Commonwealth Faiths (Commonwealth Union) _ Among the most sacred destinations in the Buddhist world, Lumbini holds a unique place as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical figure who would go on to become the Gautama Buddha. Situated in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, Lumbini was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and continues to be a revered site for pilgrims and spiritual seekers from across the world.
The story of Lumbini began in 623 BCE, when Queen Maya Devi of the Sakya Kingdom, following the ancient customs of India, journeyed from her palace in Kapilavastu to her maternal home in Devadaha to give birth to her son. Travelling through the Lumbini grove, filled with sal trees, the queen, captivated by the beauty of the park, had paused to rest. After partaking in a ritual bath in the Puskarini pond, she is said to have reached up, clung to the branch of a sal tree, and given birth to Prince Siddhartha. The miraculous event took place on Vesak, a full moon day that is celebrated annually by Buddhists.
Buddhist tradition recounts that at the moment of his birth, miraculous events unfolded. Birds sang melodiously, flowers bloomed out of season, and heavenly music filled the air. The Prince Siddhartha, walked seven steps, a lotus flower blossoming with each step he took. Taking the seventh step, the prince lifted a hand toward the sky, making a declaration.
Roughly translated from Pali, the announcement states,
“I am chief of the world,
I hold the title of the Eldest in the world. This is the last birth.
There will be [henceforth for me] no more re-becoming.”
This symbolic gesture, interpreted as his rejection of the cycle of rebirth, established Lumbini as the spiritual axis of Buddhist history.
The sanctity of Lumbini was further recognized when Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire, a devout Buddhist, visited the site in 249 BCE. Ashoka, accompanied by his teacher Upagupta, marked the place with an inscribed pillar, known at present as the Ashoka Pillar.
This massive stone pillar is engraved in Brahmi script and confirms the Buddha’s birthplace as well as recognizes Ashoka’s veneration for the site. A translation of the inscription indicates that the king freed the village of Lumbini from taxes and required only a small tribute in recognition of its sanctity.
The Maya Devi Temple, considered the center of present-day Lumbini, is believed to house the precise location of the Buddha’s birth. The temple is encircled by historic brick buildings and the holy Shakya Tank, where it is believed that Queen Maya bathed prior to giving birth to Prince Siddhartha.
Excavations that had been carried out in the area have also revealed layers of Buddhist viharas and stupas, including some that date back to the 3rd century BCE, reasserting Lumbini’s long-standing Buddhist history.
Today, Lumbini stands as a living center of global Buddhism, with numerous monasteries and stupas having been built around the sacred garden by Buddhist communities from across the world, including countries like Thailand, Myanmar, China, and Sri Lanka. With each displaying its unique architectural and devotional traditions, Lumbini reflects the diverse weaving of Buddhist practice.
According to Buddhism, India holds four principal pilgrimage sites: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, where Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment, Sarnath, where he delivered his first sermon, and Kushinagar, where he entered parinirvana (passing). Among them, Lumbini represents the place of beginnings, the sacred ground where the Enlightened One took his first breath.
Lumbini’s significance has also been mentioned in one of the Buddhist teachings, particularly in the Parinibbana Sutta, where the Buddha himself encouraged his followers to visit the site. Even after the passing of centuries, the essence of Lumbini continues to prevail. It remains a sacred and spiritual location, not only for worship but also for reflecting on the principles of compassion and spiritual enlightenment found in Buddhist philosophy.
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