2600th Sri Sambuddathwa Jayanthi - Birth of Lord Buddha

There was a small country in what is now southern Nepal that was ruled by a clan called the Shakyas. The head of this clan, and the king of this country, was named Shuddodana, and his wife was Mahamaya Devi. Mahamaya was expecting her first born. She had had a strange dream in which a baby elephant had blessed her with his trunk, which was understood to be a very auspicious sign to say the least.

As was the custom of the day, when the time came near for Queen Mahamaya to have her child, she traveled to her father's kingdom for the birth.

But during the long journey, her birth pains began.

In the small town of Lumbini, she asked her maids to assist her to a nearby grove of trees for privacy.

One large tree lowered a branch to her to serve as a support for her delivery.

They say the birth was nearly painless, and a gentle rain fell on the mother and the child to cleanse them.

It is said that the child was born fully awake, he could speak, and told his mother he had come to free all mankind from suffering.

He could stand, and he walked a short distance in each of the four directions. Lotus blossoms rose in his footsteps.

They named him Siddhartha, which means "he who has attained his goals." Sadly, Mahamaya Devi died only seven days after the birth. After that Siddhartha was raised by his mother’s kind sister, Mahaprajapati.

King Shuddodana consulted Asita, a well-known sooth-teller, concerning the future of his son. Asita proclaimed that he would be one of two things: He could become a great king, even an emperor. Or he could become a great savior of humanity.

Tomorrow we will focus on Lord Buddha’s Life as Prince Siddartha.