Lumbini

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the zone of Nepal, see Lumbini Zone.
Not to be confused with Lumbini Gardens or Lumbini Park.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Type Cultural
Criteria iii, vi
Reference 666
UNESCO region Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription 1988 (21st Session)

Lumbinī (Sanskrit: लुम्बिनी Listen (help·info), "the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal.[1] It is the place where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama.[2] Siddhartha Gautama lived roughly between 623 and 543 BCE[3][4][5] and he founded Buddhism as Gautama Buddha. Lumbini is one of four magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha, the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath.

Lumbini, where the Buddha lived until the age of 29, has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple, and others under construction. Also located here is the 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 Kapilavastu palace. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, achieved ultimate awakening and finally relinquished earthly form.

Location of Lumbini, Nepal

In Pratham's time

In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was situated between Kapilavastu and Devadaha (both in current Nepal).[6] It was there, that the Buddha was born.[7] A pillar now marks the spot of Asoka's visit to Lumbiní. According to an inscription on the pillar, it was placed there by the people then in charge of the park to commemorate Asoka's visit and gifts.[8] The park was previously known as Rummindei, two miles (3.2 km) north of Bhagavanpura.

In the Sutta Nipáta (vs. 683) it is stated that the Buddha was born in a village of the Sákyans in the Lumbineyya Janapada. The Buddha stayed in Lumbinívana during his visit to Devadaha and there preached the Devadaha Sutta.[9]

Re-discovery

Main article: Pillars of Ashoka

In 1896 Nepalese archaeologists (effort by Khadga Samsher Rana) discovered a great stone pillar at the site attributed to Ashoka. It is believed that the pillar was established by the great king Ashoka in about 245 BC. Records made by the Chinese pilgrim Faxian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site.

Present-day

Lumbini

Lumbini, as of 1997, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site specifically nominated for the international World Heritage program.

The present Lumbini is divided into an ratio of 1:3 which means it is 3 km (2 mi) long for every 1 km (0.6 mi) wide. In total it's 2 km (1 mi) by 6 km (4 mi)

The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built, no shops, hotels or restaurants. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone, the eastern having the Theravadin monasteries, the western having Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries.

The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Asokan pillar and the Mayadevi temple, where the precise place of birth of Buddha is located. From early morning to early evening, pilgrims from various countries perform chanting and meditation at the site.

A Non-Government Organization named Samriddhi Foundation started in year 2013 working extensively in the field of Education & Health specially in government schools of the area where under privileged children study. A Non-governmental organisation called "Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation Foundation" (APECF) backed by chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and then Prime Minister Prachanda, the Chinese government and a UN group called "United Nations Industrial Development Organization" (UNIDO) signed a deal to develop Lumbini into a "special development zone" with funds worth $3 billion.[10] The venture was a China-UN joint project. A broader 'Lumbini Development National Director Committee' under the leadership of Pushpa Kamal Dahal was formed on 17 October 2011.[11] The six-member committee included Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) leader Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Nepali Congress leader Minendra Rijal, Forest Minister Mohammad Wakil Musalman, among other leaders. The committee was given the authority to "draft a master plan to develop Lumbini as a peaceful and tourism area and table the proposal" and the responsibility to gather international support for the same.[11]

Hindus regard the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu and thousands of Hindu pilgrims come here on the full moon of the Nepali month of Baisakh (April–May) to worship Maya Devi as Rupa Devi, the mother goddess of Lumbini.[12]

On the Nepali Rupee

Nepal's central bank has introduced a 100-rupee Nepali note featuring Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha.The Nepal Rastra Bank said the new note would be accessible only during the Dashain, Nepal's major fiesta in October 2013. It displays the portrait of Mayadevi, Gautam Buddha's mother in silver metallic on the front.The note also has a black dot which would help the blind recognise the note. The name of the central bank in Latin script would be printed on the note along with the date of printing in both Christian Era and the Nepali Calendar "Bikram Sambat". The new note is being issued following a cabinet decision 27 Aug.[13]

Transport

Lumbini is a 10-hour drive from Kathmandu and a 45-minute drive from Bhairahawa. The closest airport is Gautam Buddha Airport at Bhairahawa, with flights to and from Kathmandu.[14]

Gallery

  • Bodhi tree and pond at Lumbini

  • Exact birthplace of Gautama Buddha

  • Ashokan Pillar

  • Pillar Edict of Aśoka

  • Lumbini Garden

  • Eternal Peace Flame

  • Burmese Lokamani Cula Pagoda

  • Chinese Maitreya Temple

  • A mixture of Tibetan prayer flags and Korean lanterns near the Sacred Pool (Puskarni)

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha – UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 19 August 2013. 
  4. ↑ ""Gautama Buddha (B.C. 623-543)" by T.W. Rhys-Davids, The World's Great Events, B.C. 4004-A.D. 70 (1908) by Esther Singleton, pp. 124–135". Unz.org. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2013. 
  5. ↑ "The Buddha (BC 623-BC 543) – Religion and spirituality Article – Buddha, Bc, 623". Booksie. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Lumbini". Victoria and Albert museum. Retrieved 26 March 2011. 
  7. ↑ J.i.52, 54; Kvu.97, 559; AA.i.10; MA.ii.924; BuA.227; Cv.li.10, etc.
  8. ↑ See Mukerji: Asoka, p.27; see p.201f for details
  9. ↑ MA.ii.810
  10. ↑ "Programs/Projects >> UNIDO IP Projects >> Introduction". UNIDOitpo.org. Retrieved 15 July 2011. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Lumbini Development Committee formed under Dahal's leadership". ekantipur. Retrieved 17 October 2011. 
  12. ↑ Nepal 8 – Joseph Bindloss – Google Books. Books.google.co.in. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2013. 
  13. ↑ Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal’s 100-rupee note – Indistan News – National, Political and States News
  14. ↑ "Lumbini". Welcome Nepal. Retrieved 19 August 2013. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lumbini.

Coordinates: 27°28′02″N 83°16′30″E / 27.46716°N 83.27491°E / 27.46716; 83.27491

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