Siddhartha Gotama: How he become a Buddha? - T.M. Sakya WBU Council Member 1 Siddhartha Gotama: How he become a Buddha? - T.M. Sakya WBU Council Member King Suddodana was the king of Kapilavastu. He married two queens called Maya Devi and Prajapati Gotomi. They were actually the two sisters. They were the daughters of the king Aukata of Devedaha. Conception of Siddhartha It was the month of Ashara, when the Sakyas were celebrating a festival, and Mayadevi was observing the fast. During that time the future Buddha was conceived. After ten months, Maya expressed a wish to the king to visit her parents at Devadaha. The road between the two towns was made level, strewed with clean sand; plantain trees were planted on each side; and water vessels were placed at regular intervals. The queen was expressed will to stop in the Lumbini-Vanas (Forest). The inhabitants of both Kapilvastu and Devadaha used to come here for recreation. Seeing the trees in flower, she alighted here and being helped by her sister, Prajapati, she rose and held a branch of a sal tree, when the pain of delivery suddenly came over her; and a curtain was hurriedly drawn round her. The future Buddha was then born. It was a full moon night, in the month of Vaisakha. in B.C. 623 (Lalitbistara page.8). His name and astrology Mayadevi having died seven days after the child birth, the Bodhisttva was taken to Kapilbastu by his stepmother Prajapati Gotami with a great procession. On the way there were temples, where were the images of Siva, Skandha, Narayana, Vaisravana, Sakra, Kuvera, Chandra, Surya, Brahma and the Dikpala were there. There he was taken in a chariot, well embellished in the inner apartments, according to the custom of the Sakyas to seek blessing from the gods. And a few days after a great festival was held to give a name to the young prince. Siddhartha Gotama was the name chosen by the eight astrologers. They also declared that he would be either a Chakravarti (Universal Monarch) or a Buddha (one who had found the ultimate truth). (Lalitbistara page.8-9). Ploughing festival Five months after the birth of Siddhertha Gotama, plowing festival was held. It was the custom of the Sakays to cultivate the fields, the king himself leading the way, holding a golden plough. On this occasion, Siddhartha, was quite a child, sat in meditation under a jambu tree (jamun or black plum,Syzygium cumini) Three Luxurious Building for Siddhartha When he became young his father ordered to build the building of three palaces called Ramma, Suramma and Subha suited to the three seasons of the year. The first was of nine storey, the second of seven storey and third of five storey. And on all sides, guards were placed extending to the distance of four miles high, that no signs of evil import would catch the sight of the prince. The places were describes the places as handsome, four- 2 sides and four-cornered, with a pavilion on its top, which showed like a thing made by a skilful goldsmith. (Lalita-Vistara page 9). His education Infant Bodhisattva was sent to the school to learn, under Visvamitra, writing on a tablet of ugrasara wood . He learnt 64 kinds of alphabets, including Brahmi and Kharishti and the letter of Banga, Anga and Magadha are mentioned. He excelled not only in writing but also in reading the Vedas, Nigamas, Puranas, Itihasas. 18 Silpas (Skills) and many other sciences; and in exercise and archery, such as shooting at the target of an iron boar beyond seven palm trees. Rockhill in his Life of the Buddha mentions that Siddhartha learned letters under Kausika, management of elephants under his uncle Sulabha and archery under Sakadeva. Tournament and his excelling all Sakya youth Siddhartha Gotama was married to Yasodhara or Gopa, the daughter of Suprabuddha (or Dandapani accroding to the Lalita-vistara) at the age of 16. His father in law’s palace was described (Lalita-vistara) as furnished with covered terraces, balconies, gateways, window, halls and pavilions ornamented with bells, jewels, parasols and flags, pendants and silken fabrics. His rooms were provided with stairs, decorated with silken carpets, with delightful floors, blue as lapis-lazuli and with wide and excellent corridors, having birds and flowers; also musical instruments, such as conch, trumpet, drum etc. Before marriage he was tested in his Kehetriya accomplishments in a tournament, which was proclaimed by the ringing of bells at Kapilvastu (Lalita-vistara). Gopa, who was accomplished in writing and composing poetry and well versed in the rules of Sutras, planted a flag victory in the arena. In an immense pavilion erected in the court of the palace, Siddhartha showed his skill in wielding a bow, which nobody else could hold up, the arrow of which when shot, went, according to a legendary account, some 10 krosa beyond, where it pierced the earth, making a well, since known as Sara-kupa ('arrow- well'). After that he threw a dead elephant at a deep hollow, known to this day as Hastigarta, two miles beyond the seven walls and moats of the city (Lalita-Vistara page .9-10). His married life After his marriage Siddhertha Gotama was appointed yuvaraj ('sub king') and the governor or chief magistrate of a neighboring town. Kalishaka (Chinese). Where he does not appear to have lived much, for he was confined to his palace life, because Suddhodana was very much afraid lest he would renounce the secular life. As Siddhartha grew in years and rolled in the luxury of a married life, his distaste was distinctly shown and flying from palace life, he used to retire in the evening to the garden, which was his favorite resort. This park is called Lutiloka in a Chinese record from the name of the presiding deity. In order to prevent him, the king built high walls round the palace, excavated a broad moat. huge massive doors mounted on machines and chains, at the four main gates of the town, where extra guards were stationed. but Bodhisattva having seen the four scenes of an old leper, a dead man, sick man and a monk, while going out of the city for a drive to his garden and thus being impressed with the impermanence of worldly 3 life, effected the great Renouncement, ('Mahabhiniskramana'), in the midnight of Monday, full moon and constellation, when he was 29 years old (Lalit Vistara Page.10) His great renouncement Leaving his wife and his baby son, Rahula and descending from his room, he proceeded to the palace of music, lowered the jewelled lattice and getting on a horse by name Kantaka, departed by the East gate, called Mabgaladwara ('lucky gate'), beyond the city, where subsequently a stupa was erected, called Kantaka's Return. The whole night he rode, reaching in the morning Anupiya on the other side of a great sandy river, Anoma (Gandaki?) and in the country of the Mallas, 12 yojanas distant from Kapilvastu. His Effort to get enlightenment After going out in search of the truth, he first went towards Rajagraha. King Bimbirasa was the king of the king of Rajagraha. It was a place of great philosophers and leaders. First he went to Sakisage's hermitage then to Padma, then to Raivata. All them were women reshies. Finally, he reached to the Rajagraha. Since king Bimbisara was ruling, soon after he reached to Rajagraha, the king Bimbisara asked him the reason to be Sanyasi (one who give up the earthly life) then he offered one half of his kingdom. Siddhara Gotama thanked him and he declined the king offer and showed his resolve to find the ultimate truth of life. Then some fellows called Kaundiaya, Ashvajot, Kasyapa, Mahanamma and Bhadaka followed him. In Rajgriha he went to Arda Kalam and Brigha’s place. Finally he returned to Arada Kalan and learned from the philosophy of Sankya and Samadhi Marga. He also went to Uddaka Rama Putta. Uddaka Rama Putta was better then Ara Kalam for the Samadhi Marga. Siddhartha Gotama practiced living on a corn in a day and doing fasting but he became unconscious and could not think of the universal truth. Six years passed in that way. One day Sujata, a lady from a rich family, saw him meditation under the Banyan tree. She thought that the tree god has appeared. So she offered foods of many kinds. After eating the foods his might had some strength and he could think about the truth of life. But before that his own evil thought and evil passions called Mara entered his mind. Siddartha Gotama was greatly frightened lest they should over power and defeat him. So he summoned all the courage he had and said to Mara " Faith is found in me and said to Mara, "Faith is found in me, and heroism and wisdom. How can ye evil passions defeat me? The streams even of rivers may dry up. Ye would be unable to defeat me. The rivers may dried up but my resolutions you can not defeat. When I am resolved “ Better to me is death in battle than that I should be defeated in life.” The evil passions entered the mind of Gautama as a crow goes after a tone that looks like a hump of fat, thinking surely, "here I shall find a tender morsel, here perchance is something sweet." Enlightenment To feed himself during the period of meditation Siddartha Gautama had collected food to last him for forty days. Having routed the evil thoughts that disturbed his mind Gautama 4 refreshed himself with food and gained strength.