Saturday, February 18, 2012

Birth of Buddha in Nepal.

There was in Kapilvastu a Sakya king, strong of purpose  and reverenced by all men a descendant of the Okkakas who call them selves Gotama and hhis name was Suddhodhan or Pure -Rice. His wife Mayadevi was beautiful as the water-lily and pure mind as the lotus. As the Queen of Heaven she lived on earth untainted by desire and immaculate. The king, her husband honored her in her holiness and the spirit of truth, glorious and strong in his wisdom like unto a white elephant descented upon her. When she knew that the hour of motherhood was near she asked the king to send her home to her parents and Suddhodhan anxious about his wife and the child she would bear him willingly granted her request.
         At Lumbini there is a beautiful grove and when Mayadevi passed through it the trees one mass of fragrant flowers and many birds were warebling in their branches. The Queen wishing to stroll through the shady walks, left her golden palanquin and when she reached the giant sala tree in the midst of the grove felt that her hour had come. She took hold of a branch her attendants hung a curtain about her and retired. When the pain of travail came upon her four pure minded angels of the great Brahma held out a golden net to receive the babe, who came forth from her right side like the rising sun bright and perfect. The Brahma angels took the child and placing him before the mother said. Rejoice O Queen a mightly son has been born unto thee.
             At her couch stood an aged woman imploring the heavens to bless the child  All the worlds were flooded with light. The blind recveived theri sight by longing to see the coming glory of the Lord the deaf and dumb spoke with one another of the good omens indicating the birht of the Buddha to be. The crooked became straight the lame walked. All prisoners were freed from their chains and the fires of all the hells were extinguished. No clouds gathered in the skies and the polluted streams became clear whilst celestial music rang through the air and the angels rejoiced  with gladness. The royal father was now full of joy and now sore distressed. The queen mother beholding her child and the commotion which his birth created felt in her timorous heart the pangs of doubt.
               Now there was at that time in a grove near Lumbini, Asita a rishi. He was a Brahman of dignified mien. famed not only for wisdom and scholarship but also for his skill in the interpretation of signs. And the king invited him to see the royal babe. The seer beholding the prince wept and sighed deeply and when the king saw the tears of Asita he became alarmed and asked, ' Why has the sight of my son caused thee grief and pain?' But Asita's heart rejoiced and knowing the king's mind to be perplexed  he addressed him saying, The king has begotten a wondrously noble son. I worship this child. and the gods in the temples will descend from their places of honor to adore him. Banish all anxiety and doubt, The spiritual omens manifested indicated that the child now born will bring deliverance to the whole world. He will either be a king of kings to govern all the lands of the earth, or verify will become a Buddha.
                When the royal parents heard Asita's words they rejoiced in their hearts and named their new born infant Siddhartha that is he who has accomplished his purpose. And the queen said to her sister Pajapati, A mother who has borne a future Buddha will never give birth to another child. I shall soon leave this world, my husband the king and Siddhartha my child. When I am gone be thou a mother to him And pajapati wept and promised. When the queen had departed from the living Pajapati took the boy Siddhartha and reared  him. The royal child grew ferom day to day in mind and in body and truth fulness and love resided in his heart.

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