Married Life of Siddhartha

Posted on July 28, 2007 in Buddhism Wheel of Life

Siddhartha’s plunge into the married life has its own story to tell. It will be interesting to note that apart from being into a married stage, this stage was marked by happenings which finally promulgated to the formulation of the basic thoughts of a new approach to life – BUDDHISM, as it popularly came to be known.

Sensing that nothing was working out to draw prince Siddhartha away from the issues of life, King Suddhodana's ministers opined that best way to keep a young man occupied was to get him married. This could make him more responsible towards his family.

It indeed seemed to be very good advice; but the plan needed a wife for his son who would be both lovely and attractive so that once he gets married; he would be completely under her charms. Moreover, Siddhartha had turned sixteen, a right time for him to get married and take up responsibilities.

To effectively pursue his plan, the King made arrangements for the most beautiful maidens to come to 'Kapilavasthu' on a certain day. They were to before Prince Siddhartha so that he will decide who the most beautiful maiden was and give her a prize for her beauty. While giving this order, King Suddhodana also arranged some of his ministers who were to keep a close tab on the reaction of his son as the procession of the beautiful maidens passed before him. If he showed any signs of special pleasure to a particular maiden, they were to take note and inform him immediately.

The day came for the procession of all the fairest and beautiful maidens before the prince; and as they paraded one after another, each received a gift which he thought their beauty deserved. But instead of showing interest in any of them, the maidens were sent back with their respective gifts. As the procession of the beautiful maidens neared the end without any interest shown by the prince, there came along one more maiden; and for those who were keeping a close watch on the prince's reactions, they noticed that he was a little startled as she drew near. The girl, unlike others who passed him with timid eyes, looked at Prince Siddhartha straight in his face, and then with a smile asked if there was any gift left for her too.

By then, his gifts had run out and the only gift he could muster was a string of splendid jewel necklace from his neck which clasped them round the girl's waist. The maiden was Yasodhara, daughter of another sakya chieftaian, Suppabuddha; with his permission and blessings, the marriage of Yashodhara to Siddhartha was solemnized. They had a son by the name 'Rahula'.

We do not have much information about his family life, except that he cared much for his wife and son. King Suddhodana feeling satisfied that his son would no longer think in giving up his chances of sitting on a throne and becoming a religious man.

But feeling of relief was not to last for long because even in the course of his married life, Siddhartha was much concerned with the issues and sufferings in life which was incited again by the 'four noble signs' that finally led him into renouncing the worldly pleasures and embracing asceticism.

Comments

Leave a Reply