Friday 6 March 2015

Mahaparinirvana


                                                                                    Photo prompt-© Erin Leary

Gautam, the Buddha, had been invited by a poor man.

He had served him mushrooms that grew in the backyard of his hut.

Back in his monastery, Buddha fell sick. Ananda got agitated when he learnt that meal served to Buddha was poisonous.

“Don’t utter even a word about it for everyone will hold the poor man responsible for my death.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Just tell everyone that that poor man is as blessed as was Buddha’s mother. She gave Buddha his first feed and that man served Buddha his last meal.”

Few days later Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana.
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There are many stories relating to the death of Gautam, the Buddha, one being that his last meal contained  wild poisonous mushrooms.

A post for Friday Fictioneers on a picture prompt

Word count 100

18 comments:

  1. Well well, I learn something new every day!

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  2. What does mushroom incense smells like I wonder?

    ;) Tay.

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  3. Good pick for fri fictioners, I didn't know this story.

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  4. Great take on the prompt ! And very nicely written :)

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  5. Finally the story I'd heard about Buddha being poisoned makes sense to me now.

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    1. as per the legend the poor man was not aware that the mushrooms were poisonous, but who knows for sure, thanks Alice

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  6. Dear IB,

    He certainly had a different perspective on his own death. Unique take on the prompt. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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  7. Interesting story about the Buddha, which of course is little known in our culture. And I learned a new word, and a big one at that!

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  8. I had never heard that.. but then maybe the poor man just helped Buddha in the end.

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    1. thanks Bjorn; as per the legend Buddha had, after consuming poisonous meal, said that his last link with cycle of Karma had ended and that he was freed of the cycle of reincarnation

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  9. Thanks for the story. I'd never read that one.

    janet

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