The Life of Shakyamuni Buddha - Childhood
Queen Mayadevi died soon after
the birth and Siddhartha was brought up by his aunt. From earliest childhood he showed compassionate and meditative
qualities. When a great sage by the name of Asita came to visit the Shakya court, he told the King that Siddhartha
would not become a universal monarch but a Buddha, an Enlightened One. The sage showed that the child was endowed
with the thirty-two auspicious marks of spiritual awareness, such as a broad forehead, large eyes, thick eyelashes
and so on, which indicated a life of spiritual achievement.
King Suddhodana was disturbed by this prophesy. He wanted his son to take a worldly path and to become a great King who would carry on the Shakya Dynasty. As such he did everything in his power to direct Siddhartha's energies towards worldly life. The Prince was surrounded by luxuries and diversions of every description. He was given instruction in all the pursuits that befitted his position by the best teachers of his time. The young Prince excelled in all that he undertook, and his days were filled with studying the scriptures, mastering arts such as archery and riding, listening to music, playing with his companions.
One day the young Prince went for a walk alone in a garden and was resting under a jambu tree. Almost without realising it, the he drew his legs into meditation posture, his mind became stilled and free of worldly thoughts and he was filled with peace and serenity. Some courtiers came upon Siddhartha as he sat in meditation, but he was unaware of his surroundings and his face had a look of absolute calm. The courtiers noticed with awe that the shadows of all the other trees in the garden had moved with the passage of the sun, but the shadow of the jambu tree had remained where it was, in order to shade the Prince.
Worried by this turn of events, the King's advisors suggested that a wife and children would help to turn the Prince's attention to worldly matters and so the search for a bride was begun. After considering all the eligable girls in the kingdom, Yashodhara, the daughter of a Shakya nobleman was selected. She was beautiful and well accomplished with great inner strength.
According to the custom of the time Prince Siddhartha had to compete for the hand of his chosen bride in a tournament of skill, and he thus showed his prowess in archery and wrestling, and in all the branches of intellectual knowledge. The wedding of Prince Siddhartha and Yashodhara was celebrated and the King was overjoyed. He felt that the Prince would now settle down and involve himself more completely in the affairs of the kingdom. He made sure the Prince was surrounded by beauty and graciousness, and protected him from anything that may cause distress.
For several years, the Prince lived in comfort and ease. His wife bore a son, whom they named Rahul, but despite the diversions of the royal court, Siddhartha remained detached. The King made every effort to keep him secluded from the sorrows of the world, to hide him from the unpleasant realities of sickness and old age.
