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| Wednesday, 14 July 2004 |
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A visit to the 'Paradise on earth' by Letitia Hewavisenti I have travelled thousands of miles wondering where I could set my eyes - "Paradise on earth", sometimes I used to think it was my own country Sri Lanka when I came back visiting other countries - but after I visited Nepal, where the Exalted One, Sakyamuni Buddha was born, I felt - this is paradise! It is really blessed by the Gods and I felt I was with celestial beings among the highest snow clad mountains in the world. The impact of the scenery was breathtaking and the overwhelmingly beautiful lakes, streams and picturesque villages - each a masterpiece done by an unseen hand. A fitting place for a Sakya Prince to be born. Strange it may seen, when the cool air greeted me at Kathmandu airport - my one thought and prayer was to visit Lumbini even though I went to Nepal on a holiday to stay with a friend - I had a lovely experience which I like to relate as such events take place once in a life time. When I landed in Kathmandu my friends who came to greet me told me that I would not be able to go to Lumbini. I was so disappointed as we were to go along the Himalaya by coach to Lumbini about 400 miles, passing Pokhara, Annapura Range, Phew lakes and see the sun rise after a nights rest at Crystal Hotel and view the scenery as it unfolds before us. But the road to Lumbini from Katmandu was in a bad state and we were advised travel by air. The two weeks we spent at Kathmandu visiting all the temples, Pasupathinath temple near the banks of the sacred river Bagmathi dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple had a golden plated roof and carved silver door with exquisite carvings and beautiful paintings. Pandal Temple of Bajira with huge copper images and most impressive was the Mahabada temple with 1001 Buddhas sculptured rising up like a pandal. Still the road to Lumbini was not safe to travel and I was feeling very sad. Above all I had brought a yellow robe from Sri Lanka to offer to the head priest in the Maya Devi temple. I was praying profusely to go to Lumbini - the way I planned - especially at Swayambo Stupa the biggest Stupa in the whole world. I prayed turning the prayer wheels. That night I was dreaming - a jeep came to our house and a white snake got into it. I woke up feeling my prayer will be answered. The next day a gentleman known to my friends who worked for the UN invited us to join him as he had to go to Lumbini by road and visit four other places. He said it would be a tedious journey and that we had to spend two nights before we reached Lumbini and that there was room for six people. We packed quickly bubbling with joy as we had to leave early next morning. What is more this noble gentleman volunteered to book the hotels and make our journey comfortable. I felt it was an answer to my prayer. When I saw the jeep next morning the fear I had vanished as it was the jeep I saw in my dreams. I knew all of us would be safe even though the road was narrow along the mountains and very dangerous. The mountains were covered with snow. The aroma of the apple trees made us to stop and pick a few. Nepali girls were bathing near the streams like goddesses. They were beautiful with rosy cheeks and long, black hair. When we reached Pohkara it was evening and we stopped and near the 'Phew Lake'. There is a legend about this lake. There was a beautiful city where the lake extends its water. One day a very old man (in fact a god in human form) appeared from nowhere and walked along this prosperous city. He knocked at the doors and begged for food. Everyone slammed the doors except an old couple who invited him to share their meals of vegetables and rice. The old man blessed them and before leaving advised them to abandon their homes and take refuge in the nearby hills. He warned them of a calamity. And the old couple left and reached the hill and looked back - a waste lake had completely submerged the town. This is the Phew lake. The water is bluish green and the surrounding so placid and holy. I will never forget the journey along the "Thishuli". No earthly being can describe its beauty. There is a little temple built on an island dedicated to Goddess Varahi. I saw foreigners who had given up worldly pleasures seated crossed legged meditation there. I felt there was no place like this on earth. The whole place looked heavenly, I saw the reflection of the mountains and the colours of the sunset on the still water of the lake. I stood silently watching this splendid, serene scene and thought to myself: this is paradise. When it was dark we reached the Crystal hotel in Pokhara, the place where many trekkers stayed before they climbed the mountains and some to watch the sunrise over Annapura range (26,545 ft). It was the highest peak of the range. The next morning before sunrise all the people were asked to come out in the freezing cold to watch the sunrise. Covered with wooden clothes people came out to watch the glorious sight. First the dim rays tinged the highest peaks in purplish, pink, then gradually turned red and gold and finally looked like Crystal studded with colours. It was a magnificent sight. Gautama Buddha The journey to Lumbini was on next trip and the mountain range disappeared and we reached the plain lands of the kingdom of Western Terai, the birth place of the world's greatest apostle of peace and non-violence, Gautama Buddha. The wide gales were opened and we saw the young 'Sal' trees planted as we walked in. Later we were told that the UN project was restoring the Lumbini grove to look like how it was during the time Maya Devi gave birth to the Prince beneath the Sal trees of the Royal gardens. As we walked in almost near the actual sight where the Prince was born the head priest Vimalananda appeared. I knelt and offered the yellow robe. It was a miracle to me and I felt as if I was offering it to the Buddha and tears welled in my eyes. I felt a strange kind of happiness enveloping me. The priest was delighted to know we were from Sri Lanka as he had come to Anuradhapura. He took us round and related how by accident the half buried polished stone pillar was found by a flash of lighting by an archaeologist. The inscription on this in ancient Brahmi script says it was originally built by Emperor Asoka in (249 BC). **** Back **** |
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