Asita | |
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 The prophecy of the seer Asita, slate relief fromGandhara, 3rd/4th century AD (Rietberg Museum, Zurich; Inv. No. RVI 11) | |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Asita orKaladevala orKanhasiri was ahermitascetic, a sage and seer, depicted in Buddhist sources as having lived inancient India. He was a teacher and advisor ofSuddhodana, the father of the Buddha, and is best known for having predicted that prince Siddhartha ofKapilavastu would either become a greatchakravartin or become a supreme religious leader; Siddhartha was later known asGautama Buddha.[1]
The name Asita literally means 'not clinging' while Kanhasiri means 'dark splendour'.[citation needed] Asita is described as atāpasa, a practitioner of asceticism.[2]
TheTheravada tradition depicts Asita as an advisor and chaplain toSihahanu, the grandfather ofGotama Buddha.[2] He was the teacher ofSuddhodana, and then served him as he had Suddhodana's father.[2] At the time of the birth of the Buddha, he had retired by permission of Suddhodana and was living in the forest as an ascetic.[2]
A vision alerted Asita of the birth of theBodhisattva Gotama, causing him to leave the forest and travel to see the infant, where he prophesied that he would become either a 'wheel turning monarch' (chakravartin) or aBuddha.[2] Disappointed that his own life would end before the Buddha awakened and began preaching, he ordained his nephew, Nalaka, so that he would be able to hear the Buddha's teachings.[2] Nalaka is called Naradatta in theLalitavistara.[2]
Asita was known under several alternate names or nicknames, andBuddhaghosa attributed his name to his dark complexion.[2] He was known as Kanha Devala, Kanha Siri or Siri Kanha, and Kāla Devala.
Another sage orrishi known as Asita Devala is sometimes confused with him in literary sources- this second Asita Devala was a sage from ancient times who was reborn as a disciple of the Buddha.[2] This confusion may explain why in theLalitavistara Sūtra there are two versions of Asita's prophecy- one where Asita visits Suddhodana as described in the Pali sources, and another where Asita is a hermit living in the Himalayas who never meets Suddhodana but perceives the birth of the Buddha due to hissupernatural powers.[2]
ThePali tradition also records apratyekabuddha called Asita, and a man who lived at the time ofSikkhi Buddha who was reborn as a disciple of Gotama Buddha.[2]
Early Western scholars related Asita toSimeon, who blessed Jesus as an infant.[2]
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