New discovery about the birthplace of Buddha

(archaeologists) - Archaeologists studying in Nepal have discovered evidence of an architecture at the birthplace of the Buddha dating back to the 6th century BC. This is the first archaeological document linking the life of Buddha - and the first flower of Buddhism - for a particular century.

Pioneering excavations in the area of ​​the sacred temple (Maya Devi Temple) at Lumbini (Nepal), Nepal, a wonder of the world recognized by UNESCO have long been the birthplace of Buddha, discovered. The rest is unknown about the 6th century BC, the wooden structure lies under a series of brick temples. The above arrangement with the same design as the ones above, the wood structure consists of an open space in the central area related to the story of the birth of Buddha himself.

So far, the earliest archaeological evidence of Buddhist architecture at Lumbini dates back to no earlier than the 3rd century BC, the time of the patronage of Emperor Asoka, who promoted the transmission spreading Buddhism from Afghanistan to Bangladesh today.

'So far we know very little about the life of Buddha, except through the remaining texts and word of mouth,' said archaeologist professor Robin Coningham of Durham University, England. The lead author of this study said. He said that some scholars said that the Buddha was born in the third century BC. 'We think why not come back to archeology to find answers about His birthplace?' Now, for the first time, we have an archaeological chain at Lumbini, showing that the buildings there were old around the 6th century BC.

A group of international archaeologists, led by Coningham and Kosh Prasad Acharya of the Pashupati Area Development Trust in Nepal, said the finding contributed to a broader understanding of the early development of Buddhism. as well as Lumbini's spiritual importance. The research results are presented in the international journal Antiquity. The study is partly supported by the National Geographic Society (National Geographic Society).

Archaeological houses by the temple.

To date the recently unknown wooden temple and brick structures on it, broken pieces of coal and sand have been tested using a combination of radioactive carbon analysis techniques. and stimulating emission optical techniques. Geological archaeological research has also identified the presence of ancient tree roots in the central void of the temple.

'UNESCO is very proud to be associated with this important discovery in one of the most sacred places for one of the oldest religions in the world,' said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. She hopes more archeological studies will be conducted and will strengthen conservation and management of this position to ensure Lumbini's protection.

'These findings are very important, helping to better understand the birthplace of Buddha' , said Ram Kumar Shrestha, Nepal's minister of culture, tourism and civil aviation . 'The Nepalese government will make every effort to protect this important position.'

Traditional Buddhist records record that Empress Maya Devi, the mother of the Buddha, gave birth to him while she was embedding in a branch in the garden of Lumbini (Lumbini) among her husband's kingdoms. grandmother and her parents. Coningham and his colleagues assumed that the open space at the center of the wooden temple was the place where a tree was grown. The following built brick temples are located on a wooden temple also arranged around this central space, where there is no roof.

Four major Buddhist sites

Lumbini is one of the key locations related to the life of the Buddha, other positions are Bodh Gaya, where he became a Buddha or an enlightened person: Sarnath, where he preached for the first time, and became the Verse-thi-la, where the Buddha died. The Buddha passed away at the age of 80. 'The temple is still in the middle of the first millennium and is recorded by Chinese pilgrims, that there is a temple next to a tree'.

Maya Devi Temple at Lumbini remains today, archaeologists have worked with monks and nuns and pilgrims.

In a scientific paper at Antiquity, the authors write: 'The series of works in Lam Te Ni is a miniature model for the development of Buddhism from a local cult to a global religion'.

Disappeared and located in the jungles of Nepal during the Middle Ages, ancient Lumbini was rediscovered in 1896 and was identified as the birthplace of the Buddha on the manifestations of the present. of a third century sandstone pillar before BC. This pillar, still standing, carries an inscription of a visit of Emperor Asoka to the place where Buddha was born as well as the name of the place - it is Lumbini.

Despite the rediscovery of the important positions of Buddhism, the earliest levels of these works were buried deep or destroyed by the following constructions, leaving evidence of the early stages of Buddhism is inaccessible to survey investigations to this day. Half a billion people around the world are Buddhists, and every year there are hundreds of thousands of pilgrimages to Lumbini. Archaeological research is funded by the Japanese government in cooperation with the Nepalese government, according to a UNESCO project to strengthen Lumbini conservation and management. Along with the National Geographic Society, research is also supported by the University of Durham and University of Stirling

The co-authors of the study are Coningham and Acharya, Strickland, CE Davis, MJ Manuel, IA Simpson, K. Gilliland, J. Tremblay, TC Kinnaird and DCW Sanderson.