Lumbini (Mayadevi temple) - the birth place of Buddha

Lumbini (Mayadevi temple) - the birth place of Buddha

Lumbini is the famous Buddhist pilgrimage site in southern Nepal. Some 600 years before the Christ, Lumbini used to be a exquisite garden between two different kingdoms of Devadaha and Kapilavastu. Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Buddha in this garden while traveling to her maternal home. Later with Buddha becoming famous, the exact place of birth was marked with a stone and temple was erected. Several devotional stupas were also erected around it. In 3rd century B.C., emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini and a column was erected with inscriptions. At present, Lumbini is rediscovered from the mounds and the marker stone is excavated. Along with structures dating 4th BC to 12 AD, marker stone is preserved in the present Mayadevi temple.