From birth to enlightenment

Buddham saranam gachchami
Dhammam sarnam gachchami
Sangan saranam gachchami

Scented flowers bloom with the rays of sun
Clad in white,
devotees flock to the temple one by one
It's happy Vesak
A very happy Vesak to every one of you!
Sadhu! Sadhu!

The birth of Siddhartha, the royal prince
To parents Suddodhana and Maha Maya,
great joy it brings
Born in the gardens of Lumbini,
in the shades of a Sal tree
Honoured by the devas, brought relief to you and me
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

The royal prince grew up as a learned and pious one
To despise worldly comforts, he was all out to shun
Siddhartha married Yasodhara,
a beautiful royal princess,
As in the royal bonds he was bound
With the birth of his son Rahula,
more responsibilities he found
He worked his will - to slip away - from the royal life
Leaving his son Rahula cosy and warm with his wife

He called for his rider Channa,
on the back of his pet horse
Into the night he slipped, without any cause
Taking the reins of a Kanthaka to double his speed
He heard a voice, commanding "Siddhartha stop!"
it was Mara indeed

"Turn back Siddhartha, listen to me
In seven days Chakravarthi king you will be"
"No," said Siddhartha, to get back to be sinned
Oh no! He was gone, gone with the wind

He cut his hair, royal garments he shed
Like a hermit, bare feet,
the sands of Neranjana to tread
Panic arose in Kapilavatthu, where he was born
Seeking the path of salvation, he cared not of scorn

With many a trial and error, he did not hesitate
He sat under a shady Bo tree, undisturbed,
to meditate Cravings, greed, emotion,
links life to be born and reborn
Bodhisattva! Conquered them one by one,
in the early hours of the dawn

The devas saluted Sadhu! Sadhu!
The earth was amazed, it did shiver and quake
Bodhisattva, now the Buddha,
calm and serene was wide awake
Sending out the rays of Buddu Rass in colours bright
The devas came down to worship,
To behold this beautiful sight Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

- Vinitha Karunratne