Introduction
Situated in the foothills of the Siwalik range in the district of Rupandehi, Lumbini the birthplace of Lord Buddha is the first and foremost site of pilgrimage. Buddhist literatures mention that the newly born child took seven steps and uttered an epoch making message to the suffering humanity. The beautiful Sal grove of Lumbini, Garden was renowned for its beauty of shady grove of lush green trees and colourful flowers. Maya Devi, the queen of Sakya King Suddhodana of Kapilawastu, on the way to her maternal hometown Devadaha, was passing through the Lumbini Garden. It was the Vaisakha Poornima (Full Moon Day) of 623 BC. While the queen was walking to the Garden, took bath in a Puskarini (Pond). After bath she proceeded towards the North, felt labor pain and took support of a branch of a tree and she gave birth to the Holiest Prince.
Monuments of Lumbini
Lumbini changed into a religious site soon after the Mahaparinirvana of the Lord Buddha. A monastic site evolved around the sacred spot of a Buddha’s birth. The birth-spot being the point in the whole of the Holy Land of Lumbini drew the attention of generous devotees who erected structures to pay homage to the great master. These constructions were of religious nature along the religious complex, a civic settlement also sprang up to meet the growing nee of the religious community visiting or living in the holy complex.
Mayadevi Temple
The Mayadevi 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 Mayadevi temple was reopened on May 16, 2003 on the 2547th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Government of Nepal and Lumbini Development Trust jointly restored the temple. The ground floor consists of the remains of the foundations of the early Mayadevi temple that dates back to 3rd century BC. The sanctum sanatorium is the birth spot of the Lord Buddha.
Monuments of Lumbini
This stone conglomerate located deeply buried in the sanctum sanatorium pinpoints the exact location of the birth of Lord Buddha, which was discovered after meticulous excavation of the Maya Devi Temple site in 1996. The exact size of Marker Stone is 70cm x 40cm x 10cm. this is now covered with a bulletproof glass.
The Nativity Sculpture
The image of Maya Devi, also known as the Nativity Sculpture dates back to 4th century AD, depicts Maya Devi, holding the branch of a tree with her right hand or support. Next to her Gautami Prajapathi, her own sister, in supporting posture in the tome of delivery is standing. The newly bornprince Siddhartha is standing upright on a Lotus pedestal, with two celestial figures receiving him.
The Puskarini (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 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 birth place of Lord Buddha in Lumbini. The inscription engraved by Emperor Asoka is still intact and testifies the authenticity of the birthplace. The text written in Brahmi script and Pali language is translated as “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”.
(By curtsey of Lumbini Development Trust – Lumbini)
