Oldest Buddhist shrine holds clues to Buddha's birth

By Elizabeth Landau, CNN

Updated 1657 GMT (0057 HKT) November 26, 2013

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Pilgrims meditate at the Maya Devi Temple, with ancient remains in the background, at Lumbini in Nepal. The site is said to be the birthplace of the Buddha.

Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – Pilgrims meditate at the Maya Devi Temple, with ancient remains in the background, at Lumbini in Nepal. The site is said to be the birthplace of the Buddha.

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Archaeologist Robin Coningham of Durham University in the United Kingdom emerges from the dig at the Lumbini Village Mound in Nepal. He led a study describing the oldest Buddhist shrine ever found.

Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – Archaeologist Robin Coningham of Durham University in the United Kingdom emerges from the dig at the Lumbini Village Mound in Nepal. He led a study describing the oldest Buddhist shrine ever found.

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Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – Monks chant within the Maya Devi Temple, which enshrines the Buddha's birthplace, at Lumbini in Nepal.

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Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – Coningham works in the trench in the remains of an ancient monastery. The Maya Devi Temple is in the background.

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Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – Thai monks inside the Maya Devi Temple meditate over the remains of the oldest Buddhist shrine.

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Coningham, left, and Kosh Prasad Acharya direct excavations within the Maya Devi Temple. They uncovered a series of ancient temples; the oldest, they say, is from the sixth century B.C.

Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – Coningham, left, and Kosh Prasad Acharya direct excavations within the Maya Devi Temple. They uncovered a series of ancient temples; the oldest, they say, is from the sixth century B.C.

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Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – Pilgrims meditate by a stone pillar erected by the ancient King Ashoka in the third century B.C., at the Maya Devi Temple.

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A pilgrim meditates at a sacred "Bodhi tree" at the Sacred Garden of Lumbini. More than a million pilgrims visit Lumbini each year.

Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – A pilgrim meditates at a sacred "Bodhi tree" at the Sacred Garden of Lumbini. More than a million pilgrims visit Lumbini each year.

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Lumbini is one of four major sites of importance for Buddhists. The other locations revered by followers of Buddhism are Bodh Gaya (where he became a Buddha), Sarnath (where he first preached) and Kusinagara (where he passed away).

Photos: Photos: Oldest Buddhist shrine

Oldest Buddhist shrine – Lumbini is one of four major sites of importance for Buddhists. The other locations revered by followers of Buddhism are Bodh Gaya (where he became a Buddha), Sarnath (where he first preached) and Kusinagara (where he passed away).

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