“Buddha & Sujata”, Story of Sujata village
Ex-mayor of Sujata village retired
few years ago after his 15-year governance.
His son,
Mr. Devendra Pathak is the principal of
Niranjana Public Welfare School in the village.
Both of them are still respected from
villagers.
very proud of
historical Sujata village
and shared us the legend of the village.
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It was about 2,500 years ago.
Senani village,
later called Sujuata
village
was in a thick forest.
who would one day
become known as Buddha
appeared in the village.
He was 29 years old
when he gave up status
of prince
and left his kingdom,
wife and son to lead an ascetic life.
“Why was I born in this world?”
“Why do I suffer?”
He was to determine a way
to relieve the
universal suffering of humanity.
For the next six years,
Siddhartha lived in
incredibly hard ascetic life
at a cave of Mahakala mountain,
few km away from
Sujata village.
Because answers to his questions
did not
appear,
he redoubled his efforts,
enduring pain, fasting nearly to starvation,
and refusing water.
He was close to death and
he realized that hard ascetic
training
didn’t solve his questions.
So he left the cave and the mountain,
and
he arrived Niranjana river
which separates Sujata village and Bodhgaya.
After bathing in the river,
Siddhartha
walked to a banyan tree in Sujata village
and started meditating.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
On the other hand,
Sujata, a daughter of
the land lord of the village,
was walking to the banyan tree
for special
worship.
Because she kept worshiping the tree
for having a healthy boy for long
time
and her wish came true.
She had milk rice in her hand for offering.
When Sujata saw Siddhartha meditating
under
the banyan tree,
she thought
“He is a God of the tree.”
So, she offered him milk rice.
Siddhartha once refused
because he was on
fasting.
But Sujata told Siddhartha
who was close to
death like this.
“When
the string of the lute is too tight,
it breaks.
When the string of the lute is loose,
its
sound won’t carry.
When the strings are
neither too loose nor
too tight,
the music is beautiful.
You will die if you don’t eat.
If you die,
it’s over.
You are pulling your strings too tight.
Don’t be ridiculous.
Take this milk rice
and you’ll be fine.”
Siddhartha finally accepted her milk rice
and he recovered both mentally and physically.
He must have felt,
“How sweet and tasty!”
after 6 years hard
ascetic life
must be loosened.
Siddhartha realized that
middle way is the
way to enlightenment
at this moment.
A small temple called “Sujata temple”
was
built at the place
where Sujata offered Siddhartha milk rice.
There are statues of Sujata
offering Siddhartha milk rice
under the banyan tree.
Siddhartha walked to a big
pipal tree
in the forest of Uruvela, after called Bodhgaya
and started deep
meditation under the tree.
Finally, he attained enlightenment
and
became Buddha, enlightened one.
Contents of his enlightenment
was
summarized as the creed of Buddhism
and was spread all over the world.
Without the milk rice of Sujata,
Siddhartha
never attained enlightenment…
The village people are proud of this story
and handed down from generation to generation.
Sujata village is still full of Sujata
healing energy.
I feel so whenever I receive villager’s
warm kindness.
They cannot leave who are in trouble or at
a loss.
I always feel I am welcomed
even though I don’t
speak Hindi.
The villagers make me feel it is natural I
am here.
The villagers are also ready to welcome you anytime.
From Meera
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