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Birthplace of Buddha
Author: Om Trek
The Buddha - Siddhartha Gautam was born into the Shakya royal family in
Lumbini in south Nepal. Using historical records referring to Alexander the
Great and Emperor Ashoka, the Buddha’s birth date is usually given as May 563
BC.
His mother, Queen Maya Devi was on her way to her parent’s home at Rangram for
the birth as was the tradition at that time. Before reaching her destination,
she went into labour at Lumbini. There, she bathed in a bricked pool called
Puskarni and then walked 25 paces to deliver the baby. The Buddha was born as
she leant against a sal tree. He is said to have emerged from her right side and
taken seven steps in the four directions; as he walked, lotus flowers bloomed.
Sadly, Maya Devi died seven days after his birth and he was brought up by her
younger sister and the second wife of Suddhodan, Pajapati.
The central focus at Lumbini is the Maya Devi temple. A stone relief (probably
2nd century AD) shows her giving birth to the Buddha watched by the two Hindu
goods Brahma and Indra. The area is currently being developed into a Sacred
Peace Garden spread over 8 sq. km. along with the building of several stupas and
monasteries by Buddhist traditions from all over the world. The Ashokan Pillar
stands out quite clearly and is surrounded by the ruins of four stupas.
In 1995, an international team uncovered a commemorative stone resting on top of
a platform of bricks under the Maya Devi temple. The stone dates back to the
time of the Emperor Ashoka who visited Lumbini is 249 BC. Ancient Buddhist texts
which describe the place of his birth as being 25 paces from the pool where his
mother bathed have been validated by this discovery.
There has been much dispute over the years as to the exact location of the
Buddha’s birthplace; even treated as an issue of national pride between India
and Nepal. Chinese pilgrim Huian Tsang in AD 636 described the place thus "where
the lord was born is a piece of heaven on earth and one could see the snowy
mountains amidst a splendid garden - embedded with stupas and monasteries". He
also noted a stone pillar broken in two surrounded by four stupas.
At Lumbini in 1896, Dr Fuhrer re-discovered the stone pillar erected as a mark
of respect by Ashoka, the Indian Emperor and a follower of the Buddha’s
teaching. The pillar is inscribed "Twenty years after his coronation, King
Devanampiya Piyadasi (Ashoka) came here and paid homage, because the Buddha, the
sage of the Sakya clan, was born here. He ordered a stone relief to be made and
a stone pillar to be erected, to indicate that the Blessed One was born here. He
exempted the village of Lumbini from taxes and reduced its toll of produce (from
the usual quarter) to one eighth." The inscription was made is the Magadhi
language using local dialect in the Brahmin script used at the time.
Nearby is Kapilvastu now called Tilaurakot where the young prince spent his
youth. Dr Fuhrer identified Kapilvastu from the writings of another Chinese
Buddhist pilgrim, Fahien (c 400 AD) who had also visited the area. Archeologists
have discovered 13 successive layers of human habitation dating back to the 8th
century BC. The eastern gate of the palace is where Buddha left the palace on
his search for enlightenment.
Several other places around Lumbini are significant archeological sites
including Niglihawa and Gotihawa and both have pillars erected by the Emperor
Ashoka on his pilgrimage to the area.
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Other special places of pilgrimage to Buddhists across the border in India
include -
Bodhgaya, where Buddha achieved enlightenment
Deer Park, Sarnath, first turning of the Wheel of Dharma
Kusinara, where Buddha died
According to tradition Buddha in his last discourse before his death spoke these
words to Ananda.
Ananda, there are four places the sight of which should arouse a sense of
urgency in the faithful. Which are they? <p>
"Here the Tathagata was born" is the first.
"Here the Tathagata attained supreme enlightenment" is the second.
"Here the Tathagata set in motion the Wheel of the Dharma" is the third.
"Here the Tathagata attained Nirvana without remainder" is the fourth.
And, Ananda, the faithful monks and nuns, male and female lay-followers will
visit those places. And any who die while making the pilgrimage to these shrines
with a devout heart will, at the breaking up of the body after death, be reborn
in a heavenly world.
MAHAPARINIBBANA SUTTA 5,8 More Articles
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