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| Sunday, 22 May 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Hallowed grounds As we celebrate the Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Passing away on Vesak Poya, places that immediately spring to mind are the sites in Nepal and India, where these events took place. Thousands of pilgrims from countries across the world converge on these sites throughout the year and pay their respects at the grounds made hallowed by the Buddha. Lumbini
The birthplace of the Gautama Buddha, Lumbini is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas in modern Nepal. Lumbini was believed to have been a beautiful garden in the Buddha's time. It is there, under a sal tree, that Mahamaya Devi gave birth to Prince Siddhartha, the future Buddha, over 2,500 years ago. Emperor Ashoka, who visited Lumbini in 249BC, constructed four stupas and a stone pillar with a horse on top, and also an inscription which says "here the Buddha was born". In 1895, the famous German archaeologist, Feuhrer, discovered this pillar while wandering around the foothills. Explorations carried out in the surrounding areas revealed the existence of a brick temple and a sandstone sculpture within the temple itself, which depicts scenes of the Buddha's birth. Scholars believe that this Temple of Maya Devi was constructed over the foundations of more than one earlier temple, and that it was probably built on an Ashokan stupa itself. To the south of this temple is the famous bathing pool known as Puskarni, where Mahamaya Devi is said to have bathed before giving birth. The 'Ol' river flows close to the Ashoka Pillar. In 1996, archaeologists unearthed a "flawless stone", believed to have been placed there by Emperor Ashoka to mark the exact location of the Buddha's birth. **** Kusinara
The village of Kusinara in India is where the Buddha Passed away (entered Parinirvana) and was cremated. The year was probably between 487 and 483 BC; however, according to the tradition of Sri Lanka and other southeastern countries, it is believed that the Buddha passed away in 544-543 BC. The religious edifices at the site include the Mahaparinirvana Temple. It was built in the present form by the Indian Government in 1956 as part of the commemoration of the 2,500th year of the Mahaparinirvana. A 6.1 metre long reclining Buddha image is inside this temple. This 1,500-year old image was made of one block of red sandstone brought from Mathura during the Gupta period. It was discovered in 1876 in a ruined state and was successfully pieced together. The Nirvana Temple, later built over the site of the Parinirvana as well as the ruins of several monasteries, are set in attractive and well maintained gardens. The Ramabhar Stupa in the same site marks the place where the Buddha's body was cremated. A museum has been built in the Kusinara site recently. *** Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya (Buddha Gaya) in India is the site where the Buddha attained Enlightenment, bringing to fruition, His quest for the truth, over which He had spent long years. Thus, this has become one of the most sacred spots for Buddhists all over the world. One of the treasures at the site is the large and historic Bodhi Tree under which Gautama Buddha attained Enlightenment. Many kings had protected the tree over the years. The fourth or fifth direct descendant of the original Bodhi Tree still stands today and is the oldest continually documented tree in the world. Ashoka's daughter Sanghamitta, a Buddhist nun, brought a shoot of the tree to Sri Lanka which King Devanampiyatissa planted at the Mahavihara monastery in Anuradhapura. This is known as the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi today. The Mahabodhi Temple, another landmark in the site, is believed to have been initiated by Emperor Ashoka. He had established a monastery here as well as erecting a diamond throne with a canopy supported by four pillars, over a stone representation of the Vajrasana, the seat where Buddha attained Enlightenment. The present temple is 15 metres long and 15 metres wide on the base. It's 52 metres in height and rises like a slender pyramid. It has a cylindrical neck. On the top of the temple are Chatras which symbolise sovereignty of religion. It has four towers rising from the four corners. The massive image of the Buddha inside the temple is said to be over 1,700 years old. The courtyard of the temple is studded with a large number of stupas built over the past 2,500 years. Since 1953, Bodh Gaya has been developed as an international pilgrimage site. Buddhists from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Tibet, Bhutan and Japan have established monasteries and temples close to the Mahabodhi compound. |
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