Submitted by administrator on Fri, 03/29/2013 - 12:28

Gautama Buddha's Life:-

• Gautama Buddha was born in 563 BC (widely accepted), on the vaisakha pumima day at Lumbinivana in Kapiivastu, now situated in the foothills of Nepal in the Sakya Kshatriya clan.

Siddhartha was the childhood name of Gautama Buddha.

• Gautama Buddha was the founder of Buddhism,

• His father Suddhodhana was the republican king of Kapilvastu and mother Mahamaya was a princess of Kosala dynasty.

• After his mother's early death, he was brought up by his step mother and aunt Mahaprajapati Gautami.

• He was married at an early age to Yasodhara, the princess of Kolli dynasty, from whom he had a son Rahul.

• Four sights- (i) an old man,  (ii) a diseased person,  (iii) a dead body and  (iv) an ascetic were proved to be a turning point in his carrier.

• At the age of 29, he renounced home, this was his Mahabhinishkramana (great going forth) and became awandering ascetic.

• His first teacher was Alara Kalama who was the Sankhya philosopher. 

• He learnt the technique of meditation from Alara Kalama.

• His next teacher was Udraka Ramputra.

• At the age of 35, under a pipal tree at Uruvella (presently known as Bodh Gaya) on the bank of river Niranjana (modern name Falgu) he attained Nirvana (enlightenment) after 49 days of continuous meditation.

• Gautama Buddha attained the supreme knowledge or Truth and become the enlighted one.   

• Ever since Gautama is known as Buddha (enlighted one), Tathagata or Sakya-muni (sage of the Sakyas) .

• Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath (Dear park) to his five deciples, this is known as Dharmachakra Pravartana (Turning of the wheel of law).

• He died at the age of 80 in 483 BC at Kushinagar (identical with the village Kasia in Siddharthanagar Janapada of Deoria district of U.P.)

. This is known as Mahaparinirvana (Final Blowing out).

Great Events of Buddha's Life:-

• Janma (Birth)—  Symbols is Lotus and Bull.

• Mahabhinishkramana (Renunciation)—  Symbols is Horse.

• Nirvana/Sambodhi (Enlightenment)—  Symbols is Bodhi tree.

• Dharmachakra pravartana (First Sermon)—  Symbols is Wheel.

• Mahaparinirvana (Death)—  Symbols is Stupa.

•  Kanthaka was the name of Budhha's horse.

Channa was the name of Buddha's charioteer.

Devadatta was the name of Buddha's cousin.

Sujata was the farmer's daughter who gave him rice milk at Bodh Gaya .

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