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Lumbini, birthplace of Lord Buddha, is the
centre of holy faith for the millions of Buddhists all over the
world. Located in south-western Nepal, Lumbini is a Buddhist
pilgrimage site in the Kapilavastu district of Nepal, near the
Indian border. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi is said to
have given birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who in turn, as the
Buddha Gautama, gave birth to the Buddhist tradition. Lumbini
has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple, Also
here is the Puskarini or Holy Pond - where the Buddha's mother
took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he, too, had
his first bath. The most significant spot of the palaces the
eastern gate from where Prince Siddhartha Gautam departed on his
Quest of 'Essence for human life'.
Attaining Great heights of civilization and prosperity then,
many people and dignitaries came to the scared site for
pilgrimage. Evidence even shows the great Indian emperor Ashoka
Maurya visited the scared garden in the 250 BC. and to
commemorate his plimgrage he erected a monolith known as the
Ashokan pillar which stands till today.
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