Death of Mahamaya
- On the fifth day the ceremony of name-giving took place. The name chosen for the child was Siddharth. His clan’s name was Gautama. Popularly, therefore, he came to be called Siddharth Gautama.
- In the midst of rejoicing over the birth and the naming of the child Mahamaya suddenly fell ill and her illness became very serious.
- Realizing that her end was near she called Suddhodana and Prajapati to her bedside and said: “I am sure that the prophecy made by Asita about my son will come free. – My regret is that I will not live to see it fulfilled.”
- “My child will soon be a motherless child. But | am not worried in the least all as to whether after me my child will be carefully nursed, properly looked after and brought up in a manner befitting his future.”
- “To you Prajapati, | entrust my child, | have no doubt that you will be to him more than his mother.”
- “Now do not be sorry. Permit me to die. God’s call has come and His messengers are waiting to take me.” So, saying, Mahamaya breathed her last. Both Suddhodana and Prajapati were greatly grieved and wept bitterly.
- Siddharth was only seven days lad when his mother died.
- Siddharth had a younger brother by name Nanda. He was the son of Suddhodana born for Maha Prajapati.
- He had also several cousins, Mahanama and Anuruddha, sons of his uncle Sakoda, Ananda, son of his uncle Amit dan, and Devadatta, son of his aunt Amita, Mahanama was older than Siddharth and Ananda was younger.
- Siddharth grew up in their company.
Childhood and Education
- When Siddharth was able to walk and speak the elders of the Sakyas assembled and asked Sadhana that the boy should be taken to the temple of the village goddess Abhya.
- Suddhodana agreed and asked Maha Prajapati to dress the boy.
- While she was doing so the child Siddharth, with a most sweet voice, asked his aunt where he was being taken. On leaning that he was being taken for the temple he smiled. But he went, conforming to the custom of the Sakyas.
- At the age of eight Siddharth started his education.
- Those very eight Brahmins whom Suddhodana had invited to interpret Mahamaya’s dream and who has predicted his future were his first teachers.
- After they had taught him what they knew Suddhodana sent for Sabarmati of distinguished descent and of high lineage in the land of Uddikka, a philologist and grammarian, well read in the Vedas, Vedangas and Upanishads. Having poured out water of dedication from a golden vase, Suddhodana handed over the boy to his charge, to be taught. He was his second teacher.
- Under him Gautama mastered all the philosophic systems prevalent in his day. 8. Besides this he had learned the science of concentration and meditation Tom one Bharadwaj, a disciple of Alara kalam, who had his ashram at Kapilvastu.
(Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Writings & Speeches, volume XI, Rs 70 1992, Govt., Of Maharashtra, Bombay.) The Book may be had from Director, Government, Printing, Stationery Road, Bombay – 400004
