Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s1.t6.32

v2.c10.s1.t6.32

Of Buddhist mythology, tales about the Buddha’s life are the most representative. According to Theravada texts, Kapilavastu was a kingdom located in the south of Himalayas, the king wass Suddhodana and his queen Mayadevi. One day, Mayadevi dreamed of a white elephant entering into her belly from the right flank. Then she gave birth to a prince from the right flank under a sal tree in Lumbini Park. Nanda and Upananda came in due time and spat pure water to bathe the prince and Indra and Brahma came to say congratulations. The baby prince stood up and marched seven steps forward with one hand to the sky and the other to the earth, saying as loudly as a lion roars, “Heaven and Earth, I am the supreme! After this body, no more rebirth.” The prince grew up and at the age of 29, he left the royal palace one night and from thence was called Sakyamuni. After six years of ascetic practice, he was still not enlightened. Once morning, he came to meditate under a banyan and was offered a bowl of milk by a maiden named Sujata. After finishing it, the prince was refreshed and avowed to achieve enlightenment the same day. He went to a Pippala and a grass seller gave him some grass, which turned into a 20-cubit-high seat of vajra. The prince sat toward the east and began to meditate. All the devas came to guard him and the demons to interfered him with threats and temptations. The demons failed and the prince was unmoved, and became a Buddha. At this time, the earth shook, trees came into flower and showers of petals fell. Then he returned to his country and converted his brother Nanda and Nanda’s son Rahula into sangha. What he sought is the ultimate liberation rather than magic power, which he attained naturally. He defeated the evil dragon for many times, moved the mad elephant and escaped many assassinations attempted by his enemies. At the age of 80, he died in Hain Salavana in Kusinagara, and his body cannot be burnt until Mahakasyapa led 500 disciples to prostrate themselves and pray. Like his birth, his death is mysterious as well. In this way, a figure of mythology was produced.