http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=BHUBANESWAR&file_name=bhub10%2Etxt&counter_img=10 Buddha was born in Orissa, claimed the intellectuals of the State. "We have enough evidence to prove that Buddha was born in Orissa and not in Lumbini as claimed by a few historians," said Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy. Speaking on the occasion on the release of the Japanese translation of the controversial book Real Birth Place of Buddha on Monday, Tripathy said nowhere in the world there is the concept of Maousi (Mother's sister) Puja. "No religion speaks of the Maousi Puja. Only in Bhubaneswar and Puri, there is the concept of Maousi Puja. Each year, Lord Jagannath comes to Maousima Temple for eight days sojourn and Lord Lingaraj comes to Mausi's home in Bhubaneswar. The concept has come from the Buddhist cult. After Buddha died, he was nurtured by her Maousi. Buddha had a great respect for his Maousi," he said. Tripathy has authored the book - The Real Birth place of Buddha. Tripathy further said that after the arrival of Jaydev, Buddha was regarded as the God. And the concept of Maousi Puja continued from that day. "This is greatest proof that Buddha belonged to Orissa," he said. The translator of the book, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, a lecturer in Tokai University, Tokyo, Japan, said from 7th century, the Buddhism was widespread in Japan. But the Japanese Buddhism came from the China, not India. All mantra and suttas are written in Chinese language, not Sanskrit and Palli. But now days, many Japanese people take great interest in the place of origin of Buddhism in India. "Many of them come to Bodh Gaya and so on. I hope this book will awaken their interest in exploring various dimensions related to Buddhism and especially his place of birth," he said. Among others eminent historian Prafulla Chandra Tripathy, , the monk G Saffa Tises Thero, Tourism Director R N Nanda, State Museum Director C Patel spoke on the occasion.
