Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Nepal. It's the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BCE, became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. It is one of many magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of Gautama Buddha.
Maya devi Temple The ancient Mayadevi Temple, Lumbini, Nepal. Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi Temple and several others which are still under construction. Many monuments, monasteries and a museum, the Lumbini International Research Institute, are also within the holy site. Also there is the Puskarini, or Holy Pond, where the Buddha's mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he had his first bath. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, then achieved ultimate Enlightenment and finally relinquished their earthly forms. Lumbini was made a World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1997.
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In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was situated in Nepal, east of Kapilavastu and southwest Devadaha. It was there, that the Buddha was born. A pillar discovered in 1896 (and erected thereafter at Rummindei) is believed to mark the spot of Ashoka's visit to Lumbini. The site was not known as Lumbini before the pillar was discovered.According to an inscription on the pillar, it was placed there by the people then in charge of the park to commemorate Ashoka's visit and gifts. The park was previously known as Rummindei, 2 mi (2 mi (3.2 km)) north of Bhagavanpura.
