"BUDDHA" - A BRIEF LIFE HISTORY
I TAKE REFUGE IN BUDDHA
I TAKE REFUGE IN SANGHA
I TAKE REFUGE IN DHARMA
LIFE HISTORY:-
Lord Buddha was born as the son of Suddhodana and Mayadevi at Lumbini near Kapilavastu. He was named SIDDHARTHA, that is, " he who has accomplished his purpose."
Suddhodana invited a rishi to see the royal child. On seeing the child the rishi prophesied, "The supernatural signs indicate that the newborn child will bring deliverance to the whole world." He, of course, warned the king that the boy might renounce the world any time if he should come across the diseased, the old and the dead. The king was very much alarmed to hear this. He got Siddhatha married at an early age and almost imprisoned him in a pleasure garden providing therein all kinds of enjoyments. The inevitable happened.
As the chained elephant longs for the wilds. so the prince was eager to see the world. The streets were decorated and the city bore a festive appearance. Siddhartha, in the course of his visit to the city, came across an old man, a diseased person, a dead body, and at last a sannyasin. Being told that the first three were not rare scenes, but the inevitable fate of all living beings, Siddhartha was very much perturbed and plunged into deep thought.
When he came back to the palace, somebody brought him the news that Yasodhara, his wife, had given birth a male child, who was named Rahula. Instead of being happy, Siddhartha thought, "It is bondage heaped on Bondage", and decided to renounce the world in search of truth.
The dicision was translated into action when one night Siddhartha renounced everything to fulfill the object of his advent and become a recluse. He came to Uruvilva - now called BUDDHA GAYA - and sat there beneath a BO-TREE, under a vow to attain enlightenment. After six years of hard questions the much desired enlightenment dawned upon him and he become BODHISATTVA and started preaching the new gospel.
Buddha deliverd his first sermon at Sarnath near Varanasi. Fulfulling the object of his advent by preaching his great message for full fort-five years and establishing his well-organized order of BHIKSHUS (monks), he passed away at Kushinara at the age of eighty on a Vaisakha Purnima (full moon) day, which is known as the thrice-blessed day, as on this day he was born and also attained enlightenment.
He is not only the 'Light of Asia' but the "Light of the World'. His contribution to the spiritual and cultural advancement of humanity is great beyond measure and his life and teachings have influenced the daily lives and aspirations of millions.
