Budha
Buddha is the 9th incarnation of Vishnu. Buddhism, in fact, is bereft of any belief in incarnation or gods. Buddhism stresses that Buddha is a real-being. Buddha in diverse forms is worshipped as in the case of Hindu gods. One form is of Amithba Buddha, a form of fire element known as Bodhisettva. The fire element depicted in red colour is indicative of the western region of the universe. The lotus or nectar Vase symbolizes the power.
Yet another form is Shakyamuni Buddha meant to rid open the path to enlightenment.
His birth or incarnation is intriguing one. The Aryan tribes, Shakyas, were living in Kapilavastu in the 5th century BC. Kapilavastu was located in between Benares and Himalayas. Their king was Suddodana who had two wives. Both were the daughters of the king of Kaligar tribes. The elder wife, Mahamaya, who concepted Buddha had a night dream to the effect that she was transcended by Devas of the Himalaya and that she was ceremoniously purified by bath by Bodhisettva descended from the north direction of Himalaya as a white elephant. There were miracles when Buddha took conception in the womb of his mother – trees and herbs blossomed untimely, instruments started playing on their own, and so on.
Soon after giving birth to Buddha, Mahamaya died. Buddha was named Siddharta and his nick-name was Gautama. The Brahmins were observing the boyhood of Buddha and they noticed many rare qualities in him. Soon they predicted to the king that his son would either become a great ruler or an ascetic. The king was incapable to bear the thought of his son becoming an ascetic. He therefore decided to keep his son away from the torturous events of the time.
Buddha’s was early marriage. He married his cousin, Yashoda, the daughter of Koli king.
After the marriage he was free to move around. This freedom helped him see the realities around – the sufferings, the diseases, the deaths etc. He decided to cast aside all the happiness and ventured out to solve the problems others face. Meanwhile, after 10 years of marriage, a son named Rahula was born to him.
In a night he left the home in search of Brahmin hermits and saints and took their coaching and guidance. He was not satisfied with their preaching and resorted to self-practice and self-preaching. Even after long lasted stringent penances he could not attain enlightenment. He discarded ascetic life and started taking common food and common life-style. He wandered aimlessly and seated under a Bo-tree on the banks of Niranjara river. Here he found a new vision – the burden of his mind de-loaded, doubts self-cleared and attained peace of mind. Buddha turned highly enlightened. The enlightened Buddha went to Benares where he preached non-violence among the people from all strata.
The people who heard him in Kapalavastu became his disciples. Here he had an in-born wish to visit his native place. Hearing the news of the arrival of the Buddha, his father got ready a beautiful garden for him. The father also sent message of his arrival to the mother of Buddha, Yashoda. She shave off the hair and went to see the son. Out of devotion she bowed at his feet.
Buddhas parents became his disciples, while his son Rahula was initiated to the monk-hood. He did not admit his mother Yashoda to the order of priesthood. Later he framed the order of Buddhist nuns when Yashoda was admitted to it.
At the age of 54, in 483 BC, Buddha left his body in the place called Pawa. “Work out your salvation with diligence” was the last preaching of Buddha.
