This chapter of Vardhman’s life is differently told by a section of theologists.
According to this version Vardhman did marry Yashodhara, the daughter of King Jitshatru of Kalinga Kingdom. They claim that he even sired a daughter by Yashodhara. The daughter later married a warrior named ‘Jamali’. Thus, Vardhman led a happy married life for a period. The same version holds that Jamali later became the disciple of Vardhman when he went on to become a messiah figure.
But this parallel version has fewer buyers.
Parents take to samadhi
King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala loved their younger son very much. They had the knowledge that Vardhman was born to fulfil a special mission in life and they should not put hurdles in his chosen path. Still the worldly attachments were impossible to resist. That was the way of all flesh.
The two found great consolation in the fact that their son would not renounce the world as long as they were alive. Upon great pondering over the parents now realised that their son had done right thing in refusing to marry. He could not afford anything that would trap him in carnal relationships. The marriage was the foundation of all the attachments and worldly desires. And they would often recall what Rishabhdev had prophecied about his incarnation.
One day the king and the queen were seriously discussing that matter.
The king sighed and said, “Dear queen, I think our dream was improper.”
“What dream, my Lord?” the queen asked.
“The dream of our Vardhman becoming an all conquering warrior emperor.”
“I always thought that way, my lord. But I was too cowardly to accept the truth. Our Vardhman is destined to become a messiah of the masses. He would win hearts and conquer the sins.”
“Yes, my dear queen. He has all the potential to achieve that. But I think we are the ones who are proving hurdles in his way blinded by our own selfish attachment,” the king said grimly in a self condemnatory tone.
“That is true, my lord. But what can we do?”
“We can do a lot, my queen,” the king said sharply. “We can remove hurdles from the chosen path of our son Vardhman to begin with.”
“How, my lord?”
“We can liberate him from the bondage of our attachments and promises.”
“How is that possible for us?”
“If we embrace death all the hurdles in the way of Vardhman will get removed. Our being alive is the greatest hurdle for him.”
“Your are right, my lord,” the queen said nodding her head. Her face had begun to glow. She asked, “But when will death come to us?”
“We can go to our death. Why wait for it?’’
The queen stared at the king and protested, “My Lord, are you suggesting that we commit suicide? I don’t mind sacrificing my life for dear Vardhman. But suicide is a great sin. Our sins will do no good to him.”
The king reasoned, “Suicide is sin if one commits it to escape from the challenges of life. It is cowardice. But we shall be offering our lives to a noble cause. That makes our death a holy sacrifice, a martyrdom.”
“How exactly shall we do it?” Trishala asked.
“By taking to irreversible yoga samadhi. Lord Parshvanath had set an example before us. We can put ourselves in yoga meditative mode and let the death pass us over to the other world.”
“Yes, Lord Parshvanath also advised to take recourse to it in special circumstances only,” the queen reminded the king.
“You are right, my queen. But look at what tricky situation we are in. It is one of those special circumstances where taking to irreversible samadhi is justly prescribed for. And our cause is noble.”
“I think you can not be wrong, my lord. Now I can see its correctness. As in life I will be with you in death.’’
“But queen, we can’t take such a decision between two of us only. We must sound others too about it and see if they too approve of it. And first of all we must take Vardhman into our confidence.”
“As you deem fit, my lord.”
The king summoned a sentry without wasting time and asked him to tell Vardhman that his parents wished to see him.
The sentry departed and shortly later Vardhman presented himself to the king and the queen. He touched the feet of his parents and spoke, “Mother, father, why did you wish me to see?”
“Son,” King Siddhartha addressed him and added, “nothing special. We felt like talking with you.”
The queen said, “Son, I didn’t see you for two days. So I was worried just like every mother does. I wanted to see you in good health.”
“Mother dear,” the prince said respectfully and revealed, “I was telling the secret of life to some folks in a village. They made me stay with them for a couple of days. Those village folks are very simple, honest guileless and thirsty for knowledge. Very lovely experience was that.”
“Some one was telling me that. I wanted to hear it from you, son,” the queen said.
“Father, you wished to ask something?”
“No asking, son. I wanted to tell you something.”
“I am all ears, father.”
“Son, you know well that I ruled the kingdom for long many years. Now I am getting bored with all this ruling business.”
“So? You can hand over the ruling business to brother Nandivardhan and get liberated. Where is the problem?”
“We would have preferred if you took over.”
“No father. I can’t do that. You know my mission.”
“Alright, we will not force our wish on you. We also want to tell you that not only ruling but we have lived a full life of royal luxuries. The life also no more holds any charm for us. We want to seek total liberation.”
“Father!” Vardhman exclaimed and asked, “What exactly do you want to say?”
“Son, I and your mother wish to take to samadhi and pass on to the after life.”
Vardhman became emotional. He squeaked, “Father, is that your decision or mother also wishes it?”
“Your mother is here, son. You can yourself know from her own mouth.”
The queen interjected, “It is my wish also, son. Don’t for even a moment imagine that I am being forced into it by your father.”
“Mother, my heart is full of love for you. There is a touch of attachment also. But I wont become a hurdle in your way to final salvation, the ultimate aim of every living creature.”
Vardhman rose up to say final parting words. But the king spoke before he could say anything, “Son, don’t say ‘good-bye’. Our last wish is that you shall guide us into samadhi and introduce us to Nirvana.”
Vardhman bowed his head and spoke, “Your wish is a command for me, respected father and ma.”
In deference to the wish of his parents Vardhman silently got down to arrange to put them in irreversible samadhi. He advised his parents to reduce the food intake to start with.
Next day, they kept fast and meditated as per the directions of their yogi son. By the evening they froze in meditative pose. Everything went blank painlessly.
The blankness was death that would soon fill up with endless whiteness of eternal peace called the state of Nirvana.
Vardhman was now free to pursue his own spiritual quest.
