Lumbini- Buddha's Birthplace

Lumbini, situated in the western Terai region of Nepal, is well-known all over the world as the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha. One of the three zones of the Western Development Region is named after the historic site. Situated in Rupandehi District of Lumbini Zone, Lumbini is in 27 degree 25’ northern latitude and 82 degree 43’ eastern longitude. Being the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, Lumbini has enhanced the image of Nepal in the world as being the country where Lord Buddha was born. Buddhists from all over the world consider Lumbini as the greatest holy site. This is the reason why United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNSESCO) has listed it as a World Heritage Site. Lumbini can also be taken as a famous pilgrimage site for Hindus. In fact, Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, the worshiper of non-violence and peace, can be considered as the great pilgrimage site of the whole mankind and also as the immortal center of human civilization.

Lumbini, situated some 5-6 Km north of Nepal-India border, is the actual site where Lord Buddha was born is proved by the Ashoka Pillar erected almost 2300 years ago by Emperor Ashoka.

In 1886, Khadga Shamsher, the brother of the then Rana Prime Minister Bir Shamsher, was sent to Tansen as the chief administrator of Palpa. While in Palpa, when Khadga Shamsher came to learn that there was something like stone column in the jungle of Rummindehi (Rupandehi) he himself went there in the month of November, 1896 a stone pillar was discovered on which was an inscription in Brahmi script. The study of the inscription on the pillar shed light on the fact that it was erected by Emperor Ashoka in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

The English translation of the inscribed sentences on the pillar, as mention on Page 28 of the book “Kapilvastu Lumbini Digdarshan”, written by Binya Srivastava in Hindi and published from Bhelpur Varanasi in 1954 is as follows:

   “Loved by Gods, popular King came here himself 20 years after the coronation and offered worship. Shakyamuni Buddha was born here. Therefore a symbol was established here and a stone pillar was erected. The Lord was born here, therefore the taxon Lumbini village was waived and one part (on which the king has the right) out of eight parts (of production) is also granted to the same village.”

In this manner, the engraving on the Ashoka pillar proves that Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini. This is the reason why the finding of the Ashoka Pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka in 245 B.C must be considered as the discovery of Lumbini and this is the reality.

But, on the question of who discovered Lumbini there is great difference of opinion among researchers and archeologists. In most write ups, the credit for finding Lumbini is given to Dr. Fuehrer.  But the reality is different. On December 1, 1896 when only three feet of soil remained to be removed and the work was in progress, Fuehrer reached Lumbini to meet Khadga Shamsher, as pointed out by archeologists.

Actually, Fuehrer had not contributed anything for excavating the Ashoka Pillar but it was a coincidence that he had arrived at the time when Khadga Shamsher had excavated the Pillar, Fuehrer had only photographed the inscription on the pillar and also copied it. After the inscription was identified by the German Brahmi expert Hultzsch, it became clear that Emperor Ashoka had erected the stone pillar in the place where Buddha was born. Thus, the credit for discovering Lumbini must go to Khadga Shamsher and not Fuehre. But the credit for publicizing the fact worldwide must go to Fuehrer, in the view point of the scribe. T. Vijaytunga of Sri Lanka in his book “Lumbini to Kushinara” has written that Fuehrer had reached the place when only three feet of soil remained to be removed for the pillar to be wholly visible. L.A. Wadel has also mentioned that Fuehrer had no relation or contribution in the excavation works. Percival Landon, a foreign writer on the history of Nepal, has given Fuehrer the credit for discovering Lumbini and there are many writers who quote him without investigating the truth. This is why the actual discoverer Khadga Shamsher has not got the recognition due to him. Landon has even given the wrong year i.e. 1895 when Lumbini was discovered, as T. Vijyatunga has mentioned.

There is no doubt as it has been proved that Buddha was born in Lumbini after the copy of the inscription on the Ashoka Pillar, found by Khadga Shamsher’s efforts, was deciphered by Hultzsch in Germany. In the inscription, it has also been mentioned that a symbol or sign has been placed on the spot where Buddha was born. In the excavation works begun in 1992 in the area where the temple of Mayadevi is located, the stone slab placed as the symbol was found in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple by the archeologists and researchers. This has further made it clear as to where exactly Buddha was born in Lumbini. The “Time” published form London, has emphasized, in its May, 1996 issue that, on the basis of the stone slab, the exact spot where Buddha was born has been identified.” That the stone slab was found after the excavation of three layers of ruins in the place where Mayadevi Temple is located and it provided the right information as to the exact spot where Buddha was born in mentioned in the English publication, by Tourism Department in May 1997, “Lumbini the birthplace of Lord Buddha”, It say:

 The single most important place of Lumbini (and to the entire Buddhist world for that matter) is the stone slab located deep in Sanctum-Sanctorum. Revealed after a hard and meticulous excavations under the three layers of ruins over the site of a famous Maya Devi Temple, the stone slab foundation pinpoints the location of the original place marking the exact spot of the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

“Travellers Nepal”, 1999 published from Tripureshwor, Kathmandu has also mentioned the same fact in as such:

“Recent excavations have turned up a stone bearing a ‘foot imprint’ indicating the exact place of birth.”

Learning about the stone slab, internationally acknowledged archeologist from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka came on an inspection and accepted that the stone was the indicator sign of the birthplace of Buddha. On the basis of the proofs gathered, on February 4, 1996, the then Prime Minister on behalf of His Majesty’s Government announced the discovery of the birth place of Buddha in Lumbini.

Lumbini was the birthplace of Buddha was established after the finding of the Ashoka Pillar in 1896 AD indicates the fact that the place was in oblivion for some time. There is proof to suggest that Lumbini was a major pilgrimage site till the 14^th century. The evidence is in the form of the inscription on the Ashoka Pillar which gives information that Naga King Ripu Malla of west Nepal had come to Lumbini in Kapilvastu area, which was a part of his kingdom, in 1312 A.D. Kerry Moran has also mentioned that after the 14^th century Lumbini was gradually turned into a jungle”. By the 14^th century, Lumbini slowly sank beneath the jungle. Before that in 403 A.D. Chinese Fa Hien and in 635-6Ad.D Huen Zsang had visited Lumbini and from their descriptions it is evident that Lumbini was place bustling with activity at that time. The Last Naga King Pratap Malla died without living an heir to the throne so in 1330 A.D. Naga Kingdom was merged into the former Pala Kingdom. Pala Kingdom in the course of time, in 1391-6 A.D. when the western region was divided in 22-24 states, came under the jurisdiction of Tanahu Kingdom. The historians point to the fact that Lumbini, Kapilvastu obviously was also a part of Tanahu state then. This suggest that after the 14^th century Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, turned into a jungle and its memory faded from the minds of the people. The place once again gained fame only after the finding of the Ashoka Pillar through the excavation works carried out by Khadga Shamsher in 1896.

Prior to the visit in 1967 A.D by the then UN Secretary General U Thant to the holy site of Lumbini, the development aspect of Lumbini area had not received any priority. It is mentioned that U Thant had cried when he saw the sad state of the birthplace of Buddha. Navin Singh Khadka, writing in “The Rising Nepal” of January 17, 1997, described the travel of U Thant in the following manner:

“He came, he saw, he wept… and it was natural for U Thant, a Buddhist, to the “Plight” of Buddha’s birthplace. It was such a neglected spot”.

Thereafter, he made great efforts for the development of Lumbini. This is evident from his appeal to the world community for voluntary assistance so that the pilgrims and tourists coming to Lumbini would be facilitated by making it a wonderful pilgrimage site.

“The development of Lumbini has reached a stage where financing from voluntary contributions will be needed before it can become a pilgrimage center with adequate facilities for pilgrims and tourists”

The formation of the Lumbini development Committee with representation of Nepal and 13 other countries in the United Nations Central Office in New York on February 16, 1970 can be considered as the first practical step toward the development of Lumbini area. Later, three other countries where also represented in the Committee. The government had also constituted a national committee to maintain contact and co-ordination with the committee for facilitating the development of Lumbini. The National committee was dissolved in 1985 A.D. with the formation Lumbini Development Trust. At present, Lumbini Development Trust is active in this direction.

Tilaurakot, Arorakot, Chatradei, Gotihawa, Kudan, Niglihawa, Sagarhawa and Ramgram are other sites of archeological importance near Chatradei is nearly 5 Km to the south west. Similarly, Kudan is 2 Km south east of Taulihawa and Niglihawa is nearly 8 Km to the north east. Sagarhawa is situated 12 Km north of Taulihawa while Tilaurakot is 3 Km in the north wet. Ruins or archeological importance have been found at the above mentioned sites near Taulihawa. On the basis of the archeological evidence found at Tilaurakot. It has been established it was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Kapilvastu.

The descriptions of archeologist like Vincent Smith and Bost together with those of Chinese travelers Huen Zsang and Fahien have made it convenient to recognize Tilaurakot as the ancient Kapilvastu Kingdom.

Lumbini besides being an important historical and religious site, also abounds with natural splendor.

The greenery of the trees and plants in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, has added to the charm of the place. But, in recent years, the fall in the number of trees in the area has been quite alarming and the local people are worried about it. By preserving the environment and the heritage through an appropriate plan and program and its implementation the glory of the place can be maintained for posterity. In this direction, to make Lumbini a world center of peace and non-violence, awareness among the local people is rising.