Need to conserve Buddhist relics stressed

by Basanta Maharjan

The archaeological evidences which suggest that Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal may be lost if the Lumbini based Ashoka Pillar is not conserved, archaeologists say. As is history, Mourya Emperor Ashoka raised the pillar during his visit to Lumbini subsequent to the bloody Kalinga War at the end of which the emperor was said to have given up warfare and bloodshed. It was while on a pilgrimage to Lumbini when he abandoned all his weapons. Emperor Ashoka is also said to have been accompanied by his Guru Upagupta in 249 B.C. during the celebration of the 20th year of his coronation. However, Lumbini soon came around to be cobered by dense jungle in the wade of power going into the hands of Lode and Mugal rulers in India. The Ashoka pillar was excavated only when the forest was being cleared for wood around 1896. In fact, the name of Khadga Shamsher, the erstwlile commanding general of Palpa, is closely associated with the event since is was he who had ordered felling of trees, something which led to the discovery and excavation. Archaeologist, Dr. Aloes Anton Futhrer, who had been excavating near Nepalgung in search of Buddha's birthplace meanwhile had subsequently gone to Lumbine and had taken the print-image of he writing on the Ashoka Pillar. Another archaeologist, Bueler, had sucessfully decoded the writings and it was only then when it was established that Buddha was born in Nepal and was historical figure as against he western belief that Buddha was just a mythical figure. Chief archaeologist of Archaeology Department, Shukra Sagar Shrestha, says that although the inscriptions on the Ashoka pillar do not add up to any substantial scale, whatever is there is enough to suggest that Buddha was born in Nepal. Similarly, Bhikchhu Sudarshan Mahasthawir, a researcher, had arrived at the "marker stone" which has been mentioned as the indicator of Buddha's birthplace. This, incidentally, is the important piece of evidence. It may also be said that the name of all four places related to Buddha do not appear in any pillars save, of course, the one in Lumbini although there are similar milestones at Bodhgaya, Saranath and Kushinagar. Unlike other Ashoka pillars around India, the one at Lumbini is clear and intact. This is the oldest milestone in Nepal which has the writer's name carved on it. It may be said that certain Indian writer had published a bood claiming that Ujjain of India was Buddha's birthplace. However, it is said that he had used the technology to fade ancient writings. Hence there in lies the important of protecting Lumbini. Meanwhile, the top edge of the Ashoka pillar has cracked and the crack is slowly widening out. To avoid further damage by the rainwater a stone topping has been const vucted. Dr. Prem Ratna Sthapit, Chief conservator & Office Chief of Central Conservation Laboratory for Cultural Heritage Bureau, says that the pillar has been subjected to chemical treatment to minimize the damage. Apart from this, the metal ring on the pillar has been replaced by two alloy rings made out of copper, zinc and nickel. According to Shrestha, "If we want to protect the pillar a roof is a must." Moreover, the pillar has ended pu tilting to the west. Digging near the foundation has been said to be the reason behind it. Sudarshan has claimed that the unnecessary digging was an outrageous act and he himself had gone to protest against the act. United Nations Education Social Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had organized a meeting of the experts of archaeology in Kathmandu a few months back and the meeting had suggested that the Ashoka pillar and other structures at Lumbini receive further protection.