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.

Significance of Pithrupaksha – Mahalaya Paksha

The legend of Athmadeva highlights the importance of recitation of Srimad Bhagavatham and its meritorious rewards during the days of Mahalaya Paksha.  It is believed that recitation or listening to the legends of Srimad Bhagavatha Purana during these days would provide liberation to ancestors.  Athmadeva was a highly intellectual twice-born married to a beautiful woman.  Unfortunately,  this couple had no offspring after several years of marriage.  The couple were extremely unhappy, they had a cow at home that was not giving birth to a calf, even the flowering plants were not giving flowers or bearing fruits.  Athmadeva was distressed and he decided to kill himself, arrived on the shores of Manasarovar.  There he met a saintly person who understood the grief of Athmadeva immediately.  He felt sympathetic to Athmadeva, he looked at the forehead of Athmadeva.  The saintly person with his divine power said: “ You are not going to getting the happiness of a child in another seven births.”  Athmadeva requested Sanyasin for the remedy to get out of this grief.  The Sanyasin has given fruit to Athmadeva and asked him to feed his wife, it would provide them offspring.  Athmadeva received the fruit with great enthusiasm, and returned home happily.  He handed the fruit to his beautiful wife Dhundhili, she received it but was doubtful about its result.   She thought if she eats this fruit and gets pregnant, it would take away her lovely appearance immediately after the birth of the child.  Dhundhili gave the fruit to her sister, who was already conceived with a child.  Dhundhili had a prior agreement with her sister that the child born to her should return to Dhundhili immediately after its birth.  Her sister also pacified Dhundhili that she would stay with them to take care of the child,  and carelessly offered the fruit to the cow.   In due course of time, Dhundhili’s sister gave birth to a child who was named Dhundhukari.  At the same time, the cow gave birth to a human child with a pair of cow's ears was named Gokarnna.  These two children were grown up, Gokarnna attained knowledge in scriptures and Veda, and he was inherited with good nature.  Dhundhukari was grown with evil nature, he engaged in all wicked activities.  Once Dhundhukari has stolen huge money and precious ornaments from the palace and offered to a prostitute who was worried at the thought that one of these Dhundukari will get caught by the King’s men, it would bring disaster to her as well.  So she killed Dhundukari, after death, Dhundhukari attained the form of a spirit and wandered all over the place.  Once Dhundukari's spirit met Gokarnna and requested him to relieve from the miserable state.  Gokarnna narrated the legend on Srimad Bhagavatha for seven days to the spirit of Dhundhukari, ultimately got relieved from the state of spirit and attained liberation.

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.