Sama Gaon, Manaslu region Trekking, Nepal.
                                           "An Exploration for Lifetime Experience"

Chulu Far East, Annapurna Region Nepal.

Lord Buddha-Lumbini,Nepal

Lumbini is the place where the Buddha, known as the Tathagata* was born. It is the place which should be visited and seen by a person of devotion and which should cause awareness and apprehension of the nature of impermanence.' * Tathagata - One who has found the Truth. The birthplace of the Gautama Buddha, Lumbini, is the Mecca of every Buddhist, being one of the four holy places of Buddhism. It is said in the Parinibbana Sutta that Buddha himself identified four places of future pilgrimage: the sites of his birth, enlightenment, first discourse, and death. All of these events happened outside in nature under trees. While there is not any particular significance in this, other than it perhaps explains why Buddhists have always respected the environment and natural law.

Nativity scene

Lumbini is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas in modern Nepal. In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was a beautiful garden full of green and shady Sal trees (Shorea). The garden and its tranquil environs were owned by both the Shakyas and Kolias clans. King Suddhodana, father of Gautama Buddha was of the Shakya dynasty belonging to the Kshatriya or the warrior caste. Maya Devi, his mother, gave birth to the child on her way to her parent's home in Devadaha while taking rest in Lumbini under a sal tree in the month of May in the year 642 B.C. The beauty of Lumbini is described in Pali and Sanskrit literature. Maya Devi it is said was spellbound to see the natural grandeur of Lumbini. While she was standing, she felt labor pains and catching hold of a drooping branch of a Sal tree, the baby, the future Buddha, was born.

The bas relief above [ click to view ] depicts Maya Devi with her right hand holding on to a branch of a sal tree with a newborn child standing upright on a lotus petal, shedding an oval halo, around his head, while two celestial figures pour water and lotuses from vessels of heaven as indicated by the delineation of clouds. This nativity scene was installed by Malla Kings of the Naga dynasty from about the 11th to 15th Century in the Karnali zone of Nepal.
In 249 BC, when the Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini it was a flourishing village. Ashoka constructed four stupas and a stone pillar with a figure of a horse on top. The stone pillar bears an inscription which, in English translation, runs as follows: "King Piyadasi (Ashoka), beloved of devas, in the 20 year of the coronation, himself made a royal visit, Buddha Sakyamuni having been born here, a stone railing was built and a stone pillar erected to the Bhagavan having been born here, Lumbini village was taxed reduced and entitled to the eight part (only)".

Maya Devi Temple

Lumbini remained neglected for centuries. In 1895, Feuhrer, a famous German archaeologist, discovered the great pillar while wandering about the foothills of the Churia range. Further exploration and excavation of the surrounding area revealed the existence of a brick temple and a sandstone sculpture within the temple itself which depicts the scenes of the Buddha's birth.
It is pointed out by scholars that the temple of Maya Devi was constructed over the foundations of more than one earlier temple or stupa, and that this temple was probably built on an Ashokan stupa itself. On the south of the Maya Devi temple there is the famous sacred bathing pool known as Puskarni. It is believed that Maha Devi took a bath in this pool before the delivery. By the side of the Ashoka pillar there is a river which flows southeast and is locally called the 'Ol' river. In 1996, an archaeological dig unearthed a "flawless stone" placed there by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC to mark the precise location of the Buddha's birth more than 2,600 years ago, if authenticated, the find will put Lumbini even more prominently on the map for millions of religious pilgrims.
Recently, several beautiful shrines have been built by devotees from Buddhist countries. A visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is not only for spiritual enlightenment but also for solace and satisfaction that one gets in such a calm and peaceful place.

Mothers day in Nepal (May 9)

Maata Tirtha – Aamako mukh herne din – Mothers Day

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Maata Tirtha is one of the auspicious festival in Hindu mythology falling on the. The pilgrimage (Tirtha) of mother (Mata) is collectively called ‘Mata Tirtha Aunshi‘. The main feature of the Nepali Mother’s Day are:

• respect for the mother
• People worship their living mother at their home
• People offer mothers and offering sweets, fruits, yogurts and other items to please their mothers.
• Those whose mothers have passed – they go to the Mata Tirtha Pilgrimage, about 15 km towards the eastern side of Kathmandu valley, beside Mata Tirtha Village development committee.

In Matatirtha, people take quick shower in the water taps and make offerings in the holy pond with a belief that the souls of their mothers come to the pond to accept their offerings. The visitors also worship Shiva lingam located near the holy pond.
 


Those who can’t go to mata-thirtha visit Pashupati temple in Kathmandu or any other holy places nearby to honor their departed mothers.
The statue of a mother image is opened once in a year on the Mata-tirtha day.

                        This locked mother-statue is opened only on Mata-tirtha day 

 

                     People bathing in the Mata Tirtha pond  

Nepal - Tiny, But Fully Packed with Nature! It is talking, please listen...

Plants of Nepal

Rhododendron Rhododendron blooms during the springs (Mar to May) in Higher elevation Rhododendron's Nepali Name is Lali Guranse or just Guranse in short Rhododendron is the National Flower of Nepal adding beauty to the Himalayas of Nepal Over 30 species are found in Nepal	Orchids What is orchids? Orchids are flowering plants having the most diverse and species than any other plants. There are about 25000 species of orchids in the world 319 species of orchids are found in Nepal	Flora Nepal has more than 6000 species of plants About 245 species of plants are only found in Nepal In Nepal, a total of 118 ecosystem, 75 vegetation and 35 forest types have been identified so far. Nepal is well known for its forests which attract biologists and geologists for research and study

Cordyceps sinensis Other Major Herbs and Medicinal Plants found in Nepal: Aconitum Spp Picrorrhiza scrophularaeflora Swertia multicaulis Rheum emodi Nardostachys jatamansi Ephedra gerardiana Most rural people in Nepal depend on natural medicines, knowledge of their use is passed on from one generation to the next.

Banyan Tree Banyan tree is the national tree of India - Nepal's next door neighbor. Many common sitting grounds known as Chautaris (Meaning of Chautari)are made at the foot of This tree. The other famous trees for Chautaris are the Peepul trees. Paste made of Roots of Banyan trees is said to condition hair and skin. "Banyan tree is the Embodiment of Laxmi" - According to Hinduism

Peepul Tree Peepul is worshiped as a trinity of the almighty Hindu Lords Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma "Lord Buddha meditated and received enlightenment in 483 BC under a Peepul Tree" - According to Buddhism Peepul tree are part of many hindu temples. Leaves are used in Hindu religious procession such as doing a Puja Peepul Tree can be found all over Nepal.

Animals

Rhino One Horned Rhino are abundant in Nepal - their famous place to live on the Earth! They are 5 to 6 feet tall, males slightly larger then females, and they weigh upto 6000 pounds (2700 kg) They are the only mammal on the planet with a horn on it's nose! Rhino is one of the endangered species. Humans continue to kill Rhino for smuggling its horn which is said to have medicinal values.

Bengal Tigers Bengal Tigers love Nepal land - more than 80% of the population live in Nepal. Bengal Tigers are one of the most endangered species, today they can be found in less than 15 countries. Less than 5000 Bengal tigers are surviving on the planet. (Source : WWF Nepal, 2006) The image on the right is an illustration of a paw of a bengal tiger - a remarkable and lovely image for animal lovers.

Cow Cow is a sacred animal, also the national animal of Nepal Cows are worshiped special during festivals such as Tihar Cow's dung and Urine are used during Puja (Act of honoring, respecting or worshiping Gods) Killing or Eating Cow Meat is a Felony in Nepal

Birds

Daphne or Lophophorus

• The Daphne is the national bird of Nepal
• These exotic of all pheasants are the inhabitants of high elevation of the Himalayan range
• Over 850 species of birds have been recorded in Nepal
• When they dance, they stretch their wings and tail feathers showing their glorious colors
• Daphne is also called as Monal, which is more commonly used by the people who see them the most - the mountainous people of the country