one was born here.
The village of Lumbini has been made
free of taxes and a recipient of
wealth.' (translated from Brahrni.)
The Temple of Maya Devi - The
next visible monument in Lumbini is
the temple of Maya Devi containing a
stone relief depicting the birth
scene of Lord Buddha. The bas-relief
shows Maya Devi supporting herself
by holding on to a branch of a sal
tree, and the newborn infant Buddha
standing upright on a lotus
pedestal. Two celestial figures are
engaged in the act of pouring water
and lotuses from the heaven,
indicated in the sculpture by a
delineation of clouds. The Maya Devi
shrine has been worshipped by both
Hindus and Buddhists since the
beginning of the Christian era and
is believed to have been built over
the foundation of at least one
earlier temple or stupa.
To the South of the Maya Devi temple
is the famous sacred pool of 'Puskarani',
believed to be the same sacred pool
in which queen Maya Devi bathed just
before giving birth to Buddha. It is
also belived to be the same sacred
pool in which queen Maya Devi bathed
just before giving birth to Buddha.
It is also believe to be the pool
where the infant Buddha was given
his first purification bath. The
structure consists of three
projecting terraces in descending
order and is rivetted with fine
brick masonry.
Please find some of short spots
highlights:
The Maya Devi Temple:
The Maya Devi Shrine complex is the
heart of all monuments at this holy
site. The complex also bears the
testimony of several layers of
construction over the centuries. The
main object of worship here is the
nativity sculpture. The restored
Maya Devi temple was reopened on May
16, 2003 on the 2547th birth
anniversary of Lord Buddha.
Government of Nepal and LDT jointly
restored the temple. The ground
floor consists of the remains of the
foundations of the early Maya Devi
Temple that dates back to 3rd
century BC. The sanctum sanatorium
is the birth spot of the Lord
Buddha.
The Marker Stone:
This stone conglomerate located
deeply buried in the sanctum
sanatorium pinpoints the exact
location of the birth of Lord
Buddha. This was discovered after
meticulous excavation of the Maya
Devi Temple site in 1996. The exact
size of Marker Stone is 70�40�10 cm.
This is now covered with a
bulletproof glass.
The Nativity Sculpture:
The image of Maya Devi, also known
as the Nativity sculpture dated back
to 4th century AD, depicts Maya Devi,
holding the branch of a tree with
her right hand for support. Next to
her Gautami Prajapati, her own
sister, in supporting posture in the
time of delivery is standing. The
newly born prince Siddhartha is
standing upright on a lotus
pedestal, with two celestial figures
receiving him.
The Puskarini or Holy Pond:
Close by the Asokan Pillar on the
southern side is the holy pond, the
Puskarini, believed to be the holy
pond in which Maya Devi took bath
just before giving birth to the Lord
Buddha. It is also the site where
the infant prince Siddhartha was
given his first purification bath.
The pond has terraced steps and is
riveted by beautifully layered
bricks.
The Asokan Pillar:
The Asokan Pillar bears the first
epigraphic evidence relating to the
birthplace of Lord Buddha. It is the
most noteworthy monument and an
authentic historic document of
birthplace of Lord Buddha in Lumbini.
The inscription engraved by Emperor
Ashoka is still intact and testifies
the authenticity of the birthplace.
The text written in Brahmi script
and pali language is translated as
follows:
Twenty years after his coronation,
King Priyadarsi, Beloved of Gods
visited this spot in person and
offered worship at this place,
because the Buddha, the Sage of the
Sakyas, was born here. He caused to
be built a stone wall around the
place and also erected this stone
pillar to commemorate his visit.
Because the Lord Buddha was born
here, he made the village of Lumbini
free from taxes and subject to pay
only one-eight of the produce as
land revenue instead of the usual
rate.
Tilaurakot:
The ancient capital of Sakya,
Kapilvastu, has now been identified
with Tilaurakot, a site in ruins
located 25 km west of Lumbini. The
five periods of habitation of this
walled city begin from 8th - 7h B.C.
and end in 2 d century A.D.
Excavations have revealed the
foundations of a citadel with
defence wall, gateways, monasteries
and stupas.
Araurakot:
Araurakot lies about 9-km northeast
of Tilaurakot. P.C. Mukheiji (1899)
identified it as the natal town of
Kanakmuni Buddha. It is a
rectangular fortified area that
contains a moat with heaps of
ancient ruins.
Gotihawa:
Gotihawa lies 5-km southwest of
Taulihawa town and is considered the
natal town of Krakuchanda Buddha.
The place has ruins of ancient
habitation, stupas and monasteries.
The place was visited by Ashoka as
evidenced by a pillar with
inscriptions. The pillar is broken
with the upper part missing.
Kudan:
Kudan is located 2-km southwest of
Taulihawa on way to Gotihawa. There
are huge structural ruins indicating
wreckage of monasteries and stupas
with a tank nearby.
Niglihawa:
Niglihawa, 7-km northwest of
Tilaurakot, was another site visited
by Ashoka and marked with a pillar.
The pillar is broken into two
pieces. The standing base pillar has
Ashokan inscription in Brahmi script
and the upper pillar has Devanagari*
inscription marking Ripu MaiWs visit
in 1312 AD. There are ruins of
monasteries, stupas and habitation.
It is identified as ancient town of
Sobhawati, birthplace of Kanakmuni
Buddha
Sagarhawa:
Sagarhawa lies 3.5 kin. north of
Tilaurakot and west of Banganga
river. It is a rectangular
depression. Excavations done in 1896
traced seventeen stupas and large
monuments made from well-burnt
bricks. Findings of casket and other
rare antiquities indicate them to be
votive stupas of the war dead.
However, these stupas remain no more
as they were excavated to their
foundation without restoration.
Devedaha:
Devedaha lies 34-km northeast of
Lumbini near the village of
Khairhani. The Koliya of Devadaha
are considered as maternal tribe of
Gautam Buddha. There are
archaeological mounds near the
village.
Ramgram:
Ramgram lies 4 km south of Parasi
town in Nawalparasi district. The
remains of stupa and monastery as
mounds are beside the bank of Jahari
river in Kerwani village. The huge
stupa mound is 30 ft high and 70 ft.
in diameter. Koliyas of Ramagram are
listed among the eight tribes that
received the corporeal relics of the
Buddha at Kushinagar. |
