Lumbini is the Buddha’s birthplace, one of the world’s most important spiritual sites and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from around the world. Today you can visit over 25 Buddhist monasteries built by diverse countries from Vietnam to France, study Buddhism, meditate and visit the birthplace within the sacred Mayadevi Gardens.
Lumbini in Nepal
Mayadevi Temple is the most sacred site in the Lumbini Garden where archaeologists have identified the exact spot where Lord Buddha was born. Inscriptions on the Ashoka Pillar nearby also refer to the spot as his birthplace. It is said that the newly born Prince Siddhartha (later became the Buddha) took his first seven steps and delivered his peace message to humanity.
The birth took place in the beautiful Sal grove, which is now the focal point of the Lumbini Garden. Mayadevi, the Queen of Shakya King Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu, while passing through the Lumbini Garden, on the day of Baishakha Purnima (full moon day of May in 623 BC) took a bath in the Pushkarini (the Sacred Pond) and soon after gave birth to Prince Siddhartha, who went on to become the Buddha.
Visit the beautiful monasteries built by countries from around the world like China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Germany, France etc .and admire the spectacular and diverse architecture they showcase. Soak up the peaceful atmosphere and above all visit the Mayadevi Temple which dates back to 2,200 years.
Walk around the garden or find a quiet spot to contemplate. The focal point for pilgrims is a sandstone carving depicting the birth of the Buddha, reputedly left here by the Malla King Ripu Malla, in the 14th century, when Mayadevi was worshipped as an incarnation of a Hindu mother goddess. One of the attractions here is the Ashoka Pillar, built by a Buddhist convert, the great Indian Emperor Ashoka while visiting the birthplace of the Buddha back in 249 BC.
Visit the Panditarama Vipassana Center for some yoga and meditation and interact with the monks who live in the vicinity of the monasteries, devoting their time to bringing peace and harmony to all sentient beiings through devotion and religious worship.
The Lumbini Garden covers an area of 2.56 sq km or 1 x 3 sq miles and encompasses three zones each covering one square mile connected with walkways and a canal. The area has a sub tropical climate with hot summers, very wet monsoon and pleasant winter.
If your interest is in visiting exotic, sacred places in South Asia for a spiritual experience then make it a point to visit Lumbini in Nepal, where pilgrims come to meditate, pray and pay homage.to the Enlightened One.
