Kapilavastu
Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Kapilavastu was the capital of the Śhākya clan, the people ruled by Siddhārtha's father. The Buddha was born at nearby Lumbini and spent his early, sheltered palace years at Kapilavastu. Scholars still debate where exactly the ancient city lay. Two sites are proposed: Piprahwa in Uttar Pradesh, India, and Tilaurakot in Nepal. The question matters for history and for pilgrimage.
Example
At Piprahwa, excavators found a stupa containing relic caskets, which supports the claim that it was Kapilavastu. In Nepal, the ruins at Tilaurakot are put forward as the palace city instead.
Don't confuse with
- Lumbini: this is the Buddha's birthplace, where Asoka later put up a pillar. Kapilavastu was the clan's capital, where he grew up.
Related concepts
- Gautama Buddha
- Sakya clan
- Lumbini
- Great Departure
- Bodh Gaya
- Bodhi tree
- Mahabodhi Temple
- Kushinagar
- Mahaparinibbana Sutta
- Piprahwa relics