Shakyamuni mantra
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The Buddha’s biography: Birth
According to orthodox Theravadin belief, the Buddha was born in 563BCE, although a second tradition, originating in India, dates his birth to around 450BCE. Modern scholarship’s dates suggest he was born around 485BCE (BCE means “Before the Common Era” and is a non-Christian way of saying “BC”). Unfortunately Indian culture at that time didn’t place much value in keeping dated records.
Mayadevi gives birth to the future Buddha, surrounded by attendants.
The Buddha was born into the republic of the Shakyan clan at a time when the republics were being absorbed by the powerful monarchies of the Ganges basin. He was born in or around village called Lumbini, which is in modern-day Nepal, near the Indian border, and brought up in the city of Kapilavastu.
While the cultures of the Ganges basin, where the Buddha was later to teach, had evolved a rigid caste structure with the Brahmins (priests) having the highest social standing, the Shakyan culture of northern India was less socially stratified. However, according to the Buddha’s own account, he had a privileged upbringing, and his father was almost certainly part of the ruling oligarchy. Quite possibly all land-owning males would have been part of the tribal council, so this may have been nothing special in itself, but the Buddha’s father may well have been one of the more powerful members of the clan.
The Shakyans regarded themselves as warriors (Kshatriyas), although most were probably farmers and the Buddha’s father himself is portrayed as ploughing the land. Whether this was the ceremonial act of an honored leader (like a modern-day politician laying the corner-stone of a new building) or whether it was part of his daily activities is impossible to say.
The later Buddhist tradition promoted the Buddha’s father to “King” and had the Buddha-to-be as a “Prince.” This confusion would have arisen partly because of the fact that in the cultures of the Ganges basin where the Buddha spent most of his adult life teaching a “khatriya” was the term used for the kingly class. At the same time, religious traditions have a tendency to elevate their leaders, and we can compare the Buddha’s “royal” background to the Christian tradition that Jesus was of the line of King David.
The Buddha’s mother is said to have died seven days after giving birth, but even this is controversial. There is at least one place in the Pali canon where the Buddha talks about leaving his father and mother: “While my parents, unwilling, were crying with tears streaming down their faces — I shaved off my hair and beard, put on the ochre robe and went forth from the home life into homelessness.”
We should bear in mind that in the biographies of heros it’s common for the mother to die in labor, and this event can be taken to signify the otherworldly power of the hero-to-be, whose potent life-force is such that the mother is worn out by bearing him. So it’s possible that “Queen” Mayadevi’s death after childbirth is a later invention designed to boost the heroic status of the Buddha.
As in many hero stories, the Buddha’s birth is said to have been surrounded by miraculous events. Mayadevi is said to have been visited in a dream by a white elephant that impregnated her. You can compare this to the Christian myth of Mary having been visited by the Holy Ghost.
And just as Christ was supposed to have been the result of a virgin birth (avoiding the messiness of human conception) the Buddha is said to have been born from his mother’s side (avoiding contact with the vagina, which would have been seen in that culture as unclean).
Lastly, Mayadevi is said to have given birth standing up under a tree. Thus, the Buddha’s mythic life story has him born, enlightened, giving his first teaching, and dying under different trees.
Additionally, a sage, Asita, is said to have warned Siddhartha’s father at the birth of the child that the baby would grow up either to be a great king or a great holy man. Suddhodana, the father of the Buddha-to-be, therefore resolved to keep his son from any intimation of suffering or religion so that he would follow the kingly path.
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Comments
Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: August 9, 2007, 4:02 pm
Hi Vicki,
Have you tried clicking on the “print this page” at the top right of the page? That formats the entire article for printing, including all the pages.
All the best,
Bodhipaksa
Comment from Dr. Waldemar C. Sailer
Time: January 23, 2008, 8:42 pm
I find your site attractive and interesting. I think I would appreciate your reaction to The World of Buddha Footprints. I will await your reply.
Dr. Sailer
Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: January 24, 2008, 8:38 pm
The World of Buddha Footprints looks very interesting. Thanks for suggesting it. I haven’t had time to do more than glance at it as yet, but I’m looking forward to reading it at leisure.
Comment from Varsha
Time: April 30, 2008, 5:17 am
Please also add the detail of Vipassana
Technic. It is use for our mind and body
healthy and happy wich Buddha taught us.
Thanks
http://www.vri.dhamma.org.
Pingback from White magic | Wildmind Buddhist Meditation
Time: August 28, 2009, 9:59 am
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