Lumbini : the birthplace of Lord Buddha

As the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini in South Western Nepal  is counted among the holiest of places by Buddhists around the world. 

In Buddha’s time, Lumbini was a beautiful garden full of green and shady sal trees.  The garden and its tranquil environs were owned by the Shakya King Suddhodana, father of Siddhartha Gautama.  Shuddhodhana’s  wife Maya Devi  gave birth to a child, while on her way to her parent’s home in Devadaha.  Legend has it that , while resting in Lumbini  under a sal tree, on the full moon day of Vaishakh (May),  Maya Devi  felt labour pains, and after bathing in a nearby pond, delivered a child, who took seven steps soon after his birth.  The child was named Siddhartha, meaning ‘he who achieves his aim’.

In 249 BC, Emperor Ashoka is said to have visited Lumbini, along with his teacher Upagupta. Whilst he was there, a pillar and a stone wall were built to commemorate his visit.  An inscription on the pillar recorded Ashoka’s visit and noted his ruling, that Lumbini, being the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the village would be exempt from paying taxes and would only have to contribute one-eighth of its produce, instead of the standard one-sixth.

Lumbini was a site of pilgrimage until the 15^th century CE.  Its early history is well documented in the accounts of Chinese travellers – Fa Xian and Xuan Zang, who described the temples, stupas and other establishments they saw.

In the later period, Lumbini remained neglected for centuries, not to be rediscovered until they were identified by German archaeologist Dr Fiehrer, while wandering about the foothills of the Churia range.  Further exploration and excavation under the patronage of Palpa Governor Khadga Shamsher Rana revealed the existence of a brick temple and sandstone sculptures within the temple depicting the scenes of  Buddha’s birth.

Today’s Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Ashokan Pillar and the Maya Devi Temple, which is the spiritual heart of the place.   

The temple complex is set in the middle of a sprawling 4 km by 2.5 km park known as the Lumbini Development Zone, designed by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange.  It is a work-in-progress that comprises landscaped lakes and numerous temples and monasteries that have been constructed by Buddhist communities from around the world, in their respective nationalities styles.

Getting there and out :

Bhairahawa, in Nepal is the nearest airport which has direct flight to Kathmandu. There are buses to Lumbini from Pokhara and Kathmandu in Nepal. Buses from Gorakhpur and Varanasi run upto Sanuali border crossing. 

Video : 

The UNESCO documentary (click Older Post) below highlights the need for sustainable development of Lumbini, by advocating involvement of local population.  (20 minutes) 

MD. 

Towards a sustainable Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. UNESCO

Bodh Gaya : where Buddha attained enlightenment

The undisputed melting pot of Buddhism,  Bodh Gaya was where Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment beneath a bodhi tree and became Buddha 2600 years ago.

In terms of blessedness, this tiny temple town located by the Falgu river, is to Buddhists what Mecca is to Muslims. Unsurprisingly, it attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world every year, who come for prayer, study and meditation.

The most important monument in Bodh Gaya is the Maha Bodhi Temple Complex, which houses the Maha Bodhi tree and associated monuments. The temple complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 2002.

The Maha Bodhi Temple Complex lies 115 kms south of Patna, the capital of Bihar and 16 kms away from the district headquarters at Gaya. The first temple at Bodh Gaya was built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BCE and the present temple dates back to 5th -6th  century CE. It is one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, and is considered to have had significant influence in the development of brick architecture over the centuries. The Maha Bodhi temple, with a 170 feet high tower, underwent major renovation during late 19th  century under the British Archaeological Survey of India and later under ASI in late 1990s.

The Maha Bodhi tree at the temple complex is said to be the fourth generation direct descendent of the original Bodhi tree under which Buddha spent his first week after enlightenment. Other sacred spots at the temple complex include the Vajrasana, the Animeshlochan Chaitya, where Buddha is believed to have spent his second week, looking at the tree without blinking his eyes, the Ratnachakrama, the 18 paces Buddha walked back and forth in the third week, where lotuses bloomed, Ratnaghar Chaitya, where Buddha spent his fourth week and Ajapala Nigrodh tree under which Buddha meditated during the fifth week.  He spent the sixth week next to the lotus pond, a little away from the main temple complex.

Bodh Gaya is an international pilgrim site with many devotees from Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka visiting every year. Many Hindus too visit Bodh Gaya, as Buddha is considered to be the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

The other top attraction in Bodh Gaya is the 82 feet Giant Buddha statue consecrated by Dalai Lama in 1989. Besides, there are many temples and monasteries, built in their national style by foreign Buddhist communities. Notable among them are the temples built by Japanese, Thai, Tibetan and Burmese nationals.

The ambience of Bodh Gaya is a mix of monastic tranquility and small-town commotion.  Nevertheless, Bodh Gaya offers best of accommodation in the entire state of Bihar. Winter is the best time to visit Bodh Gaya and say your prayers “Buddham Sharanam Gachchhami”.  

Manish Desai | 15.09.2014

Bodh Gaya: Center of the Buddhist World

On the Path of the Buddha: Buddhist Pilgrimage in North India