The Story Of King Deva Pala

The Story Of King Deva Pala

(Buddhist Traditions)

Sham S. Misri

Within the Indian Buddhist tantric tradition there were Seven Lineages which are: Matsyendra, Caurangi, Mina-pa, Goraksa and others. They were the important masters with the Lineage of Various Teachings. Among them Mina-pa was considered as the earliest master.

In Buddhist scriptures it is mentioned that within 'the eastern region' of the Indian sub-continent 'lived a king named Deva Pala'. But it is not sure whether this Deva Pala is the historical Deva Pala of the Buddhist following Pala dynasty.

The historical Deva Pala ruled the multi-regional Pala Empire and the Indian historian Jhunu Bagchi dates his reign to c.810 to 847 AD. If this is the Deva Pala of the Pala dynasty, the events featured roughly date prince Caurangi to the first half of the 9th century AD., or a little later.

The story continues with the fact that King Deva Pala 'had only one son' named Caurangi. When prince Caurangi was still a teenager his mother became ill. Just before she died the queen mother gave 'her last testimony' to her prince son. At this crucial juncture, the wise, Buddhist following queen mother stated to Caurangi:

       "All the happiness and misery of living beings arise from meritorious and unmeritorious actions. Even if acting from merit means you lose your life do not perform anything unmeritorious."

      With these words prince Caurangi’ s noble mother died. King Deva Pala was full of grief at her death. His ministers advised 'the king to marry a [new] queen'. Soon, they found a suitable young noble woman for king Deva Pala and the king was married again. But, Deva Pala was still grief stricken at the death of his noble wife and 'went to the forest to dispel his grief.

     Unfortunately the new young queen was left alone in the king's palace. Now, on 'seeing the young prince' she allowed 'lust to arise'. But mindful of his mother's last advise 'the prince refused' her advances. The new queen was 'embarrassed' that her lustful advances were refused and became angry and even afraid. The new queen subsequently thought of a plan to ease her fears and get her revenge on the noble prince and decided to carry 'out a deception'. After some time, on the return of the king Deva Pala from his forest retreat the new young queen pretended a sexual assault by the young prince. She 'cut herself her clothes...and lay naked' and ruffled 'on her bed'.

       The king did not question her explanation of a sexual assault by Caurangi (his son) and gave orders to his executioners to 'take the prince into the deep forest and cut off his hands and feet'. In the forest the executioners considered that it was 'not right to kill a prince' and decided to kill one of their own sons in his place. But the noble prince Caurangi rejected this course of action and by remembering what his mother had said on her death-bed he ordered the executioners to 'cut off his hands and feet'.

Meanwhile 'in that country was a great yogi named Acinta'. The adept yogi Acinta 'went among [some] herdsmen saying...there is a man with his limbs cut off...who is willing to go to him'. Among them was 'a small boy', Goraksa 'the son of a hawker.  He was willing to go to see if he could help this injured man. Goraksa saw the injured man and on returning to Acinta, the boy Goraksa said:

" It is as you say...."

Then Acinta replied: 'What do you have to eat and drink?

Goraksa replied, " The master of the herdsmen gives me enough to eat and drink I will take half to that man..."

Acinta replied: " Good. Take good care of him. His name is Caurangi."

In carrying out this task, Goraksa was proved to be a compassionate man as well as a caring servant who helped Caurangi for twelve years. During the final day of this last year Goraksa 'saw the prince standing' and 'asked how this could be...'.

Caurangi replied:

"A perfected master, skilled in means, brought me to realize (the intuitive experience of) emptiness (shunya), [voidness]. How wondrous it is to know the true nature of existing things and so be without attachment to the pleasures and pain!"

Then Caurangi rose up in the air and said to the cowherd Goraksa:

" You have been given instructions by me now practice them! "

However Goraksa replied: " I do not wish instructions. I [already] have a master who asked me to make [service and] offerings to you and I have acted accordingly."

Then Goraksa returned to guard his herd and then he awaited Acinta to return. On his return Goraksa recounted his experiences with Caurangi and this adept yogi rejoiced. Then Acinta sanctified the cowherd Goraksa and gave him the complete instructions. Goraksa meditated for a number of years and 'obtained the mahamudra-siddhi, the Accomplishment of the Great Seal'.

When this auspicious event happened Acinta returned again and said to Goraksa:

" Do not depart from this world until you awakened to enlightenment a hundred times a hundred living beings."