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by the Asoka pillar on the southern side lies the holy pond, Puskarini
where Maya Devi bathed just before giving birth to prince Siddhartha and
the infant prince is believed to have given first purification bath.
The pond has terraced steps and is riveted by beautifully layered
bricks.
The
image of Maya Devi, also known as the Nativity Sculpture dates back to
4th CE, which depicts the nativity scene, Maya Devi, holding a branch of
a tree with her right hand for support in the time of her delivery.
Next to her Gautami Prajapati, her younger sister, in supporting posture
is standing. The newly born prince Siddhartha is standing upright on a
lotus pedestal, with two celestial figures receiving him.
This
stone conglomerate located deeply buried in the sanctum sanctorum
pinpoints the exact birth spot of the Buddha, which was discovered after
a meticulous excavation of the old Maya Devi Temple in 1996. The Marker
Stone was found in the same distance and direction as mentioned by
Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveler in his travel account. The size of the
marker stone is 70cmx40cmx10cm.
The
Maya Devi Temple shrine is the heart of all monuments at this holy
site. The complex also bears the testimony of several layers of
construction over the centuries. The main object of worship here is the
Nativity Sculpture. The restored Maya Devi Temple was reopened on May
16, 2003 on 2547th birth anniversary of the Buddha. The government of
Nepal , and LDT jointly restored the temple. The ground floor consists
of the remains of the foundations of the early Maya Devi Temple that
dates back to 3rd century BC. The sanctum sanctorum is the birth spot of
the lord Buddha in the temple.