Today’s The World Around Us will be presented in Nepali and English, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, (Nepali,) Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Thai.

Noble viewers, today’s The World Around Us will take us to Nepal as we introduce you to one of the most famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites: Lumbini, the birthplace of the enlightened Master Sakyamuni Buddha. Known as the “Awakened One,” Sakyamuni Buddha led the world on the path of peace and enlightenment when he lived some 2,500 years ago.

Nestled in the foothills of the Siwalik range in the Rupandehi district of Nepal, Lumbini is where Queen Maya Devi had given birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who in turn, as the Gautama Buddha, gave birth to the Buddhist philosophy. Sakyamuni Buddha is said to have lived here till the age of 29.

Hari Rai, the Information Incharge Officer at Lumbini Development Trust, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the restoration of Lumbini, explained to us the historical significance of Lumbini. These are the remains of of an ancient monastery. It has got two sections, as we can fairly see. This is a residential block and that is a meditation block.

So after the arrival of Emperor Ashoka to Lumbini, a large group of devotees from different parts of the world came to Lumbini to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. To support the increasing number of devotees, these monasteries were built during the time. The nuns and monks From 4th century BC to 8th century AD drank water from this well.

Buddhist literature mentions that the newly born Prince Siddhartha took seven steps and uttered some precious words as an epoch making message to the suffering humanity.

It happened in the beautiful Sal grove of Lumbini, Nepal. The garden was renowned for the beauty of its shady grove of lush green trees and colorful flowers. In 7th century BC, Lumbini was a beautiful garden. We read in the Buddhist scripture that more than five types of bees, hundreds of types of birds and butterflies used to fly here.

Maya Devi, the queen of Sakya King Suddhodana of Kapilavastu, on the way to her maternal hometown Devadaha, was passing through the Lumbini Garden. Before she could go further, she gave birth to Prince Siddhartha.

So to the west of Lumbini was ancient Kapilvastu this side, and to the east was Koliya Kingdom. And between these two kingdoms there was matrimonial relationship. And this tradition of matrimonial alliance was kept for many generations. And this connection in 7th century BC, Maya Devi, beautiful princess of Koliya Kingdom, Devadaha at present, was given in marriage to the king of Kapilvastu named Suddhodhana.

In due course of time she became pregnant and according to Sakya's tradition that the first child was not allowed to give a birth at home, so she asked for the permission to the King Suddhodhana. She said, “Oh Maharaja, I want to go to visit my parents to give birth to our first baby.”

Suddhodhana was overjoyed. He was very happy because they did not have any child for 10 years after marriage. And a special preparation was made. A procession of all 500 people started for Devadaha. We believe where this tree stands today, in this spot her palanquin was put.

The birth of the Buddha is believed to have been marked by the blossoming of seven lotus flowers. According to Buddhist scriptures, when the baby was given birth to, there was a miracle.

From the Heaven, from the sky, clouds were offered to him. Devas (gods) came and worshipped him, prayed to him, sang the song of glory of the newly born baby. Promptly there bloomed seven lotus flowers and baby Buddha, with his right index up, stepped on each of the petals of the lotus flowers and proclaimed.

He said, “I am the first and foremost of all the creatures to cross the riddle of the ocean of existence. I have come to the world to share the path of emancipation. This is my last birth and here after, I will not be born again.”

He proclaimed like that. By then nobody could look at him directly because immense light was emanating out of his body. There was a very powerful halo around his head. Soon after completion of his seven steps and proclamation, he turned into a normal baby. And the baby was kept back and given the first purification bath in the sacred tank.

The holy pond Puskarini is the site where Maya Devi is said to have bathed before giving birth to the little Buddha. It is also believed to be the site where the infant prince Siddhartha was given his first purification bath. That day was the Baisakha Poornima (Full Moon Day).

Baisakha normally is the first month of Nepali calendar and Poornima means full moon day. But it falls on, sometimes April and sometimes May. Three major events of Buddha's life: his birth, enlightenment, and his passing away, Mahaparinirvana, took place on the same date. It is not a coincidence, you know, but it is a perfect sign of a Bodhisattva, of Arahat Samyak Sam Bodhisattva.

One who becomes Arahat Samyak Sam Bodhisattva in this very life has to show like these different symbols. Often this is one of the symbols. So the Buddha was born in 623 BC, here in Lumbini; the date was Baisakha Poornima. He got enlightenment at the age of 35 in Bodh Gaya on the same date. And at the age of 80, he passed away on Baisakha Poornima, again in Kushinagar.

Marking these three events are also three special trees: the Ashoka tree – under which Buddha was born, the holy Bodhi tree – under which he got enlightened, and the Sala tree – under which Lord Buddha passed away. The famous Mauryan Emperor Ashoka guided by his spiritual teacher Upagupta made a pilgrimage to this holy site in 249 BC. He built a memorial stone pillar, the Ashokan pillar. It bears the first historic document relating to the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The pillar bears inscription that has been engraved in Brahmi scripts and Pali language. There are 90 letters in four and a half lines. Of all, the second line is very important. It is read as: “Hida Bhagavana Jateti Lumminigame.” It means “Here in this place the Lord Sakyamuni Buddha was born in Lumbini village.”

The inscription on the pillar deals with three very fundamental questions. Who he was, the Buddha? He was a human being, Sakyamuni, as well as divine being, Bhagavanna. Where was he born? He was born in Lumbini village. And where is Lumbini? Here, where the pillar stands on the top of all. It proves that Lord Buddha was not merely a legendary figure. He was a historical personality, celebrated. He was born here.

More on the historical importance of Lumbini when we return. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television.

Welcome back to The World Around Us on Supreme Master Television and our presentation on the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha. The Maya Devi Temple is the heart of all monuments at this holy site. The temple bears testimony of several layers of construction over the centuries. The main object of reverence is the nativity sculpture.

This is a nativity sculpture. The main object of worship was Devi.

We see Maya Devi holding the branch of the tree. Next to her stands Prajapati, her younger sister, to support, to solicit divinities seen at the service. And baby Buddha is seen standing upright on the pedestal of a lotus flower.

It is made of red sedimentary sandstone, and it was carved in maybe 4 century BC in Mathura Art College in India. And it was brought in, put in this ancient Maya Devi Temple in 7th century AD and worshipped for a long time.

The restored Maya Devi Temple was reopened in 2003. The ground floor consists of the remains of previous construction dating to the 3rd century BC. The then United Nations Secretary General U Thant, who was deeply impressed by his visit to Lumbini in 1967, suggested the Nepal government to develop Lumbini as an international pilgrimage and a tourist center.

Finally, a master plan for the development of Lumbini, designed by the world famous architect Professor Kenzo Tange of Japan, was approved by the Government of Nepal and United Nations in 1978.

Lumbini Development Trust was formed in 1985 to implement the master plan.

The plan continues to be realized till today. It designates three square miles of land to be transformed into a sacred place of gardens, pools, buildings, and groves. The development area includes a special monastic zone, the circular sacred garden surrounding the Ashoka pillar and Maya Devi Temple, and Lumbini Village.

Today, many Buddhist communities from various countries have built or are building temples and monasteries near the Sacred Garden in the International Monastery Zone. The monasteries built by these communities showcase the architecture and cultures of their respective nations and are part of the harmonious environment of Lumbini.

Because of its immense archeological and religious importance, Lumbini was enlisted as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1997.

Today, pilgrims from all over the world come and deeply immerse themselves in the serene spiritual atmosphere. Enjoying the bliss, they remember the great Master Sakyamuni Buddha, who showed humankind the way of truth, peace, compassion, and enlightenment.

Thank you for joining us in today’s program of The World Around Us about Lumbini, the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television. Words of Wisdom is coming up next. May Heavenly light and sound be with you.