sources and evidences that support the idea that the Buddha was born in India:

 

  • Buddhist texts: The earliest sources that mention the Buddha's birthplace are the Buddhist texts themselves, which were written in the Pali language. According to these texts, the Buddha was born in Lumbini, in what is now southern Nepal, but was then part of India.

  • Ashoka inscriptions: The famous Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, who ruled in the 3rd century BCE, erected several inscriptions and pillars throughout his empire that refer to the Buddha and his teachings. These inscriptions, which have been found in various parts of India, mention several places associated with the Buddha's life, including his birthplace in Lumbini.

  • Archaeological discoveries: Archaeological excavations in Lumbini have uncovered several ancient structures, including a temple and a bathing pond, that are believed to be associated with the Buddha's birth. These findings have been dated to the 3rd century BCE, which is around the time of the Buddha's life.

  • Chinese pilgrim accounts: Several Chinese Buddhist pilgrims who visited India in the 5th and 7th centuries CE wrote accounts of their travels, in which they described visiting several sites associated with the Buddha's life, including his birthplace in Lumbini.

  • Literary sources: Other literary sources, such as the writings of the Greek historian Megasthenes and the Buddhist commentator Buddhaghosa, also mention the Buddha's birthplace as being in the region of Lumbini, which was then part of India.

    Archaeological evidence supporting the idea that the Buddha was born in India includes:

    1. The Pillar Edicts of Emperor Ashoka: The most famous of these edicts, the Rummindei inscription, which is located in Lumbini, Nepal, refers to the birth of the Buddha and describes how Emperor Ashoka visited the site in the 3rd century BCE and ordered the construction of a temple.

    2. Excavations at the Maya Devi Temple: The Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, Nepal is believed to be the site of the Buddha's birth. Excavations at the temple have uncovered evidence of a pre-Mauryan timber structure, which was later replaced by a brick shrine during the Mauryan period. The brick shrine contained a stone relief depicting the birth of the Buddha, which has been dated to the 3rd century BCE.

    3. The Ashoka Stupa at Sanchi: The Great Stupa at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh, India, which was constructed during the Mauryan period and is believed to have been commissioned by Emperor Ashoka, contains several reliefs depicting scenes from the life of the Buddha, including his birth.

    4. The Piprahwa Stupa: The Piprahwa Stupa, located in Uttar Pradesh, India, was excavated in the early 20th century and is believed to contain the ashes of the Buddha. The stupa has been dated to the Mauryan period and contains inscriptions in the Brahmi script, which refer to the Buddha and his teachings.

    Overall, these archaeological findings provide strong evidence that the Buddha was born in India, specifically in the region that is now Lumbini, Nepal.

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