Gautama Buddha

::Siddhartha redirects here. For other meanings, see Siddhartha (disambiguation).

Physical characteristics

Buddha is perhaps one of the few sages for whom we have mention of his rather impressive physical characteristics. He was around 6 feet tall and had a strong enough body to be noticed by one of the Kings and was asked to join his army as a general.

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Although the Buddha was not represented in human form until around the 1st century CE (see Buddhist art), his physical characteristics are described in one of the central texts of the traditional Pali canon, the Digha Nikaya. They help define the global aspect of the historical Buddha, his physical appearance is described by Buddha's wife to his son Rahula upon Buddha's return in the scripture of the "Lion of Men":

Related Topics:
1st century CE - Buddhist art - Pali canon - Digha Nikaya

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3.

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Like the full moon is His face;

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He is dear to Gods and men;

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He is like an elephant amongst men;

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His gait is graceful as that of an elephant of

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noble breed.

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That, indeed, is your father, lion of men.

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4.

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He is of noble lineage, sprung from the warrior caste;

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His feet have been honoured by Gods and men;

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His mind is well established in morality and

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concentration.

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That, indeed, is your father, lion of men.

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5.

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Long and prominent is His well-formed nose,

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His eye-lashes are like those of a heifer;

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His eyes are extremely blue (or black); like a rainbow are

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His deep blue(or black) eyebrows.

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( the word used is "adhi nila", meaning "very blue", nila is used for the word blue sapphire)

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That, indeed, is your father, lion of men.

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6.

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Round and smooth is His well-formed neck;

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His jaw is like that of a lion;

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His body is like that of king of beast;

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His beautiful skin is of bright golden colour.

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That, indeed is your father, lion of men.

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Interpretations may vary, and the reliability of the Sutras may be questioned, but these characteristics are generally indicative of an Indo-European body type. This can also be related to the tradition describing the historic Buddha as a member of the Indian Kshatriya warrior caste.

Related Topics:
Sutras - Indo-European - Kshatriya

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