Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.s26.2

c11.s26.2

Aśoka's pilgrimage (244 B.C.) must have extended to other sacred spots as well. The short Rummindeī pillar inscription states that he visited Lumbinivana and worshipped the spot where the Buddha Śākyamuni was born, caused a memorial pillar to be set up on the spot to show ‘that the Blessed One was born here’, and declared the village of Lumbini to be thenceforth free of taxes (*ubalika*) and liable to only an eighth of its produce (*athabhāgiye*) in land assessment instead of the higher rate usually taken. The *Divyāvadāna* preserves the memory of Aśoka's pilgrimage to the sacred places under the guidance of Upagupta to whom Aśoka declares his desire to go and worship all the spots hallowed by the presence of the Buddha and to leave marks there for the benefit of future generations of men. Lumbinivana is placed first among the places to which Upagupta guided Aśoka¹.