Puja Kumari : M.A. Museology ( Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda)
"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell."
Buddha (Fronsdal 2006)
Siddhartha Gautama, upon attaining ‘bodhi’ or enlightenment, became what is popularly known as the Buddha. He renounced his royal life to seek the truth in the world. His journey has inspired both ordinary people and emperors alike. (Gethin 1998) In Pali, Bodhi is not the beginning but a final awakening from delusion and Bodhi- satta is the one bound for awakening. Later it came to be known as Bodhisattva, meaning a being for awakening. (Harvey 2013, 15)
Buddha belonged to Sakyas family. In the sixth century, the Sakyas established their capital at Kapilvastu, located in the northeastern corner of present-day India. Today, Kapilvastu is a district in Lumbini Pradesh, Nepal. During that time, the region was divided into monarchical states, which were known as janapadas, and the non-monarchical states were referred to as sanghas or ganas. (Gethin 1998)
BIRTH OF BUDDHA
In the month of Ashad (June 22 - July 22), Mahamaya, Buddha's mother, had a dream (Ambedkar 2010)
“In her dream she saw that the four world-guardians raised her as she was sleeping on her bed and carried her to the table land of the Himalay.
as, placed her under a great sal tree and stood on one side. The wives of the four world-guardians then approached and took her to the lake Mansarovar. They bathed her, robed her in a dress, anointed her with perfumes and decked her with flowers in a manner fit to meet some divinity.” Then a Bodhisatta, by name Sumedha, appeared before her saying, "I have decided to take my last and final birth on this earth, will you consent to be my mother?" She said, "Yes, with great pleasure." This dream was depicted as a six-tusked elephant descending from heaven to enter her womb through the right side.
CHILDHOOD OF SIDDHARTHA
When Siddhartha was eight years old he was educated by the Brahmins who had interpreted Mahamaya’s dream. After gaining knowledge from them he was sent to Sabbamitta, where he mastered all the philosophical systems prevalent at that time. His friends often made fun of him assuming he was weak when he politely declined to join them for hunting.
Siddhartha replied ‘’I do not like to see the killing of innocent’’ and because of this behaviour Prajapati was worried for him because of this behaviour. She used to have arguments with him believing ‘’It’s a Kshatriya duty to fight’’ Siddhartha was never satisfied with her answer.
Then One day when he was resting under a tree, a bird fell in front of him from the sky. The bird was pierced by an arrow, he was resting under a tree, and a bird fell in front of him from the sky. He dressed the wound and provided care. As the bird was pierced by an arrow, he rushed to dress the wound and provide care. As he was wondering who could have done this, his cousin Devadatta appeared as a bird. Siddhartha refused to give and said ‘’He who protects has the right to claim the ownership’’ was wondering who could have done this, his cousin Devadatta demanded the ownership of the bird, but Siddhartha refused. He who protects has the right to claim the ownership (Ambedkar 2010)
THE GREAT RENUNCIATION
One day, as Prince Siddhartha was leaving the east gate, he saw an old man walking along the road. Shocked by this first sight of aging, he turned to his groom, Chandaka, and asked, “What kind of person is that? His back is bent, his face is wrinkled, and his hair is white—he can barely walk! Who is that?”
Chandaka replied, “That is an elderly person.” Siddhartha inquired further, “What kind of person ends up looking like that?” Chandaka explained, “Everyone becomes like that. You may be young now, but you will look like him one day.” This realisation made Siddhartha thoughtful, and he immediately turned back to return home.
On another occasion, they left through the southern gate and encountered a sick man. Seeing someone suffering for the first time, Siddhartha asked, “What kind of person is that?” Chandaka answered, “That is a sick person. You are young and healthy now, but one day you will become sick too.”
Later, as they left through the western gate, they came across a funeral. Siddhartha asked, “What’s happening there?” Chandaka replied, “Someone has died. You, too, will definitely die someday.” (ñanamoli and Nanamoli 2003,12)
The fourth time Prince Siddhartha left through the north gate, seeking amusement, he encountered a śramaṇa—a seeker of truth who had left his family behind. This śramaṇa, summoned by the gods for Siddhartha’s sake, walked with a serene and calm demeanor, and his face reflected a mind free from care, enriched by deep introspection.
Siddhartha was deeply moved by this sight. As usual, he asked Chandaka, who the man was, but this time he also questioned the śramaṇa directly. From this experience, Siddhartha became certain that this was the path he himself must follow. After meeting the śramaṇa and learning about such a noble way of life, he felt true happiness, as if a secret joy had awakened within him (ñanamoli and Nanamoli 2003, 13)
On The Path of Enlightenment
Buddha travelled to many places, offering guidance to all kinds of people. On the western bank of the Nairanjanā River, there exists a prominent fig tree, referred to as pipal or asvattha in Sanskrit. This tree later became known as the "Bodhi Tree," as it is under its boughs that Śakyamuni attained complete enlightenment. (Nanamoli 2003, 17)
The significance of this event is underscored by the fact that Śakyamuni, upon realizing his full potential as the "Buddha," did so in proximity to this tree. Consequently, the location, situated approximately six miles south of the town of Gaya, was designated as Buddha-Gayā, reflecting its historical and spiritual importance. (Nanamoli 2003, 17)
Additionally, on the eastern bank of the Nairanjanā River lies a village known as Sujātā-kutī. The name of this village is indicative of the site from which Sujātā is believed to have come to offer milk gruel to Śakyamuni. Subsequently, Śakyamuni crossed over to the western bank, where he spread some cut grass beneath the Bodhi Tree and sat down to meditate. (Nanamoli 2003, 18)
As he settled into meditation, he made a resolute vow: "This time, I will not rise from this seat until I have attained enlightenment." After four weeks of meditation, darkness was dispelled, light emerged, ignorance was overcome, and he achieved enlightenment. Gautama saw a new way forward. He realized that there were two fundamental problems: the existence of suffering in the world and the means to eliminate this suffering to bring happiness to mankind. (Harvey 2013)
FIRST SERMON
After his Enlightenment, Gautama the Buddha delivered his first sermon to a group of five ascetics, his old colleagues, in the Deer Park at Isipatana that is modern Sarnath near Benares. From that day, for 45 years, he taught all classes of men and women-kings and peasants, Brahmins and outcasts, bankers and beggars, holy men and robbers – without making slightest distinction between them. He recognized no differences of caste or social groupings, and the Way he preached was open to all men and women who were ready to understand and to follow it. (Rāhula 1974, 8)
MAHAPARINIRVANA
Buddha died near the town of Kushinagar in Northern India near the border with Nepal. His death is also referred to as Mahaparinirvana. He died of food poisoning after accepting an offering of food that was spoiled. On the last day of his life his followers gathered around him. Its believed some of his followers fought for his relics. (Rāhula 1974)
REFERENCES
Ambedkar, Bhimrao. 2010. The Buddha & His Dhamma (pb): Samyak Prakashan.
Fronsdal, Gil, trans. 2006. The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations: Shambhala.
Gethin, Rupert. 1998. The foundations of Buddhism: OUP Oxford.
Harvey, Peter. 2013. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices.: Cambridge University Press.
Nanamoli, Bhikkhu. 2003. The Life of the Buddha: According to the Pali Canon: Pariyatti Publishing.
Rāhula, Walpola. 1974. What the Buddha Taught. Translated by Walpola Rāhula.: Grove Press.
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