Every cycle of creation is called Manvantar. It begins with Sat Yuga and ends with Kal Yuga. In each Manvantar God presents itself to us in different ways. In this Manvantar Lord Vishnu saved Dharma in the following order:
Matsya (fish) – an animal that can only live in water
Kurma (Turtle) – that can live in water and land.
Varaha (Boar) – Land animal.
Narsimha (Lion Man) – A creature that is half animal and half man.
Vamana – A small Brahmin Boy who defeats Bali by using his mind.
Parasurama – He is born as a brahmin boy who behaves like a warrior and kills entire class of warrior kings.
King Rama – In this Avatar he is born as a prince who showed us how to live within the boundaries of social and moral rules.
Krishna – This is possibly the most loved Avatar. In this Avatar the Lord showed us how to live a full life based on Dharma.
The Ninth Avatar is Gautam Buddha. In his avatars as Parasurama, Rama and Krishna he fights violent wars to save Dharma. In his ninth role as Gautam Buddha he shows us how to find peace within by living a life of non violence and simplicity.
A longtime ago King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya ruled Nepal. The queen gave birth to a baby boy named Prince Siddhartha. During his birth celebrations, the wise and respected sage Asita made a prediction. He predicted “The Prince will become either a great king or a great sage.” Other wise men also studied Siddhartha’s birth marks. Everyone agreed with Sage Asita’s prediction. They also warned the king – “When the Prince sees a sick person, an old person, a dead body and a monk, he will become a monk.” King Suddhodana wanted his son to become a great King and trained him thus. The Prince was well trained in horse riding, wrestling, archery, sword fighting, battle tactics, languages, science and mathematics. All his teachers were very happy with him. He was also very brave, kind and generous. People in the court would often tell the King that the Prince was sure to become a great king. But the King was worried. He remembered the warning wise men had given him. Thus, he did not allow Prince Siddhartha to go out in the city. He also ordered everyone in palace to keep sick and old people away from the Prince. Only young and healthy people were allowed to go in front of him. As soon as he was old enough to marry, the King married Siddhartha to Princess Yashodha. The King hoped that Siddhartha’s love for his wife would stop him from becoming a monk. Soon after the marriage Yashodha and Siddhartha became parents to a baby boy named Rahul. The King finally felt relaxed. He saw how happy Siddhartha was and felt confident that he would never leave his wife and child to become a monk.
Unknown to the King, Siddhartha was happy but not content. He had everything anyone could want. He had health, wealth, power and the love of his family and kingdom. Yet, he felt something was missing. One day he broke his father’s rule and ordered his charioteer to take him outside the palace into the city. He was 29 years old. Since it was an undeclared visit the city officials could not hide old, sick and injured people. In this trip Siddhartha saw a sick man, an old man and a dead man for the first time in his life. He asked his Charioteer Chandaka “Will the people I love also grow old, get sick and die someday? Will I grow old and weak? Will I die someday?” Chandaka replied “Yes my Prince all who are born grow old, all get sick, all experience pain and suffering and everyone must die someday.” This made the Prince very upset. He kept thinking about all the sadness in everyone’s life. As they reached city outskirts they saw a monk who had left world’s pleasures. The monk wanted to spend his life finding the cause of suffering and sadness. This inspired Prince Siddhartha and gave him hope.
After the tour Prince Siddhartha could not enjoy riches of the palace. He wanted to become a monk to find an end to human suffering. One night he quietly said goodbye to his sleeping wife and son and left the palace forever. He changed into simple clothes, took a begging bowl and started his search for a teacher. He wanted a teacher who could help him answer the question “How to end all Human suffering”. His first teacher was Alara Kalama who taught him meditation and gave him the name Gautam. Second teacher was Uddaka. After learning from these two teachers he decided to find the answers by himself. He made 5 friends Kodanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji. Together the 6 friends chose the path of austerity for enlightenment. Severe austerity meant that they meditated without eating or drinking anything. They would also hold their breath for long time. When after six years Gautam could not find the way to end suffering, he gave up the path of severe austerity. His friends did not like that and left him.
Gautam kept wandering for a long time and then finally went to Gaya. He found a tree, sat under it, and took a vow to leave his seat only after finding the way to end suffering. He meditated without fear, desire etc. Once his mind relaxed He found peace and calm. This was not enough so he continued his meditation. Finally the Four Noble Truths dawned upon him:
- All living beings are trapped in an endless cycle of birth and rebirth.
- World is full of suffering, and the cause of suffering is wanting.
- End of suffering is freedom (Nirvana).
- Suffering ends by following the Noble Eightfold Path.
In this way, royal prince Siddhartha discovered the truth within and became Gautam Buddha. The story of this Avatar is the story of us finding the Vishnu within and realizing that there is no distance or difference between Me and The Lord. Buddha traveled Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Southern Nepal for 45 years. At the age of 80, he announced that he would soon die. He ate his last meal at the home of Cunda the Blacksmith who offered him meat. Legend has it that Buddha knew the meat had gone bad but ate it because it was time for him to leave his body. He left his body while meditating.