Under the Sacred Tree at Mayadevi Temple, Lumbini

 Today, I sit quietly under the shade of the ancient sal trees at Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini, Nepal—the very place where our Blessed Teacher, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, was born more than 2,600 years ago. The air here is calm, the birds sing softly, and there is a peace that words can hardly describe.

As a Buddhist, to be here is not just a journey across distance, but a pilgrimage into the heart of my faith.

The Sacred Dream of Queen Mayadevi

While reflecting under this tree, I remember the story of Queen Mayadevi. Long before the Buddha’s birth, she had a most extraordinary dream. Four celestial beings carried her to the Himalayas, where she bathed in the pure waters of Anotatta Lake. Afterwards, she was dressed in divine garments, and a white elephant carrying a white lotus entered her right side.

Wise Brahmins later interpreted this dream, telling King Suddhodana that his queen would give birth to a noble prince—one destined for greatness.

The Birth in Lumbini

Ten months later, on a Vesak full moon day in 623 BCE, Queen Mayadevi was traveling to her parents’ home. On the way, she stopped to rest in this very garden—Lumbini, a place filled with blooming sal trees and singing birds.

It was here, while holding onto the branch of a sal tree, that she gave birth without pain to a son: Prince Siddhartha.

The chronicles tell us that the newborn prince immediately took seven steps upon the earth and declared:

"I am supreme in this world.

This is my final birth.

There will be no rebirth for me."

My Reflection as a Buddhist

Sitting here, I imagine that sacred moment. I feel the gentle breeze that must have touched Queen Mayadevi, the songs of birds that must have echoed through this garden, and the serenity that surrounded the miraculous birth.

For us Buddhists, this is not just a story from history—it is the beginning of the path to enlightenment. From this very spot, the life of the Buddha unfolded, a life that would later gift the world with wisdom, compassion, and the Four Noble Truths.

A Living Pilgrimage Site

Today, the Mayadevi Temple preserves these sacred ruins. Inside, the marker stone and ancient relics signify the exact birthplace of the Buddha. The Ashokan Pillar, erected in the 3rd century BCE, still stands as witness to Emperor Ashoka’s devotion. Nearby, the sacred pond reminds us where Queen Mayadevi bathed before giving birth.

Pilgrims from all corners of the world walk silently here, some in prayer, some in meditation, all united in reverence.

Closing Thoughts

As I sit under the tree in this holy garden, I feel deeply grateful. Lumbini is not just the birthplace of the Buddha—it is the birthplace of peace itself. To be here is to remember that each of us carries within the same potential for wisdom and compassion that began with Prince Siddhartha’s first breath.

Lumbini is not the end of a journey—it is the beginning. 🌸 

Dananjaya Vimukthi Karunarathne 

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