week 5 reading notes: siddhartha

An army attempting to battle Siddhartha as he meditates under the tree of knowledge. Web Source

Kanthaka is Siddhartha's horse that he uses to travel outside of the palace; "...a magnificent animal...strong and supple."
Siddhartha decides to sneak out of the palace because he feels like something is urging him to go out there.
He vows to never come back to the city of Kapilavastu until he has seen the end of life and death.

Siddhartha wants to cure his unhappiness and wants to live a hermit lifestyle. He gives his jewels to Chandaka to go back to the palace and reassure his family and others not to worry about him.
Siddhartha doesn't say anything when Chandaka pleads with him to go back, especially because he still has a wife, Gopa.
He cuts off his hair with a sword, that the Gods eventually receive.
Gives his elegant robe to a hunter that appeared in exchange for the hunter's raggedy robe. The hunter "disappeared" into the sky after.
"Siddhartha realized that the Gods themselves had wished to present him with his hermit's robe, and he rejoiced."

Back at the palace, Siddhartha's family become distressed upon learning of his leave.
Gopa professes that she won't live a life of luxury or happiness; "the palace is deserted."
The King orders the city be shut down in order to find Siddhartha, but he is nowhere to be found.
Chandaka returns with the horse and lets Siddhartha's family know what Siddhartha said to him.
Mahaprajapati takes the jewels and throws them into the water.
Kanthaka the horse suddenly dies once he returns to the stables with sorrow.

Siddhartha finds the city of Rajagriha. People notice his beauty in admiration and compare him to other well-known gods like Brahma and Sakra.
The king of this city meets Siddhartha and offers his fortunes to the prince, but Siddhartha does not accept these desires.
Siddhartha goes to listen to the famous hermit Rudraka's teachings, where he will meet five disciples.

Mara is a demon known as the Evil One. He has a dream that warns him of Siddhartha, which worries him as he is the supreme, so he orders his servants and soldiers to take down Siddhartha.
Mara's son, Sarthavaha, tries to warn him that an army of soldiers would not be able to undermine someone like Siddhartha. Mara doesn't listen.
The fight that Mara brings is descriptive in the story; great imagery.
Mara's soldiers desert him when they see what Siddhartha can do. He cries out loud wondering who can defend Siddhartha's generosity. A woman literally comes out of the earth (Mother Earth?) and defends Siddhartha. Mara was defeated.

Bibliography: These stories are from The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold.

Mythology & Folklore