Rāhula (534 BC–?;) was the only son of Siddhartha
Gautama (Pāli: Siddhattha Gotama), and Princess Yasodharā. He was born on the same day
that Prince Siddhartha Gautama left the palace to seek Enlightenment and later become the Buddha.
Prince Siddhartha was deep in contemplation, considering the condition of life and suffering and was preparing himself to
leave the palace and seek Enlightenment not just for his own sake, but for the sake of all beings. When He received the news of
his son’s birth he murmured “Rāhu jāto, bandhanam jātam” – A rāhu is born, a fetter has arisen.
Accordingly the child was named Rāhula, meaning “fetter”, recognizing that the child could be a tie that bound him to his wife
Yashodhara and the comforts of the life of a householder.
In the Dhammapada, the pleasure and joy that a man receives in his wife and children is
called a 'soft fetter' that ties individuals to life and suffering, not just through
eventual loss and separation of loved ones but more deeply and subtly may act as ties to cyclic existence (samsara).
In modern Indian languages, Rāhul is now a common name in India and Nepal, its first
use is probably correctly attributed to the above mentioned person.
Rāhula was raised by his mother and grandfather, King Suddhodana. When he was seven years
old, the Buddha returned to his home city of Kapilavatthu at the request of his father who
missed him dearly. On the seventh day of his return, Yasodharā took Rāhula to see his father, the Buddha. She told Rāhula that
since his father had renounced the palace life and as he was the next royal prince in line, he should ask his father for his
inheritance of crown and treasure for his future sake when his grandfather would no longer rule the kingdom.
After the meal, Rāhula followed the Buddha, saying –– “Give me my inheritance.” Nobody tried to stop him, nor did the Buddha
prevent him from following Him.
Reaching the Park of Nigrodha, where the Buddha was staying, the Buddha thought to himself: “He desires his father’s
inheritance, but it is wrought with troubles. I shall give him the benefit of my spiritual Enlightenment and make him an owner of
a transcendental inheritance.”
The Buddha called Venerable Sariputta and asked him to ordain little Rāhula who became the
first Sāmanera (novice monk).
Rāhula subsequently became one among the many arhants through following the Buddha's
teachings.
Rahula passed away before the Buddha, Sariputta and Moggallana.
External links
References
"The Buddha and His Teaching", Nārada, Buddhist Missionary Society, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1988, ISBN 967-9920-44-5
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