Buddha

//** Buddha **//
The time of Buddha’s birth is uncertain but, between 563B.C.E to 483B.C.E. Buddha means ‘‘awakened one’’ or ‘‘enlightened one’’. His birth name is Siddhartha Gautama. Buddha was the 9th avatar of Vishnu. Unlike the other avatars Buddha fights through meditation and talking. Instead of fighting he would teach.

How Buddha Became a Monk

Buddha’s father, King Suddhodana, didn’t want him to see suffering or old age. So he gave him three palaces, one for winter, rain, and summer. Then one day Siddhartha heard something mysterious outside of the palace and he wanted to see it. He said to his wife Yasodhara ‘I want to the world. So his father arranged him to take a ride around on his elephant but, then Siddhartha saw two old man being taking away. He asked his worker ‘why are they taking them away''. Then, Siddhartha ran after them. He enter a small village, he was surprised because it was different from his palace. Then, he asked his worker ‘what is going on?’ He said ‘life’. Then, Siddhartha wanted to see death and he did, he fell sorry for them. Then, he ran away from home and became a leader of these people who are know as his monks.

**//Myth//**  Siddhartha’s mother, Queen Maya, she had a dream that a white elephant entering her womb indicated that on that very night she had conceiv ed a child who was a pure and powerful being. The elephant’s descending from heaven indicated that her child came from Tushita heaven, the Pure Land of Buddha Maitreya. Later, when she gave birth to the child, instead of pain the queen experienced a special, pure vision in which she stood holding a branch of a tree with her right hand while the gods Brahma and Indra took the child painlessly from her side. They then proceeded to honor the infant by offering him rituals ablutions.



Symbols - Eighth Spoken Wheel - Buddha’s footprints - Empty Throne - Begging Bowl - Lion - Lotus Flower - Bodhi tree

Festival **Buddha Day ** - Celebration of his birth. They give food to the poor and form a circle called circumambulation. Celebrated in Theravada. Buddha Day

Family <span style="background-color: #00ffff; color: #f02df0; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">** Wife ** - Yasodhara For information about Buddha click here or go .here.
 * Son ** - Rahula means ‘fetter’
 * Father ** - King Suddhodana
 * Mother ** -Queen Maya