The Life of Lord Buddha and his teachings, the Dhamma, Part I
Based on the writings of several scholars in the public domain and other sources.
THE BIRTH OF SIDDHARTHA GOTAMA, LORD BUDDHA
Some two thousand and six hundred years ago in the Full-Moon-Day in the beautiful season of Spring, Siddhartha Goutama, the great Buddha, was born.
His father was, in Kapilavatthu, a Sakya king, strong of purpose and reverenced by all men, a descendant of the Okkakas, who call themselves Gotama, and his name was Suddhōdana or Pure-Rice.
[Wikipedia: Some archaeologists have identified present-day Tilaurakot, Nepal, while some others have identified present-day Piprahwa, India as the location for the historical site of Kapilavastu, the seat of governance of the Shakya state that would have covered the region.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapilavastu_(ancient_city
Sudhadhanat was ever unhappy for the want of a child who would be a glory to his clan and joy to his home. His two wives, Māyādevī and Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī, two affectionate sisters,t grew old, but did not show any sign of giving birth to a child.
His wife Māyādevī was beautiful as the water-lily and pure in mind as the lotus. As the Queen of Heaven, she lived on earth, untainted by desire, and immaculate.
Māyādevī's Dream
At last in the forty-fifth year of her age, Māyādevī promised her husband a son. The news flew from house to house all over the good chieftain's domain, and every one was very happy.
The king, her husband, honored her in her holiness, and the spirit of truth, glorious and strong in his wisdom like unto a white elephant, descended upon her.
When she knew that the hour of motherhood was near, she asked the king to send her home to her parents; and Suddhōdana, anxious about his wife and the child she would bear him, willingly granted her request.
Wikipedia: Māyā and King Suddhodhana did not have children for twenty years into their marriage. According to legend, one full moon night, sleeping in the palace, the queen had a vivid dream. She felt herself being carried away by four devas (spirits) to Lake Anotatta in the Himalayas. After bathing her in the lake, the devas clothed her in heavenly cloths, anointed her with perfumes, and bedecked her with divine flowers. Soon after a white elephant, holding a white lotus flower in its trunk, appeared and went round her three times, entering her womb through her right side. Finally the elephant disappeared and the queen awoke, knowing she had been delivered an important message, as the elephant is a symbol of greatness.
According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha-to-be was residing as a bodhisattva in the Tuṣita heaven, and decided to take the shape of a white elephant to be reborn on Earth for the last time. Māyā gave birth to Siddharta c. 563 BCE. The pregnancy lasted ten lunar months. Following custom, the Queen returned to her own home for the birth. On the way, she stepped down from her palanquin to have a walk under the Sal tree (Shorea robusta), often confused with the Ashoka tree (Saraca asoca), in the beautiful flower garden of Lumbini Park, Lumbini Zone, Nepal. Maya Devi was delighted by the park and gave birth standing while holding onto a sal branch. Legend has it that Prince Siddhārtha emerged from her right side. It was the eighth day of April. Some accounts say she gave him his first bath in the Puskarini pond in Lumbini Zone. But legend has it that devas caused it to rain to wash the newborn baby. He was later named Siddhārtha, "He who has accomplished his goals" or "The accomplished goal". The king ordered that the whole extent of the road between Kapilavastu and Koli should be perfectly levelled and lined on both sides with plantain trees and adorned with the finest ornaments. Jars, full of the purest water, were to be deposited all along the road at short intervals. A chair of gold was made ready for conveying the queen ; and a thousand noblemen, attended by an innumerable retinue, were directed to accompany her during her journey.
Lumbini
The boy was born probably about the year 560 B.C. at a pleasaunce between the capital of the Sakyas and that of the Koliyas, a clan from whom his mother seems to have sprung.
[Wikipedia: Lumbinī (Nepali and Sanskrit: लुम्बिनी, "the lovely"), is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Province No. 5 in Nepal.] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbini
As soon as the cortege reached it, five water lilies shot forth spontaneously from the stems and the main branches of each tree, and innumerable birds of all kinds, by their melodious tunes, filled the air with the most ravishing music. Trees, similar in beauty to those growing in the seats of gods, apparently sensible of the presence of the incarnated Buddha, seemed to share in the universal joy.
The Queen, wishing to stroll through the shady walks, left her golden palanquin, and, when she reached the giant sala tree in the midst of the grove.
On beholding this wonderful appearance of all the lofty trees of the forest, the queen felt a desire to approach nearer 'and enjoy the marvellous sight offered to her astonished' eyes. Her noble attendants led her forthwith a short distance into the forest. Māyādevī, seated on her couch, along with her sister Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī, desired her attendants to have it moved closer to an Engyin tree which she pointed out. Her wishes were immediately complied with. She then rose gently on her couch ; her left hand, clasped round the neck of her sister, supported her in a standing position. With the right hand she tried to reach and break a small branch which she wanted to carry away.
On that very instant as the slender ratten, heated by fire, bent down its tender head, all the branches bowed their extremities, offering themselves, as it were, to the hand of the queen who unhesitatingly seized and broke the extremity of one of the young boughs. She took hold of a branch.
By virtue of a certain power inherent in her dignity, on a sudden all the winds blew gently throughout the forest. The attendants, having desired all the people to withdraw to a distance, disposed curtains all round the place the queen was standing on. Whilst she was in that position, admiring the slender bough she held in her hands, the moment of her confinement happened.
When the pain of travail came upon her, four pure-minded angels of the great Brahmā held out a golden net to receive the babe, who came forth from her right side like the rising sun bright and perfect.
The Brahmā-angels took the child and placing him before the mother said: Rejoice, O queen, a mighty son has been born unto thee.
At her couch stood an aged woman imploring the heavens to bless the child. All the worlds were flooded with light.
The blind received their sight by longing to see the coming glory of the Lord; the deaf and dumb spoke with one an other of the good omens indicating the birth of the Buddha to be. The crooked became straight; the lame walked. All prisoners were freed from their chains and the fires of all the hells were extinguished.
No clouds gathered in the skies and the polluted streams became clear, whilst celestial music rang through the air and the angels rejoiced with gladness. With no selfish or partial joy but for the sake of the law they rejoiced, for creation engulfed in the ocean of pain was now to obtain release. The cries of beasts were hushed; all malevolent beings received a loving heart, and peace reigned on earth.
Mara, the evil one, alone was grieved and rejoiced not. The Naga kings, earnestly desiring to show their reverence for the most excellent law, as they had paid honour to former Buddhas, now went to greet the Bodhisattva. They scattered before him mandara flowers, rejoicing with heart felt joy to pay their religious homage. From the books: BUDDHA ~ His Life and Teachings (1852) by an unknown author and BUDDHA ~ his life, his teachings, his order, together with the history of the Buddhism (1901) by Manmatha Nath Shastri. Available at the OPEN LIBRARY: https://openlibrary.org/
Kommentarer