On a serene full moon night in the month of Asalha (July), Princess Yasodhara stirred from her dreams, troubled by a vision. In her dream, her husband, Siddhartha, was leaving her and their newborn son to embark on a quest for truth. Shaken, she shared her dream with Siddhartha, pleading to accompany him wherever he went.
Siddhartha, deeply moved, assured Yasodhara of her significance in his life, yet his heart was heavy. The four signs he had encountered—old age, sickness, death, and the peace of Nirvana—played relentlessly on his mind. The pleas of Sakka, the King of Gods, and other deities urging him to free the world from suffering further weighed on him. That night, his destiny became clear: he had to leave.
A Restless Night
As Siddhartha walked through the palace, he noticed the female musicians who once entertained him. They now lay asleep, some drooling, others snoring. What once seemed beautiful now appeared hollow, reminding him of life’s fleeting nature. Overwhelmed with disgust for material life, Siddhartha summoned his loyal charioteer, Chandaka, and instructed him to saddle his beloved horse, Kanthaka.
The King’s Desperate Efforts
King Suddhodana, aware of Siddhartha’s spiritual inclinations, was tormented by fear. He recalled the astrologers’ prophecy: his son would either become a universal monarch or an enlightened Buddha. Desperate to prevent Siddhartha’s departure, he stationed guards and troops at every gate of Kapilavastu. The northern gate was under Amritodana’s watch, the southern under Dronodana, the western under Suklodana, and the eastern gate under Suddhodana himself. Mahanama guarded the palace’s center with a small contingent of soldiers.
The Silent Departure
In the quiet of the night, Siddhartha patted Kanthaka gently, mounted him, and set out with Chandaka by his side. The full moon bathed the city in a soft glow, and as Siddhartha left, the palace deities wept, their tears falling like rain.
At the center of the city, Mahanama and his troops stood in his path. Mahanama fell to his knees, begging Siddhartha to stay, reminding him of the sorrow his departure would bring to his loved ones. Yet Siddhartha’s resolve was unshaken. Sakka cast a spell of slumber on the guards, and Siddhartha passed through the eastern gate.
A Test by Mara
As Siddhartha crossed the gate, Mara, the lord of illusion, appeared in the air. Mara tempted him, promising that in seven days, Siddhartha would become a universal monarch if he stayed. But Siddhartha refused, determined to seek a path to end all suffering.
As he continued, Siddhartha felt a longing for one last glimpse of Kapilavastu. Mysteriously, the earth turned, offering him a final view without him needing to look back. A stupa, the Kanthaka Nivattana Stupa, now commemorates this profound moment.
Crossing the Anoma River
After traveling twelve yojanas, Siddhartha reached the Anoma River, which bordered Kapilavastu, Savatthi, and Vaishali. Here, he dismounted Kanthaka, removed his royal ornaments, and handed them to Chandaka. Despite Chandaka’s tearful pleas to stay, Siddhartha asked him to return to Kapilavastu with Kanthaka and share his decision with the family.
Chandaka, heartbroken, obeyed. By the seventh day, he was back in Kapilavastu, where Kanthaka, overcome with grief, passed away.
The Renunciation:
Standing by the riverbank, Siddhartha drew his sword and cut his hair and beard, symbolizing his renunciation of worldly life. He cast them into the air, and Sakka, along with other gods, appeared to take them to the Trayatrimsa Heaven.
At this moment, Sakka fulfilled a wish made by ten sons of Anupama, who had become Pratyeka Buddhas in an earlier time. Disguised as a hunter, Sakka presented Siddhartha with a simple robe, exchanging it for his royal attire. This spot, where Siddhartha embraced simplicity and relinquished royalty, is now marked by a stupa.
The Journey Begins
With nothing but a robe and a resolve to end suffering, Siddhartha began his journey as the Bodhisattva. Guided by compassion and determination, he ventured into the unknown, leaving behind a legacy that would transform the world forever.
Experience Siddhartha’s Path
At Bodhisattva Travels, we invite you to retrace the sacred steps of Siddhartha’s renunciation. From Kapilavastu’s gates to the Anoma River and beyond, immerse yourself in the profound journey that marked the beginning of enlightenment. Discover the sites where history and spirituality converge, and let this timeless story inspire your own path of self-discovery.
