Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha, Part B

Notes: Life of Buddha Part B

(Maya by Wikipedia)

Names:

KEY NAMES ARE HIGHLIGHTED

Mahaprajapati

• The woman who raised Siddhartha (Buddha)
• His maternal aunt
• “The great patroness of all beings” 

Siddhartha

• Buddha
• Means "one who has accomplished a goal"

Gopa

• means cow herder 
• wife of Siddhartha

Chandaka

• means Charioteer of Buddha

Kanthaka:

• white horse of Siddhartha

Arata Kalama 

• teacher of the the doctrine of renunciation
• does not teach Siddhartha

Sakra

• means from India
• Some kind of god "He is like a God, like Sakra or Brahma himself."

Brahma

• The Hindu god Brahma is the creator and director of the universe
• Means "growth, expansion, creation"
• depicted with four heads and four arms 

Vimbasara

• King of Rajagriha

Rudraka

• famous hermit, son of Rama
• Rudraka's disciples: Kaundinya, Asvajit, Vashpa, Mahanaman and Bhadrika

Maya

• Siddhartha's mother
• Has several meanings in different culture, but generally means good, feminine, and a mother of power, click here for more info

Asita

• means “Tranquil; dark, blue; warm, hot”.
• was a hermit who predicted Siddhartha's good and successes 

Svastika

• the reaper

Mara

• the Evil One
• means bitter and strength

(Rajagriha by Wikipedia)

Cities mentioned:

Kapilavastu: where King Siddhartha and Maya lived
Magadhi
Rajagriha
Nairanjana

Unknown words: 

• beatitude: supreme blessedness

• dejection: sad and depressed state

• espied: to have caught sight of

• obdurate: stubbornly refuse to change opinion, hard headed

• donned: to have put on

• equerry: an officer

• abstemious: not self indulgent (especially with food and drink) 

• hermitage: dwelling of a hermit 

Bibliography: 

The Life of Buddha: Part B by Andre Ferdinand Herold. Website: Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook