LUMBINI-BUDDHA BIRTH PLACE LUMBINI NEPAL

LUMBINI NEPAL Lumbini is the presumed location where the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama was born to Queen Mayadevi, in modern-day Nepal. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been since 1997. It is arguably the most sacred site in Buddhism, and as such is an important pilgrimage for Buddhists of all schools. The Sakyamuni Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was born to a noble family. He was the son of King Suddhodana and Queen Mayadevi. Tradition states that the Queen was unable to become pregnant for twenty years, until she had a vision of a Boddhisatva. She awoke pregnant, and carried the Buddha for ten cycles of the moon. On the way home to her father's kingdom, she stopped in the park of Lumbini. While there she gave birth to her son, the to-be-Buddha. The site at Lumbini has been a very holy place in Buddhism since around the 5th century BCE. Many pilgrims have visited the site, and one, the Emperor Ashoka, erected a mighty pillar commemorating the Buddha's birth on the site. There are a number of points of archeological and spiritual interest. The ruins of a monastery are on site, and are popular to tourists. A large pool where Queen Mayadevi is said to have bathed still exists, and is known as the Sacred Pool, an important destination for devotees. The exact birthplace of the Lord Buddha is also specifically marked, giving a focal point for pilgrims.