🧘♂️ Key Events in the Life of the Buddha
Understanding temple murals and sacred narratives
Buddhist temples often display murals or reliefs showing scenes from the life of Siddhartha Gautama – the historical Buddha. Recognizing these key events helps you understand what you’re seeing and connect with the spiritual messages hidden in the architecture and art.
🛕 To truly understand a temple, you must know the story it tells.
📊 Overview Table: Key Moments in the Buddha’s Life
| Event | Common Depictions | Temple Symbolism |
|---|---|---|
| Birth of the Buddha | Queen Māyā with a white elephant | Beginning of sacred life |
| The Four Encounters | Old man, sick person, corpse, monk | Awareness of suffering |
| The Great Departure | Siddhartha on horseback, cutting his hair | Renunciation of worldly life |
| Meditation & Temptation | Under the Bodhi tree, Mara’s attack | Inner struggle & determination |
| Enlightenment | Earth-touching gesture (Bhumisparsha) | Moment of awakening |
| First Teaching | Turning the Dharma Wheel (Dharmachakra) | Start of the Buddhist path |
| Miracles | Floating, fire/water elements, many Buddhas | Spiritual mastery |
| Parinirvana | Reclining Buddha under trees | Final release and peace |
📖 Detailed Descriptions
1. Birth of the Buddha
Queen Māyā dreamed of a white elephant entering her side – a sign of divine conception. She gave birth standing up in Lumbini Garden, holding a tree branch. The baby Siddhartha immediately took seven steps.
🖼 Common mural element: Queen with elephant or baby Buddha walking with lotus footprints.
2. The Four Encounters
As a sheltered prince, Siddhartha left the palace and saw an old man, a sick man, a dead body, and finally a wandering monk. These sights revealed the reality of suffering and planted the seed of renunciation.
🖼 Look for: Four symbolic figures shown sequentially or around a palace gate.
3. The Great Departure
Siddhartha left his palace secretly at night on his horse Kanthaka, with his servant Channa. He cut his long hair – a symbol of royal status – and traded fine clothes for a monk’s robe.
🖼 Depiction: Horse scene, hair-cutting moment, or robes exchange.
4. Meditation & Temptation under the Bodhi Tree
While meditating under the Bodhi Tree, Siddhartha was attacked by Mara, the demon of illusion. Mara sent terrifying images, seductive daughters, and armies – but Siddhartha remained unmoved.
🖼 Symbolism: Stormy scenes, arrows turning into flowers, calm Buddha posture.
5. Enlightenment
After defeating Mara, Siddhartha touched the earth with his right hand – the Bhumisparsha Mudrā, calling the earth to witness his awakening.
🖼 Most iconic image: Seated Buddha with one hand reaching down, palm inward.
6. First Sermon at Sarnath
The Buddha’s first teaching was given to five former companions. This event is symbolized by the Dharmachakra Mudrā (Turning the Wheel of the Dharma).
🖼 Temple scenes: Buddha seated with deer nearby or with a wheel icon.
7. Miracles & Teachings
Throughout his life, the Buddha performed various miracles, especially to silence critics. These include multiplying his image, walking on water, or emitting flames and water from his body.
🖼 Usually colorful murals: Multiple Buddhas, flying scenes, fire-water duality.
8. Parinirvana
At the age of 80, the Buddha passed into Parinirvana, lying on his right side under the Sal Trees in Kushinagar. Disciples mourn around him.
🖼 Look for: Reclining Buddha with weeping monks and celestial beings.
🛕 Tip: Some temples show these events in a clockwise sequence along the inner or outer wall – follow the flow to read the story!
🧭 Next step?
👉 Explore the Mudrās page to learn the hand gestures in detail
👉 Explore the temple layout diagram to orient yourself before your visit