Lumbini Garden where Buddha was born 623 B C in Lumbini
Where and when was Buddha born? It is frequently ask question who interested to know the Buddhism and Siddhartha. Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal in 623 B C. Being the birth place of Buddha, Lumbini is one among the most important pilgrimage destinations for Buddhists the world over. All you need to know Buddha was born in Nepal.
Lumbini is located in the Terai plains in Nepal. Thanks to the religious as well as archaeological significance of this place, Lumbini is made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Prince Siddhartha who later became Lord Buddha was born in the sacred garden in Lumbini Nepal.
Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty visited Lumbini in the year 249 B C on a pilgrimage. At the holy site, Ashoka erected a pillar to commemorate the birth of Lord Buddha in that place. The inscription in the Ashoka pillar enables the pilgrims to identify the holy garden as well as the sacred place where exactly the birth of the Lord took place.
The sacred garden in Lumbini where Buddha was born has a total area of 9 sq km. The excavations that were conducted in the Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini threw light on the exact spot where Prince Siddhartha was born. The Mayadevi Temple is dedicated to Queen Mayadevi, the divine mother of Lord Buddha.
Pushkarani
Prior to the birth of Siddhartha, Queen Mayadevi took bath in the sacred Pushkarani Pond in the holy garden. When was Buddha born; the infant Siddhartha also had his first bath in this sacred pond. The Pushkarani Pond is situated south of the Ashoka pillar.
Every year thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from different parts of the world visit Lumbini and offer prayers at the Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini. Lumbini bears not only historical and religious significance but also cultural significance.
When was Buddha born?
The question when was Buddha born, will have two answers- one in terms of his biological birth and second, of his state of enlightenment. Buddha was born as Siddhartha in 624 BC in a royal dynasty. But when he stepped out in the world and saw the real sufferings of the people, death, separation and their poor conditions, he was no longer willing to live a life of pleasures and comfort and felt an urge to relieve all these people from their sufferings.
He realized that a fully enlightened state of mind which is known as ‘Buddha’ is the only way to do what he wanted and he took solitude in the forest and meditated till he got enlightenment. It was at this point that the actual ‘Buddha’ was born. Owing to his name, is known as Gautama Buddha. trips to explore the birth place of Buddha Lumbini Nepal listed here.
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Monasteries built by various countries
Many countries of the world have built beautiful monasteries and temples on the northern side of the sacred garden in Lumbini. The Buddhist Association of China built the China Temple in Lumbini. Other countries like India, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mangolia, Germany and France also had constructed monasteries and temples in this holy site. Buddha was born in Nepal; Lumbini is the birth place of Siddhartha Gautama who becomes Buddha Gautama founded the Buddhist religion.
Mayadevi Temple
It is believed that the Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini was constructed on the foundation of an ancient stupa. In those days Lumbini was a beautiful garden full of Sal trees. The father of Siddhartha, King Suddhodhana belonged to the Shakya Dynasty and the garden in Lumbini belonged to him.
The various ancient writings of the Pali and Sanskrit literatures say that While Queen Maya Devi was enjoying the natural beauty of the garden in Lumbini she had labor pain and there she delivered Prince Siddhartha. Mayadevi temple and Puskarini or Holy Pond where the Buddha’s mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he, too, had his first bath, as well as the remains of Kapilvastu palace are the highlights of Lumbini.
Lumbini Today
The present Lumbini is situated in the Rupandehi district of Nepal. The holy site is 4.8 km long and 1.6 km wide. Apart from the Mayadevi Temple as well as the other monasteries, temples and monuments, there is a museum and also an international research institute in the holy site.
This place is maintained as a monastic zone and there are no shops, restaurants or hotels in the holy site. The sacred Bodhi Tree and the ruins of ancient monasteries also can be seen in Lumbini. Everyday pilgrims from different countries visit this holy site throughout the day and conduct prayer and meditation.