“Buddha Avatara” of Hindus is different from Gautama Buddha

Concept: Puri Peethadhishwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj

Credits: Deepankar Kamboj Ji

There is a contradiction between the two Buddhas. One is among the 10 Avataras of Bhagwan Vishnu. All the Karmakandis (ritualists) in India, Nepal, and Bhutan, talk about “Bodhavatare” during rituals. But they do not know who is Buddha according to scriptural judgment. One Buddha was born in Nepal. His in-law’s house is in Nepal too. He was born in a Kshatriya family. He might get his Siddhi in “Bodhgaya”.

If we consider according to Bhavishya Purana, Buddha Avatara was in Brahmana Kula (clan). In Shrimad Bhagavatam, the territory of Bodhavatar is mentioned in a futuristic manner. “Keekateshu Bhavishyati”. Bhagwan Vishnu will take the incarnation of Buddha or Bodha Avatara in “Keekat”. Bodhavatar will be in a place named “Keekat”. The word “Keekat” has been used in RigVeda and in the commentary of Sayana Acharya, it is said that Keekat is a name of a country or a particular place. But it does not mention the name of a popular place there as the birthplace of Buddha.

Sriman Sridhar Swami has written commentary on Bhagavatam, It is the famous commentary and most discussed in the world today. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has also appreciated the commentary. That Sridhar Swami has translated the word Keekat as in Gaya territory. So, Puri Shankaracharya had instructed so many gentlemen here to do research in this matter. It is like Puri comes under the territory of Purusottama Kshetra. Just the name of Puri is not Purusottama Kshetra, but Puri comes under the territory of Purusottama Kshetra. Similarly, Gaya is a part of the Keekat area. It should be a matter of research, where did Buddha incarnate in Brahmana Varna. Few gentlemen around 4 years back told that there is a village of Brahmanas on a ridge and there is an ancient icon of Buddha there.

Let me tell you that the Dhyana (meditation) of Bhagwan Buddha has been detailed in Agni Purana and the Buddhists have drawn his picture on the basis of that Shloka (verse) and have established it as him. Secondly, Amar Singh, who created Amarkosha was a Buddhist and he very cleverly wrote the names of Bhagwan Buddha, and Gautam Buddha together. He used a specific word as a divider in between both. People fail to understand this as a divider due to which incarnated Buddha in the Brahmana family has been forgotten and Gautam Buddha has become famous as the Buddha.

Gautama was the Gotra for both Buddhas. Gautama the one born in Kshatriya Varna and the Hindu Avatara born in Brahmana Varna at Gaya. This is another reason for this confusion. The ‘Gotra’ of both Brahmana and Kshatriya can be based on the name of the same Rishi. Due to the confusion of the Gotras being on the basis of sages and the same Gotra of both Buddhas, we have forgotten our Buddha who is an incarnation of Vishnu and was born in a Brahmana Varna.

Our respect for anyone who, doesn’t depend on the Varna and there are no reservations regarding idealizing someone. Will we try and prove that Bhagwan Rama was born in a Brahmana Varna? No! We worship him but he was born in a Kshatriya Varna. Would we like to make Bhagwan Shri Krishna a Brahmana who was born a Kshatriya Varna? No. We worship Shri Krishna. But the truth should not be stifled.

Narayana !!!