The Quest for Buddhism (15)
The family of Siddhartha (Buddha)
Nanda (Sundarananda Shakya) – Beautiful half brother, and one of disciples of Buddha
Prince Nanda Shakya, also known as Sundarananda Shakya (handsome Nanda), because of his naturally good looks, was the younger half-brother of Siddhartha (Buddha). He was the second son of King Suddhodana, whose mother, Mahapajapati Gotami, was the younger sister of Maya, the Buddha's real mother. Nanda also had a own sister named Sundari Nanda.
It was seven years after his attainment that the Buddha, at the request of his father, who missed him dearly, returned to his home city of Kapilavatthu. On the third day of Buddha's return, the coronation ceremony of the prince of Nandas, the first ceremony of the new hall and the wedding ceremony took place.
Buddha, after partaking of his meal, silently handed his bowl to Nanda, rose and exited. Thinking that the Buddha would take his bowl back, Nanda followed him until he reached the Nigrodharama, where the Buddha was staying. This was the Buddha's silent demonstration of the Dhamma to his younger brother: a scene which is often represented in Greco-Buddhist art.
[To be continued]
仏教の探求 (15)
お釈迦さまの家族
孫陀羅難陀（そんだらなんだ、梵：スンダラ・ナンダ）〜美形の異母弟、弟子の一人
ナンダ・シャクヤ王子は、スンダラナンダ・シャクヤ（美青年のナンダ）とも呼ばれ、シッダールタ（ブッダ）の異母弟である。彼は、浄飯王（シュッドーダナ）の第２子で、母親の摩訶波闍波提（マハー・プラジャーパティー）は、ブッダの実母・摩耶夫人（マヤ）の妹である。孫陀羅難陀（以下：ナンダ）にはスンダリ・ナンダという妹もいた。
ブッダが成道してから7年後、ブッダを恋しがる父親の要請で、故郷のカピラヴァットゥに戻ったときのことである。帰国して3日目、ナンダ王子の即位式、新殿の入初式、婚礼が行われていた。
ブッダは食事を終えると、黙って自分の椀をナンダに渡し、立ち上がって出て行った。ブッダがそれを持ち帰ると察したナンダは、ブッダが滞在しているニグローダ樹苑に着くまでその後を追いかけた。これは、ブッダが弟に静かにダンマを説いたもので、ギリシャの仏教美術によく描かれているシーンである。
[つづく]