The Birth of Gotama Buddha

On the full-moon day of May in the year 623 B.C., there was born, in Lumbini Park at Kapilavatthu, on the borders of Nepal,a noble Prince of aristocratic Sakya Clan. His father was King Suddhodana, and his mother Queen Maha Maya. Seven days after the birth of their child, the mother died, and Maha Pajapati Gotami, her younger sister, who was also married to King Suddhodana, became his fostermother.

Great were the rejoicings of the people over the birth of this illustrious prince. A certain ascetic, name Asita, also known as Kaladeva, was particularly pleased to this happy news and, being a tutor of the king, visited the palace to see the royal baby. The overjoyed King brought the child, to pay him due reverence, but, to the surprise of all, his feet turned and planted themselves in the matted locks of the ascetic. Instantly the ascetic rose from his seat and foreseeing the child's future greatness, saluted him with joined hands. When he thus honoured him, the royal father too saluted him in the same way.

The great ascetic at first smiled and then was sad. Questioned as to mixed feelings, he replied that he smiled because the Prince would, eventually become a Buddha; and that he was sad because he owing to his prior death and rebirth in a Formless Plane ( Arupaloka ), could not benefit by the superior wisdom of the Enlightened One.

On the fifth day after the Prince's birth, he was named Siddhattha Gotama, which means 'wishfulfilled'. His family name was Gotama. In accordance with the ancient custom, many learned Brahmins were invited to the palace for this naming ceremony. Among them were eight distinguished men. Examining the characteristics of the child, seven of them raised two fingers and gave a double interpretation, saying that he would either become a Universal Monarch or a Buddha. But the youngest Kondanna, who excelled the others in knowledge, raised only one finger and firmly declared that he would definitely retire from the world and become a Buddha.

A very remarkable incident took place in his childhood. It was an unprecedented mental experience which, in later life, during his search for the Truth, served as a key to his Enlightenment. As an encouragement to agriculture the King arranged for a Ploughing Festival. It was indeed a festive occasion for all, as both nobles and commoners decked in gala dress participated in the ceremony. On the appointed day the King, accompanied by his courtiers, went to the field taking with him, the young Prince together with the nurses. Placing the child on a screened and canopied couch under the cool shade of a roseapple tree to be watched by the nurses, the King took an active part in the Ploughing Festival. When the festival was at its climax, the nurses stole away from the Prince's presence to catch a glimpse of the wonderful spectacle. The thoughtful child, matured in intellect though young in age, seeing none by him, sat cross-legged, and intently concentrating on inhalation and exhalation, gained one-pointedness of the mind and developed the First Ecstasy ( Jhana ).

In the midst of their enjoyment the neglectful nurses suddenly remembered their duty, and when they saw the Prince absorbed in meditation, were struck with awe and immediately reported the matter to the King. He hasted to the scene and beholding the Prince in meditative posture, saluted him saying : "This, dear child is my second salutation."

As a royal child Prince Siddhattha no doubt received a good education, although the books give no details about his schooling. Being a scion of the warrior race, he must have been specially trained in the art of warfare. At the early age of sixteen, he married his beautiful cousin Princess Yasodhara, who was of equal years. After his happy marriage, he led a luxurious life, blissfully unaware of the vicissitudes of life, outside the palace gates.

Of his luxurious life as a Prince he states :-
"I was delicate, excessively delicate. In my father's dwelling three lotus ponds were made purposely for me. Blue lotuses bloomed in one, red in another, and white in the third. I used no sandalwood that was not of Kasi. My turban, tunic, dress and cloak were all from Kasi. Night and day a white parasol was held over me so that I might not be touched by heat or cold, dust, leaves or dew."

"There was three palaces built for me - one for the cold season, one for the hot season, one for the rainy season. During the four rainy months, I lived in the palace for the rainy season, entertained by female musicians, without coming down from the palace. Just as in the houses of others, food from the husks of rice together with sour gruel is given to the slaves and workmen, even so, in my father's dwelling, food with rice and meat was given to the slaves and workmen".