Buddha

Buddha is an avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is one of the 10 major incarnations (Dashavatar) of Lord Vishnu. Buddha is the ninth avatar out of the ten dashavatars. Whilst some argue that Balarama is the eight avatar and Krishna is the ninth avatar, majority claim that Buddha is the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Maya Devi's Dream
Maya and King Suddhodhana did not have children for twenty years after their marriage. On a full moon night, the queen had a strange dream. She felt herself being carried away by the devas to a in the Himalayas. After bathing her in the lake and clothing her in heavenly clothes, they bedecked her with divine flowers. Soon after, a white elephant, holding a white lotus flower in its trunk, appeared and went around her three times, entering her womb through her right side. And then, the elephant disappeared and the queen awoke, knowing she had been delivered an important message, as the elephant is a symbol of greatness.￼

Birth
Exactly ten months after receiving the dream, when it was time for the queen to give birth, she visited her parents' home. On her way back, as she was carried in a palanquin, she decided to take a stroll in the nearby park. Maya Devi was delighted by the park and gave birth standing while holding onto a branch of a Sal tree. Legend has it that Siddhartha emerged from her right side. It was the eighth day of April. After Siddhartha was born, the devas caused it to rain to wash the newborn baby, giving him his first bath. He was named Siddhartha Gautama (Gautama being his family name).

Renunciation
When Siddhartha was born, the astrologers predicted that the prince would one day, grow up to become, either a great king or a spiritual leader. The king, fearing that his son would become a spiritual leader, closed all of his connection to the outside world. He filled Siddhartha's life with all the pleasures a man could think of. He even got him married to a princess, Yashodhara. One day, when he went strolling his kingdom, he stole a glance at an old man who was suffering from a disease. The next day, he saw a dead person. Upon being asked, the guards who were with him at that time, explained him about old-age, sickness and death. The next morning, the prince walked past a saint who sat in deep meditation. When their eyes met and their minds linked, Siddhartha stopped, dazed. In a flash, he realized that the perfection he had been seeking outside was present within one's mind itself. Meeting that man gave the future Buddha, a first and enticing taste of mind, a true and lasting refuge, which he knew he had to experience himself for the good of all.

Enlightenment
Siddhartha decided that he had to leave his royal responsibilities and family, in order to realise full enlightenment. He left the palace secretly, and set off alone into the forest. Over the next few years, he met many talented teachers and mastered their techniques. Always, he found that they showed him mind’s potential but not mind itself. Finally, at a place called Bodhgaya, he decided to remain in meditation until he knew mind’s true nature and could benefit all beings. After spending six days and nights cutting through mind’s most subtle obstacles, he reached enlightenment on the full moon morning of May, a week before he turned thirty-five. He then, earned the title 'Buddha' which means, 'the enlightened one'.

Leaving the World
After his enlightenment, Buddha traveled on foot throughout northern India. He taught constantly for forty-five years. People of all castes and professions, from kings to courtesans, were drawn to him. He answered their questions, always pointing towards that which is ultimately real.

Throughout his life, Buddha encouraged his students to question his teachings and confirm them through their own experience.

After traveling and teaching for many years, Buddha ate his last meal, which he had received as an offering from a blacksmith named Cunda. Falling violently ill, Buddha instructed his attendant, Ananda, to convince Cunda that the meal eaten at his place had nothing to do with his death and that his meal would be a source of the greatest merit as it provided the last meal for a Buddha. After Buddha left the earth, many people claim that he died due to old age and not food poisoning.

Etymology
The word 'Buddha', in sanskrit, means 'the enlightened one' or 'the awakened one'. 'Shakyamuni' means 'the sage of the Shakyas'. He was named 'Siddhartha' as the word means 'the one who accomplishes great things'.