Sarah Brown
The cause of the Buddha's death has been a subject of debate, with some sources claiming that he died of food poisoning after consuming spoiled pork, while others suggest that he consumed poisonous mushrooms. The last meal consumed by the Buddha was offered by a blacksmith named Cunda, and it was called sukara-maddava, which can be translated as the soft or tender part of a pig. However, the term sukara-maddava can also be interpreted as referring to mushrooms or truffles, leading to the theory that the Buddha died from fungal poisoning. While the exact cause of the Buddha's death remains uncertain, his teachings and influence continue to have a significant impact on various faiths, literature, and philosophy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Last meal | "'sukara-maddava', 'the soft or tender part of a pig' |
| Provider of the last meal | Cunda, a blacksmith |
| Theories about the contents of the last meal | Spoiled pork, poisonous mushrooms, boar meat, a mushroom or truffle, or a yam or tuber |
| Theories about the cause of death | Food poisoning, fungal poisoning, Clostridial necrotizing enteritis, mesenteric infarction |
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What You'll Learn
The last meal of Buddha
The term "sukara-maddava" or "sūkaramaddava" has been translated differently depending on the Buddhist tradition. The word is composed of "sukara" or "sūkara," meaning pig, and "maddava," meaning soft, tender, or delicate. Based on these translations, two alternatives have been proposed for the dish's contents. The first interpretation is that it refers to the tender meat of a pig or boar. This belief is generally supported by the Theravada tradition.
However, others argue that "sukara-maddava" or "sūkaramaddava" refers to what is enjoyed by pigs and boars, rather than the animal flesh itself. This interpretation leads to the belief that the dish was a type of mushroom or truffle, or even a yam or tuber. This idea is supported by the Mahayana tradition, who believe Buddha's last meal was vegetarian.
Additionally, some Pali scholars have offered other translations of the term. In some Vietnamese versions, "sukara-maddava" is translated as "na^'m" (mushroom) and "mo^.c nhi~" (edible black fungus). Other commentaries suggest it could have been a "medicinal plant" in classic Indian medicine or "young bamboo shoots trampled by pigs".
Shortly after consuming this meal, Buddha suffered from fatal dysentery, which could have been Clostridial necrotizing enteritis due to a high-protein diet. However, it is important to note that Buddha told his disciple Ānanda to inform Cunda that the meal was not the cause of his illness and that he should feel no blame.
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The meal was offered by Cunda, a blacksmith
The last meal of Buddha Gotama was offered by Cunda, a blacksmith, and it was called "sukara-maddava", which can be translated as "the soft or tender part of a pig". However, the precise contents of the meal are not clear due to variant scriptural traditions and ambiguity over the translation of certain significant terms. While some believe that the meal consisted of pork, others argue that "sukara-maddava" refers to some type of mushroom, yam, truffle, or tuber. In the Mahayana tradition, it is believed that the Buddha consumed spoiled pork, which caused his death from food poisoning. On the other hand, the Theravada tradition holds that the Buddha consumed mushrooms, leading to fatal fungal poisoning.
Cunda, the blacksmith, was a significant figure in the story of the Buddha's last meal. As a member of the third caste, Cunda was part of the group that was allowed to prepare and consume pork. The three highest castes did not eat pork or other foods derived from pig meat. When the Buddha stayed at Cunda's mango grove, Cunda offered him a meal of sweet rice, cakes, and "sukara-maddava".
After consuming the meal, the Buddha suffered from fatal dysentery, which could have been Clostridial necrotizing enteritis due to a high-protein diet. The Buddha's condition resulted in his death near the town of Kushinagara in Northern India, close to the border with Nepal. Before his passing, the Buddha told his attendant, Ananda, to assure Cunda that the meal he offered was not the cause of his illness. The Buddha further stated that offering his last meal before his death was of equal significance as providing his first meal before attaining Buddhahood.
The interpretation of "sukara-maddava" as either pork or mushrooms has led to differing beliefs about the cause of the Buddha's death. Those who believe he consumed pork attribute his death to food poisoning, while others who interpret it as mushrooms suggest fungal poisoning. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact contents of the meal, the last meal offered by Cunda, a blacksmith, holds a significant place in the story of the Buddha's final days.
In conclusion, while the precise nature of the meal offered by Cunda, the blacksmith, remains a subject of debate, it is clear that the Buddha's last meal has been a source of curiosity and speculation for many. The ambiguity surrounding the translation of "sukara-maddava" has given rise to different interpretations and theories, highlighting the complexity and richness of the Buddha's story and its enduring impact on Buddhism and its followers.
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The meal was called sukara-maddava
The meal offered to Buddha by Cunda, a blacksmith, was called "sukara-maddava". Cunda offered this meal to Buddha when he visited his mango grove in Pāvā on his way to Kuśīnagara. The meal consisted of sweet rice, cakes, and sukara-maddava.
The term "sukara-maddava" has been translated differently depending on the Buddhist tradition. The word is composed of "sūkara", meaning pig, and "maddava", meaning soft, tender, or delicate. Hence, it has been interpreted as referring to the tender parts of a pig or boar.
However, others argue that "sukara-maddava" refers to what is enjoyed by pigs or boars, such as mushrooms, truffles, yams, or tubers. In early Kahrostrian and Magda Pali languages, "sukara-maddava" literally meant "dug by pigs". Additionally, some Pali scholars and monk interpreters agree with the meaning of mushroom or truffle.
The idea that the Buddha's last meal consisted of pork is generally supported by the Theravada tradition, while the Mahayana tradition believes it was a vegetarian dish. These differing interpretations reflect the varying traditional views on Buddhist vegetarianism and monastic precepts.
It is worth noting that shortly after consuming Cunda's meal, the Buddha suffered from fatal dysentery, which could have been Clostridial necrotizing enteritis due to a high-protein diet. However, the Buddha told Ānanda to assure Cunda that his meal was not the cause of his illness and that he should feel no blame.
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Did the meal contain pork or mushrooms?
The last meal consumed by Buddha before his death was offered to him by a blacksmith named Cunda. Cunda's meal consisted of sweet rice, cakes, and a dish called "sukara-maddava", which can be translated as "the soft or tender part of a pig". The ambiguity surrounding the translation of "sukara-maddava" has led to differing views on the contents of the meal. Some sources suggest that the dish contained pork, specifically the tender meat of a pig or boar. Others argue that "sukara-maddava" refers to a type of mushroom, truffle, yam, or tuber enjoyed by pigs and boars, or even a medicinal plant in classic Indian medicine.
The ambiguity in the translation of "sukara-maddava" is due to the composition of the term. Sukara means pig, while "maddava" means soft, tender, or delicate. Thus, the dish could refer to either the tender parts of a pig or boar or something enjoyed by these animals, such as mushrooms or truffles.
Adding to the uncertainty, Cunda, as a blacksmith, belonged to the third caste. Members of this caste did not consume pork or other pig-derived foods, and it would have been unlikely for them to prepare such dishes. This cultural context suggests that the meal may not have contained pork after all.
Furthermore, the Buddha himself provided some insight into the nature of his last meal. He instructed Cunda to bury any leftovers of the "sukara-maddava", indicating that the dish was unusual or difficult to digest. The Buddha also stated that only the Tathagata (a title referring to a Buddha or enlightened being) could fully digest such a meal.
While the precise contents of the Buddha's final meal remain a subject of debate, it is clear that the dish was considered distinctive or exceptional in some way. The ambiguity in the translation of "sukara-maddava" and the cultural context of Cunda's caste contribute to the uncertainty surrounding the meal's composition. However, the Buddha's own instructions regarding the disposal of any leftovers suggest that the dish was notably challenging to digest, regardless of whether it was pork or mushrooms.
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Buddha died of food poisoning
The Buddha died in the town of Kushinagara in Northern India, close to the border with Nepal. The cause of his death has been a subject of debate, with some sources claiming food poisoning as the cause of his demise.
The Buddha's last meal has been a topic of discussion, with varying accounts of its contents. Some believe it was pork, specifically "sukara-maddava", which translates to "the soft or tender part of a pig". This meal was offered to the Buddha by a blacksmith named Cunda. However, others argue that "sukara-maddava" could refer to mushrooms, yams, or tubers, rather than pork. The ambiguity arises due to the term's composition, with "'sukara' meaning pig and 'maddava' denoting softness or tenderness".
The interpretation of the Buddha's final meal as mushrooms gains support from Vietnamese translations of Pali scripts. These translations use the words "na^'m" (mushroom) and "mo^.c nhi~" (edible black fungus). Additionally, some Pali scholars and current scholar monks concur with the interpretation of "mushrooms or truffles".
Despite the varying beliefs about the meal's contents, it is believed that the food was spoiled, leading to the Buddha's fatal illness. Some scholars, however, disagree with the food poisoning theory and propose alternative causes, such as mesenteric infarction, a symptom of old age.
It is important to note that the Buddha himself instructed his attendant, Ānanda, to assure Cunda that the meal was not the cause of his illness. The Buddha wanted to relieve Cunda of any blame or remorse, emphasizing that offering the last meal to a Buddha was a meritorious act.
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Frequently asked questions
The last meal of the Buddha Gotama was offered by a blacksmith named Cunda. The meal consisted of sweet rice, cakes, and "sukara-maddava", which can be translated as "pig-soft".
The precise contents of the Buddha's final meal are not clear due to variant scriptural traditions and ambiguity over the translation of certain significant terms. The term "sukara-maddava" is composed of sukara, meaning pig, and maddava, meaning soft, tender, or delicate. It could refer to tender pig or boar meat, or what is enjoyed by pigs or boars, such as mushrooms or truffles.
It is unclear what caused the Buddha's death. Some believe he died of food poisoning after eating spoiled pork or poisonous mushrooms. Others argue that he died of mesenteric infarction, a symptom of old age, or Clostridial necrotizing enteritis due to a high-protein diet.
