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Art. XXIV.—The Birthplace of Gautama Buddha

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Extract

Although the Indian and English newspapers have already published slight notices of the recent discovery of Kapilavastu and the Lumbini Garden, and the new Aśoka inscriptions will in due course be edited in the official publications of the Archaeological Survey, I think that the Society will be glad to see the actual words of the Lumbini Garden inscription, and some notes, based on local knowledge, concerning the most important archaeological discovery which has been made in India for many years.

Type
Original Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1897

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References

page 615 note 1 Dr. Bühler's notices are quoted later on.

page 616 note 1 “The Remains near Kasiā, in the Gorakhpur District, the reputed site of Kuçanagara or Kuçinārā, the scene of Buddha's Death.” By Smith, Vincent A. I.C.S., Fellow of the University of Allahabad. 4to, pp. 26. (Allahabad: Government Press, 1896.)Google Scholar

page 616 note 2 I have a suspicion concerning the real site which I am unwilling to publish until an opportunity occurs to verify its validity.

page 616 note 3 Lan-mo, or Rāmagr¯ma, will probably be found in the Nepalese Tarāi, a few miles west of the Gaudak River, near the village of Dharmaulī, in longitude about 83° 53' East, north of the village of Bahuwār in the Gorakhpur District, where, according to information received by Dr. Hoey, another stone pillar exists. The locality is malarious and difficult of access.

page 617 note 1 Progress Report of the Archaeological Survey Circle, North-West Provinces and Oudh, for the year ending June 30, 1895. By Dr. A. F¨hrer, dated July 16, 1895. Printed at the Thomason College Press, Roorkee.

page 617 note 2 Dr. Hoey, I.C.S., who has recently visited the spot, assures me that the local pronunciation of the name is Rumin (or Rummin) deī, not Romindeiī. I knew of the existence of this pillar a dozen years ago, when I was Magistrate of Bastī. Mr. Duncan Ricketts, manager of the Dulhā Estate, on the border, whose residence is only ahout five miles from the pillar, then sent me rubbings of the mediaeval scribblings on the exposed part of the pillar. I saw that those writings were of no interest, and thought no more of the matter.

page 618 note 1 [As the letters are throughout unmistakable, it has been thought better not to delay this article till our next issue in order to have a plate made of Dr. Fiihrer's facsimile.—Ed.]

page 618 note 2 This transliteration is printed in Dr. Bühler's German paper published in the Transactions of the Vienna Academy for January, 1897. A brief account of the discovery in English was communicated by Dr. Biihler to the Athenceum (March 6, 1897), and reprinted in the April number of this Journal.

page 619 note 1 [Perhaps after “worshipped” one should go on— “and put up there a stone pillar with a stone horse on it (to celebrate the fact) that the Buddha, the Sakya Sage, was born there, and reduced the land-tax on the Lummini village to a one-eighth share (on the ground) that the Honourable One was born there.” See liarth's, M. paper in the Journal des Savants, 1897Google Scholar.—Ed.]