The life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 15

Buddha was in deep meditation under a tree, there arrived  Vasavathi Mara and several warriors/hosts of deceivers with various weapons on the elephant’s back. All these years Mara was keenly observing every progress of Siddhartha and took all efforts to hinder him from the path of enlightenment.   Mara felt if he did not stop Siddhartha from advancement, he will not have any hold on him.  He decided to destroy Buddha and put an end to his path of Dharma.  The power of Bodhisaththvas's spiritual qualities and goodness accumulated, and protected Siddhartha like invisible armor, he was firm and peaceful, unshaken by fear.  The warriors showered arrows and various weapons upon Siddhartha, but none of the weapon could do any harm.  Vasavathi Mara could not tolerate his failures; he was frustrated seeing the supernatural power of Siddhartha.  Mara used all the techniques to move Siddhartha from his seat, Siddhartha said “ Oh! King of deceivers, listen to me carefully, the seat occupied by me was the fruit of my hard work  and good actions of previous births.” Mara rebuked and said, “Who is the witness of the ownership of your seat?”  Soon there appeared Dharani, the Mother of Earth saying “I am the witness of the ownership of the enlightenment of Buddha.” She spoke “ Siddhartha has attained all that merits by his pious deeds in the past, even the water he has poured on the ground with dedication, that soaked up my bunch of hair and stays healthy.  I am more than enough to bear the witness of his virtues.”  Dharani exposed her long and healthy hair, it created huge commotion on the Earth and all those warriors and Vasavathi Mara disappeared in that turbulence.  It was Siddhartha’s firm mind and perseverance elevated him as an enlightened one.

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.

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.