The life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 14

Once Buddha was immersed in meditation under a tree, two beautiful sisters Raga and Arati arrived on the place and found the charming monk sitting under the tree, eyes closed.  They understood it was Buddha who attained enlightenment, soon another beautiful young maiden Tanha also joined with them.  These three young beautiful maidens were the daughter of Mara/illusion, who tried to conquer Buddha with his snare.  In return Mara was humiliated and defeated; these young maidens took a vow to take revenge on Buddha.  These beautiful young women were quite confident that no one in the world could resist them, they were the embodiment of infatuation and desire.  They have decided to utilize their sensuality to a great extent to ensnare Buddha and keep him under their hook for a long time.  

The three beautiful girls approached Buddha who was under meditation.  One of the girls took a seat on the swing, another one performed seductive dancing, and another one went close to Buddha and placed her hand on his shoulder, immediately she withdrew her hand in extreme pain.  Buddha opened his eyes “ Oh! The daughters of Mara, you please go back, there is no way you can succeed in your mission, I have discarded all kinds of sensual pleasures and attractions.”  The two of the girls were returned to their abode, one of them Tanha remained she spoke “ Monk, we are not here to deceive you, the truth is that we got so much attracted to you, none of the men in this world captivated us like you.  We three of us offer our bodies and hearts to your service.  We do not expect any reward for this service, we wish you to take pleasure and satisfaction in it, even if it is for a short period of time that would make us extremely happy.”  Buddha said “I have told you already, I have destroyed all kinds of satisfaction and infatuation, there is nothing you will find here.  Therefore, you should leave the place.”  The three of the beautiful women started to leave; effulgence from the body of Buddha spread all over the place, the women started screaming looking at each other’s face that turned ugly and dreadful.  The three of the women disappeared from the sight saying “No one will snare the most venerable enlightened one Buddha.”

The life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 13

Buddha visits his Kingdom Kapilavasthu after achieving enlightenment; went on begging for alms.  One day his father met him “Son, Why are you bringing shame to me go on collecting alms? You are born in the royal lineage, you are the heir of the throne of Kingdom of Kapilavasthu, and these people are your subjects.  Are you in an opinion that I cannot provide enough food for you and your disciples?” Buddha replied “ Dear Father, the moment I have achieved enlightenment, I have discarded all the relationship with the Sakhya royal lineage, I am Buddha, a monk who lives on the alms, I am following the traditions of a Monk.  Father, kindly listens to me, when people cling on to the feelings, perception, mental formations, and sense consciousness is under the snare of Maya/illusion, which brings mental and physical afflictions.  A person who is not under the influence of delusion remains free from sufferings and illnesses.”  Buddha’s father was highly impressed with the teachings of his son, invited him for alms with his disciple to Royal Palace.

Buddha accepted the invitation to Royal Palace and arrived with the monks.  He continued to stay for three days giving lectures on Dharma, his father and his mother Queen Mahaprajapathi listened to his teachings with great respect, they were drawn to the path of Dharma more and more each day.  His father said “ Buddha, your wife did not come out of her chamber all these years, you have not seen her or your son all these years.  She is in utter misery spends her whole life in that chamber,  I would like to invite you to her chamber, kindly make a visit to her and speak to her. Your teachings may help her to come out of the grief.”  Buddha replied “Yes Father, I will visit Bimba with my disciples.”

Buddha paid a visit to his wife who was in extreme grief and agony all these years, not willing to come out of her chamber.  She came out of the chamber with her son Rahula, she prostrated at the feet of Buddha, shedding tears of pain; she enquired “Why have you been so unkind to me all these years? I am your wife; you have chosen spirituality as your path and left in silence. Did I do anything wrong to leave like that way?  If I have done something wrong, what was the wrong of Rahula born on that very day? You have left him without attending your child.”  Buddha said “ Bimba, don’t be  miserable, What I did was to help my loved ones and all the human beings, let you know the way out of suffering, we have born in this world to acquire merit together, after several births.  We all are subject to aging, illnesses, and death, none of us can deny this truth.  All the things around us have fleeting nature, everything has a temporary nature.  Everyone has to go through happiness and miseries, the pain of separation, etc.. Every one of us is owners of our own Karma.  We are heir to Karma, born to Karma, abide by our Karma.  We will be the heir of our good and bad deeds,” For the first time Bimba was soaking in the nectar-like speeches of Buddha, she overcame from the grief and pain of separation instantly.

The life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 12

Once, an elderly ruler of the town Veranja visited Buddha.  This was an ancient town where Buddha resided during the rainy season at the invitation of a Brahmin.   The ruler heard about the greatness of Buddha who has received enlightenment, hence he came to have a discussion of Dharma with him.  He stood before Buddha but was received with no gesture of respect as Veranja Brahmin was expected.  Veranja Brahmin expected Buddha would raise from his seat and welcome him, or invite him to take seat with him.   The Brahmin felt  Buddha is insulting him by not giving any respect.  Buddha began to speak “ Oh! Veranja Brahmin I did not find anyone superior in Dharma to offer a gesture of respect or stand up to welcome them or offer seat next to me.”  The Brahmin felt the response of Buddha as tasteless, his practices are unimpressive.  Buddha explained himself being tasteless “ I have abandoned the sensual pleasures or the pleasures of any form, smell, taste, and sound.”  The Brahmin said “ You have no wealth of your own. You are not performing Karma. You are loathsome.” Buddha replied “ Venerable Brahmin, I have no assets which form bondage.  I preach non-violence, no sins by words, deeds or action.  I praise the annihilation of lust, desire, ego, hatred, jealousy and delusion.  The definition of loathsome is bodily misconduct, verbal and mental misconduct.  Therefore I loathe the evilness and deceitfulness.”  Brahmin said ‘You teach eradication, destruction, non-birth.”  Buddha replied “ Brahmin, I teach Dharma, for the eradication of lust, hatred, and delusion, I teach people the destruction of bodily misconduct, verbal and mental misconduct.  I have abandoned all those causes of re-birth, I speak truth to your comments, may not be easily understandable, finding fault in others  is the cause for suffering, concentrate your mind in developing virtues,  Nirodha is the end of sufferings.”  The Brahmin prostrated before Buddha, leaving his all miss-conceptions and ignorance.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 11

Once, two ladies arrived to meet Buddha with the offerings.  They prostrated before the venerable Buddha and expressed their desire to serve him honeyed milk rice in a golden plate.  Buddha could not refuse the plea of his devotees.  He took bath in the pond and consumed the meal, after that he took the golden plate near the pond and left it to float on the water offering a prayer  “ If I have succeeded in the process of achieving enlightenment, may this golden tray float on the water. If not, let it float down on the stream.”  The golden tray went down the stream and set on the top of the other two golden trays which was already rested underwater.  The water creature seated near the trays guessed it “ There is another soul is going to achieve enlightenment and become Buddha” .  Buddha resumed his journey to conduct penance. 

In the sixth week, Buddha immersed in deep meditation under the Bodhi tree which was the dwelling place of Mucalinda/King of Naga.  He was enjoying the supreme bliss in an unending heavy downpour.  The King of Naga, a seven hooded serpent found Buddha immersed in meditation under the Bodhi tree in a heavy downpour, it spread the hood above the head of Buddha protecting him from the heavy downpour.   Once the rain has stopped, the serpent removed its hoods over the head of Buddha and assumed the form of a young man, prostrated before Buddha and left.

Buddha find peace in the silence, happiness in the seclusion, realized freedom from lust and sensuality are the highest happiness in the world, eradication of self-importance is the greatest happiness of all.  He has attained the highest of knowledge of Dharma, which is difficult to understand or practice for ordinary people.  There are different types of people, some are quick-witted to learn the teachings, like a lotus flower blooms in the brilliant rays of Sun.  The people with moderate knowledge have to receive a further explanation of the teachings of Dharma and practice it to understand within a short time like a lotus flower which is yet to receive the Sun light to blossom.  The slow-witted, after receiving the constant teachings and practices with the perseverance and faith realizes the truth, like a lotus bud below the water, waiting for its turn to come up and blossom.  The final kinds of persons are unlikely to grasp the meanings of the Dharma, listens to the teaching for a cause of realization in the future, like the lotus buds on the dirt become prey to fish and turtles, they neither raise up or blossom.  Buddha took a vow to teach people about the Dharma and protect them from the pain, miseries and sorrows.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter - 10

In the initial period, Siddhartha undertook extreme ascetic practices, starved for several months which pushed the body beyond its limits, his body emancipated,; finally, he understood extreme ascetic practices are not going to help him achieve enlightenment or liberation from worldly existence.  The Bodhisattva who is divine personified wanted to help Siddhartha in his thirst for attainment of supreme knowledge, he played a melodious music.  Siddhartha could listen to those mellifluous music in the wind, he understood it is an string instrument, when the string are too tight it did not produce good music, when the strings are too lose it did not produce any music at all, when the strings are tied to perfect it produced melodious music.  Instantly, Siddhartha understood, he has to adopt the techniques which could produce the best results.  He was practicing extreme ascetic practices all these years that were neither good to his soul nor body.  He realized that his body has already reached in a state of deterioration; he could not continue the practice anymore.

On the night of the fourteenth waxing moon of the sixth lunar month, it was the early morning hours of dawn, Siddhartha was waking up from dreams, there were five auspicious signs appeared in his dreams which were described as  he would achieve enlightenment and will be known as illustrious Buddha, he would spread the Dharma/ righteousness to the world to protect the soul from the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence, there will be a large number of people would join with him in the mission of spreading righteousness all over the world.  In this course of spreading Dharma which is meant for people of all classes and ages would join with him as disciples and followers.  In this process, people from all over the world would approach him with offerings, but he will remain unstained by wealth or contributions.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter -9

Buddha taught the Noble Eightfold Path/righteousness to his disciple.  It was the right understanding, the precision of thought, precise speech, and right action, righteous profession as livelihood, truthful effort, perfect mindfulness, and concentration.  He never wearied in preaching the Dharma/righteous way of living throughout the world.  In this way, he sowed the seed of Dharma all over the world.

A charming prince Siddhartha left the comforts and luxuries of a royal palace at a young age, practiced asceticism under harsh conditions, he confronted several hardships and turmoil, attained the enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, in order to save the human being from the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence.  At the age of eighty-eight, he entered Mahanirvana under the pairs of Salavruksha.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter -8

Buddha taught the King “ Your Majesty, a King should treat his subjects as his own children. You should not oppress them; they should be treated with kindness and compassion, they should remain protected in your Kingdom.  The status of the people may vary by their profession, interest, and character, but everyone has the spark in them to shine.”

Once he met a poor old man covered in dirt, he was too weak to stand up.  Buddha approached him and gave hand to lift him up, he refused to touch the hands of Lord Buddha, saying that his hands are too dirty, he belongs to untouchables.  Buddha advised him “ You should not treat yourself as inferior, you should not differentiate people by their work or their birth.  You are cleaning the dirt from the people’s homes; I am cleaning the dirt from the people’s hearts. Hence, you and I are the same.” The old man shed tears of joy, Buddha lifted him up from the ground.

Buddha took every opportunity to teach people for their better life. Once Rahula met his father with a basin of water, he asked him ‘ Rahula, is that water drinkable’ Rahula replied ‘ No Master, it is not drinkable’. He taught Rahula ‘ if you want to remain untainted and crystal clear you should not lie, everyone will cherish you.”  Buddha did not differentiate himself from his disciple, he took every chance to assist them in their tasks, and he considered himself as one among them.

The ruler of Kosala, King Pasenadi set to war against Kapilavasthu.  He approached Kapilavasthu with huge army of warriors with weapons, elephants, and horses.  He saw an old monk sitting in the middle of the pathway, he went closer to the Monk and saw it was Buddha who is the most venerable sitting exposed to scorching heat, he advised Buddha to move under the shade of the tree.  Buddha said ‘King, taking shelter under your own clan is better than taking shelter under a tree.’  The King understood the nectar-like advice of Buddha.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter -7

Siddhartha’s journey began from the river banks of Anoma, he traveled barefoot long forty-nine years throughout the sacred lands along the shores of Ganga.  He spread the knowledge of supreme, he removed the darkness of ignorance, and he encouraged people to walk through the path of liberation. He sacrificed royal comforts, luxuries, and pleasure, conducted a search for the ultimate truth, end of sufferings and miseries of human beings, save the humans from the cycles of repeated births.  He practiced asceticism in the mountains and woods, in the harsh climatic conditions, initial six years he was engaged in the rigorous practice of spirituality, he refused to take a meal for several months, eventually, his health started deteriorating.  He realized that the practice of spirituality is like producing music with the string instrument if the strings are too tight it may break, if it is too lose it will be of no use, in either case, it is good for nothing. In either way indulging in sensual pleasure and extreme penance is attachments, it can lead only to grief and hopelessness.  Therefore he had chosen the middle path,  settled under the Bodhi tree, continued penance for several years.   He confronted all the wickedness of Mara who is the representation of delusion, with serenity and peace, he was enlightened ‘Buddha’.  The sincere prayers of Buddha were “I wish to continue to be humble, not enslaved by fame and wealth, I have born to spread righteousness on the Earth, and I have to liberate the souls from the worldly existence.  I have to free living beings from the world of Samsara.”

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 6

It was believed that Lumbini/Nepal, is the birthplace of Siddhartha, he was brought up in Kapilavasthu located in Uttar  Pradesh.  He was born in the Hindu Kshatriya family and King of Sankhya clan Shudhdhodhana.   The Queen Mayadevi conceived with Siddhartha, on that night she had a dream in that a white elephant with a lotus flower on her right side.  On the next day, King Shudhdhodhana called for a meeting of scholars and  royal astrologers to know more about the dream of Queen Mayadevi.  The royal astrologers interpreted the dream as a highly auspicious one, he will have a son with incredible virtues, will power, might, courage, and he will remain incomparable.  After ten months, when Maya Devi was fully pregnant with the child expressed her wish to be with her father’s Kingdom Devadhaha for the delivery of the child.  She received permission from King Shudhdhodhana and conducted a journey to the Kingdom of Devadhaha in a grand chariot accompanied by several maidservants and kings men.  They have crossed several miles through the lush green land, riverside and beautiful lands of the forest of Lumbini.  They have traveled half of their journey to Kingdom Devadhaha, Queen Mayadevi ordered the counselor to stop for a while to relax.  She advised King’s men to take rest in the shade; it has been half of the day’s journey by foot for them.  The counselor advised “ Your Highness, if you want to take rest, please be seated under the Salavruksha.”

Queen Mayadevi moved near the Salavruksha, suddenly she felt throbbing pain on the back, felt the urgency to give birth to the child.  The entire group was frightened, the maidservant rushed all over the place to give help to their Majesty,  nature showed its sign of the birth of a divine child, a pleasant breeze filled in the air.  The child born walked through the path filled with lotus flower revealing his identity as the supreme one; soon it assumed the form of an infant.  Queen Mayadevi returned to Kapilavasthu with the newborn,  the chief of the Sakhyan royal family paid a visit to King Sudhdhodhana to greet the divine child.

An assembly of the meeting with the Sankhyan royal family chief with the family of King Sudhdhodhana was arranged, to listen to the predictions about the future of the child.  The chief of the Sakhyan Royal family instructed the King to place the child on the cradle so that he can calculate his predictions about the child.  He thoroughly examined the child from head to toe, he was baffled to witness all the characteristics on the newborn of the divine being which are mentioned in the sacred texts.  He has not seen such a marvelous creation all his life,  suddenly he rose from the seat and prostrated before the child.  The King Sudhdhodhana was mystified to see Asita/Chief of Sakhya clan, head bow down before the child, he began to speak “ I have thoroughly examined all the characteristics of the newborn if he chooses to be in the royal family he would become one of great Emperor of the world.  If he chooses to leave the Palace and lead a saintly life, he would become an enlightened soul, Buddha.”  Asita was deeply disappointed that he had grown too old to witness the growth of the miraculous child and his pastimes.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 5

At the Palace gate, Siddhartha was met Vasavathimara who represents Maya/illusion, manifested before Siddhartha to put a hold on his search for truth. But Vasavathimara was quite sure that he cannot persuade Siddhartha or his sensual pleasure to deceive him.  Vasavathimara threatened Siddhartha to return to the royal palace where there are only luxuries and happiness, lead a comfortable life of a Prince, in seven days he will be crowned as Monarch, if he discards all the royal pleasures he will go through sufferings and agonies.  Siddhartha sternly replied to him “I do not want to be a Monarch, I do not want any royal status, happiness or luxuries which are not going to provide me bliss, these momentary pleasures are not going to help my subject, and dear ones from their sufferings and sorrows of worldly existence.  Therefore, move away from my path and let me go in search of eternal truth.”  Vasavathimara disappeared from the sight of Siddhartha, before leaving promised that he will chase Siddhartha with greed, hatred, delusion and make his life miserable and follow him like a shadow.

Siddhartha crossed several miles on horseback, Channa dutifully followed the Prince and finally, they have arrived in the beautiful lush green land on the riverside of Anoma.  Siddhartha discarded the royal costume, adopted the saffron robe, long hair was rolled and piled-up as a summit, assumed the form of an ascetic.  Channa was terribly upset and sad, fallen at the feet of the Prince.  He advised Channa “ Channa, I am discarding all the pleasures and royal comfort for finding a way out of sufferings and sorrows for all the living beings on the Earth.   Therefore do not feel depressed or sad.  You go back to the Palace and inform my father that I will not return to the Kingdom until I receive the supreme knowledge and the reason for sufferings and sorrows of worldly existence.”  That was the beginning of the journey of a royal Prince Siddhartha to the highest state of spirituality.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 4

On the third day when Siddhartha returned to the palace after the visit of the outside world, he was extremely disappointed and mystified after witnessing the realities of life,one of the servants rushed to him with the good news.  “ Your Highness, your wife has given birth to your son.”.  Siddhartha could not express his joy like an ordinary person; he was just begun to learn the harsh truth of aging, illness, and death which are the trap of human life on the Earth.   He felt the birth of the child was to firm his worldly bondage.    He went to meet the child and Yasodhara, but both of them were asleep.  He uttered in silence “ Yasodhara, you are dear to my heart, and Rahula you are everything to me. Oh! Dear ones, we all have to go through the sufferings like aging, sickness, and death, I have to find a way out of these sufferings for all, I have to find a way beyond all these pain and anguish, I am ready to take up all those troubles and turmoil in search of supreme bliss where there is no sufferings and misery.”  He silently left the chamber of Yasodhara, once again looked at the new born Rahula and his dear wife.

On that night, Siddhartha rushed to the attic of Channa who was half asleep, he called for Channa and asked him to keep the horse ready to leave the palace.  Channa was shocked where did the Prince want to leave in the middle of the night.  Channa received instruction from the Prince to keep his horse Kanthaka ready to leave, he will be waiting before the front gate of the Palace.  Siddhartha informed Channa that no one in the Palace should know that he is leaving the palace forever.  That was the beginning of the journey of a royal Prince to achieve the status of a great religious Monk.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 3

As usual the next day, Channa and Siddhartha left the palace in the chariot.  It rolled through the pathways of a village,  Siddhartha could witness a sick old man sitting on the patio of a house.  Seeing this, Siddhartha asked Channa to stop the chariot.  “What’s that, Your Highness?”  Siddhartha said “ Channa, why is that old man is shivering so badly and finding difficult to breathe?”  Channa said, “ He is sick, Your Highness.”  Siddhartha was curious to know what is sickness.  Channa continued “ The sickness is a natural part of life, whoever born on the Earth has to undergo these challenges several times in their lives, none can protect themselves from this for a long time. In fact, every one of us has to experience it several times in our lives.”  On that night after returning from outside of the palace, Siddhartha has nothing to think other than the grave situation of the man who was shaking hardly for breath.  The thought of aging and illness put him gloomy and depressed.  He has not witnessed any of these miserable sights in all these years, there are several people and physicians to serve in the palace.

The next morning, Channa and Siddhartha left the palace a little early.  As usual, they have witnessed the beauty of nature, people, and village.  Siddhartha could see a person fully covered in a white robe, a few of his relatives were standing around and shedding tears.  Siddhartha could not resist himself; he jumped out of the chariot and rushed to the people who were mourning.  Channa requested “ Oh! Your Highness, please come back.” But Siddhartha could not hear Channa.  Soon Channa joined with the Siddhartha who asked: “ Channa, why this man is wrapped in a white robe?”  Channa replied “ Your Highness, that’s a dead man, all the living things have to die.  This is also one of the natural processes, whoever take births has to die one day, no one can escape from it.” Siddhartha asked bluntly, “Even me has to undergo death?” Channa said, “ Yes, Your Highness, everyone is subject to death.”   That night Siddhartha returned home extremely disappointed, he pondered over the things he had witnessed in the last three days.  There was not much appealing sight he could witness other than the beauty of nature.   All that he had been witnessing were terrible realities of life those are aging, sickness and death.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 2

While the chariot was rolling through the pathways, suddenly Siddhartha asked Channa to stop the chariot.  Channa stopped the chariot and enquired “ Yes, Your Highness, why did you ask me to stop here?” Siddhartha said, “ Channa, Look at the man walking on the sideways, he is thin and weak, his hairs are grey, his skin all over the body is wrinkled and unappealing, he is too weak to walk.” Channa replied “ Oh! That’s an old man, Your Highness”.  Siddhartha was curious to know more about this old man’s appearance, he wanted to know should we all go through the same state of the body, does it happen to everyone etc… Channa replied “ Yes, Your Highness, whoever took birth on this Earth should undergo these changes in their lives, this is the process of aging.  No one will be freed from this state of transformation.”  This information was all new to Siddhartha and it was shocking as well.  On that night Siddhartha pondered over the sight he had witnessed in the village, their journey began with the most marvelous sight of nature, when they arrived in the human-inhabited areas there were people of different colors and sizes, and domesticated animals, everyone was engaged in various odd activities, finally the sight of an old man with wrinkles who was struggling to move on the pathways, that was not an appealing sight for Siddhartha.  That was the first time Siddhartha came to know about the nature of human life and the sufferings of living beings on the Earth.

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter - 1

It was Siddhartha's wife Yasodhara full pregnant with their only son.  One dark night Siddhartha was watching over the sky standing in the palace balcony, his father King  Shudhodhana joined with him.  “ Son, are you awake in the late night? Is there anything bothering you? Is there anything you want to share with me?”  Siddhartha said, “ Yes father, I wanted to ask permission to go out of the Royal Palace and see the beautiful sights nature has to offer.”  Shudhodhana said, “ Siddhartha, there is nothing is charming and attractive to see outside the royal palace.”  Siddhartha said, “ Father, since childhood I have not stepped out of the Royal Palace, I wanted to see how the life out of the palace, I have seen all that sparkling and cheerful life inside the four walls of this Palace.”  His father tried to put off the very idea of Siddhartha to go out of the palace, but he could not convince him for long.  Siddhartha said “ Father, you may be right, there is nothing much attractive in the outside of the Palace, still I wanted to see that with my own eyes. Kindly give me permission to visit outside the palace.”  Finally, King Shudhodhana gave permission to Siddhartha to visit outside the world of the palace,  he also arranged a royal chariot for him to conduct a visit.

The next morning sky was bright, a grand chariot was ready to pick Siddhartha with the charioteer Channa/Chandaka and they left the great walls of the palace.  It was for the first time Siddhartha being out in the open, fresh air, soothing morning wind, trees, and numerous flowering plants, ponds, chirping of birds, lush green fields, streams, etc..  It was a marvelous sight for Siddhartha.  The chariot started rolling through the harsh pathways of the villages.  Siddhartha kept his eyes and ears wide open; he watched each and every sight with awe.  Finally, they arrived in a village where he could see small huts, cattle, and people busily walking over the street and engaged in various activities.  It was the most captivating sight for him. Siddhartha thought why did my father stop me going out of the palace, was unaware of the reason for being not letting him go out in the open.

Life of Lord Budhdha –

India has been the land of diversified beliefs and faith, Buddhism was initiated from Lumbini,  a sacred place close to the border of Nepal which is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama who was born in 623 B.C. in the Kingdom of Kapilavasthu.  He was born to Queen Mayadevi and King Sudhdhadhana of the Kingdom of Kapilavasthu.  

Queen Mayadevi had a dream in that a white  elephant was moving on the sky, which is considered as highly auspicious during the days of pregnancy, it was a part of their tradition to give birth to the child in the paternal homeland,   hence Queen Mayadevi decided to travel to Devadhaha while she was fully pregnant, but she had to give birth to the child in the Lumbini grove on the way to Devadhaha.   Thus, Supreme Being took the form of a human, later became the source of liberation/Nirvana for the entire clan of Sakhya/branch of Ikshvaku dynasty and the living beings on Earth.   King invited many scholars, priests; astrologers for the naming ceremony of the child, one of the astrologers prophesied that the child would discard all the princely status and will attain enlightenment. 

In the early years of childhood, Siddhdhartha was under the supervision of excellent Masters in various field of knowledge, he was a studious child, he mastered all the subjects, he has grown up into a talented and brave young man. He was extremely caring, compassionate, loving, and kind to all the people and living creatures on the Earth.  King Sudhdhadhana was anxious about the prophecy of the astrologer in his whole life, therefore he has arranged all the comforts and luxuries within the palace ,  not giving any room for  Sidhdhartha  to practice the sense of abandonment, he has arranged superior attendants to fulfill  all his requirements,  and charming young courtesan girls distract him from any sort of renunciation. There was one incident, his visit to the country people, witnessing their poor living standards, illness, sufferings, poverty and death made Sidhdhartha contemplate upon the cause for sufferings.  It ignited the spark in him for the search of absolute truth and the cause for sufferings and miseries of worldly existence.   

 At the age of 16 he was married to his first cousin princess Yasodhara.    Siddhartha Gautama and Yasdhara were same age; at the age of 29, this couple had a son Rahula, on the 7^th night after the birth of the child   Siddhartha Gauthama abandonment the material life and conducted search for enlightenment, while Yasodhara was asleep.  When Prince Siddhartha left the chamber, Yasodhara who was pretending to asleep, moved close to the window watching her husband leaving the palace once for all, she sincerely wished that her husband should achieve all the comforts in the forest life, he had chosen over the princely status.    Siddhartha renounced the princely living and went in search of the ultimate truth, the next six years he underwent extreme austerities and penances, it caused physical weakening.    During this period of time, Yasodhara who came to know that her husband is leading a supremely ascetic life, she renounced her royal comforts, she abandonment royal costume, and jewelry embraced saffron robe, and consumed meal once in a day, during these six years of rigorous penance of her husband, Yasodhara has closely followed the news of his development in asceticism.    He proceed his journey to Gaya, on the way he met a farmer who offered a bundle of Kushagrass, he sat under a Bodhi/awakening tree for 49 years and contemplated upon causes of sufferings in the material existence, on a full moon night Siddhartha gained enlightenment, this sacred place has come to know as Bodha Gaya/Buddha Gaya which is situated 150 km south of the city of Patna.  Buddha Purnima is the day commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, and enlightenment of Buddha.  

When Budhdha visited Kapilavasthu after enlightenment, Yasodhara did not go to meet him; she had a faith that if she is having any virtues, her Lord would definitely come to meet her, as expected, Budhdha met Yasodhara and praised her patience and sacrifices.  Later, Yasodhara and Rahula became devoted disciples of Budhdha.   Yasodhara attained the supreme abode at the age of 78, just two years before the Mahanirvana of Lord Budhdha.