Lord
Buddha was born in Lumbini, in southwestern Nepal, nearly twenty-five
hundred years ago. Since then, the city has always remained the focal
point of Buddhism. Today's Lumbini is a small sleepy town in the
southwestern Tarai plains of Nepal, where the ruins of the old city can
still be seen. The followers of both Hinyana and Mahayana sects of
Buddhism revere Lumbini. The restored gardens and surroundings of
Lumbini have the remains of many of the ancient Stupas and monasteries.
A large stone pillar that is said to be erected by the Mauryan emperor
Ashoka in 250 BC bears an inscription about the birth of the Buddha.
The most important attraction of Lumbini is the holy temple of Maya
Devi. The temple has a stone sculpture of Maya Devi in labor pain. The
image shows her holding the branch of a tree while Buddha is getting
birth. The temple is very popular among the women having some or other
fertility problem. One cannot miss the heart-melting cries of such women
as they pray for an off spring at this place. To the south of the temple
is a pond where Queen Maya Devi is said to have bathe and given her son
his first purification bath that is compulsory in Hinduism.
The main complex have large stretches of Bo Tree plantations. This the
same tree that is shown in the sculpture in the Maya Devi temple.
Another variety of the same plant is known as Banyan; the same plant
under which Buddha got enlightened. The Bo plantation and a newly
planted forest nearby lend an air of tranquility to the surrounding.
Lumbini is now being developed under the Master Plan of the Lumbini
Development Trust, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the
restoration of Lumbini and its development as a pilgrimage site.
Kapilvastu, near Lumbini, is a prime archeological site. Though very
little remains of what was once a flourishing town, the place is a must
visit. The place has the ruins of the palace where Lord Buddha spent his
formative years. The archeological works that had been done in this area
had to pass through various roadblocks including financial constraint.
The archeologists had dug out as many as 14 different layers of human
habitation in this area. The oldest among these dates back to 8th
century before Christ. The place is a must for archeological and
historical buffs!
Apart from its religious and historical significance, Lumbini offers
cultural insights into the village life of southwestern Nepal. The must
catch event in this part of Nepal is the weekly communal Bazaar. This
bazaar is organized every Monday therefore try to coincide your visit
with that. The weekly bazaar looks like the scene taken straight out of
the Arabian fables. Villagers come from miles around to buy grains,
spices, pottery, jewelry, saris and various other items. With colorful
merchandise spread out under the Mango trees and the air perfumed with
incense, the place looks like the ocean of humanity. You can buy
souvenirs for your dear ones and side-by-side witness the local life in
Lumbini.
After centuries of neglect from travelers, backpackers and
archeologists, Lumbini is finally scaling the chart. Serious
preservation work has only just been started and efforts are being done
on the war footing to save this historical marvel.
Rajasthan
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