The Untold Story of Bodhidharma

Who Was Bodhidharma?

Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who was active during the 5th-6th century. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Zen Buddhism to China, and regarded as 28th patriarch(ancestor) of Buddhism, following Gautam Buddha.

According to Chinese legend, he also began the physical training of the Shaolin monks that led to the creation of Shaolin Quan (early version of Kung Fu).


Bodhidharma's Early Life in India

Although there is not much substantial documentation on Bodhidharma's life, collective accounts and legends mainly produced from China indicate that Bodhidharma originally belonged to China from South India.

Bodhidharma was born in Kanchipuram, a small city in present day Tamil Nadu. He was the third son of Raja Sugandha of Pallava Dynasty of Kanchipuram and his birth name was Bodhitara. As a child, Bodhitara was more interested in studying scriptures of Buddha than worrying about statecraft.

According to Chinese records, King Sugandh invited Prajnatara, the 27th patriarch of the Dhyan tradition to bless his court in Kancheepuram. 

During this meeting, Bodhitara urged Prajnatara to accept him as his disciple and renounced his royal life. He thus became a monk and started spreading teachings of Buddhism all over India.

Journey to China

Bodhidharma left to China in early 6th century. There are several theories to explain why he left India.


1. Spiritual Reasons: 

After Bodhidharma attained enlightenment, he was instructed by his guru to preach Buddhism in China. It is therefore said that Bodhidharma left to China after his guru Prajnatara passed away.

Also, from the Indian sanyas traditions, it is well known that those who renounce their homes, also leave behind their attachment to their homeland.


2. King of Kancheepuram: 

After his father and brother, Bodhidharma's nephew was crowned as king of Kancheepuram. Although he held deep respect for Bodhidharma, he was known to arrogant and unkind to his subjects. This possibly encouraged Bodhidharma to leave Kancheepuram.


3. Political Reasons: 

Kancheepuram has another link with china which even predates Bodhidharma. The silk woven at Kanchi was brought by traders from China, in early times. This suggests that Bodhidharma's journey to China could’ve had political motives i.e., to appease Buddhism enthusiastic emperors of China.


In China

Buddhism first came to China under the reign of emperor Mingdi of Eastern Han dynasty around 150 CE.

Bodhidharma’s arrival led to new era of Buddhism in China. Bodhidharma established Chan School of Buddhism which emphasizes the value of Dhyana or meditation. This Chan travelled further down to Indonesia, Japan, and other far east Asian countries, where it became Zen.

Legend says that, with the news of Bodhidharma’s arrival, Emperor Wu himself came to receive him at the border of his empire. 

Bodhidharma looking merely twenty-two years old and seemed weary from his long travel, did not reach the Emperor's expectations of a religious preacher. The Emperor and Bodhidharma disagreed on many ideas.

Bodhidharma left the Emperor's court and reached the shores the Yangtze river. It is said that he crossed the mighty river on a reed. This legend has inspired several artists to celebrate this event through various images.


Discovery of Tea

Bodhidharma spent nine years meditating in a cave near the Shaolin monastery.

It is believed that while meditating he once slept. Due to his lack of discipline, he became so angry at himself that he cut off his two eyelids so that he could stop himself from sleeping again. 

As Bodhidharma has spiritual powers, when his eyelids touched the ground, they sprouted into green tea plants. This is the reason why Buddhist monks often have green tea to stay awake.

According to some legends, due to non-mobility for nine years, Bodhidharma’s arms and legs atrophied. This is why he is portrayed in arts and folklore including Daruma Dolls.

Impressed by his religious prowers, Bodhidharma was welcomed into the Shaolin monastery. This is where he fused his knowledge of Mahayana Buddhism with the Shaolin principles of the time to establish the Chan Buddhism.

There he started teaching monks about meditation but soon realized that the monks were not strong enough to bear those hard and long sessions. Bodhidharma taught to them Indian breathing exercises and Kung Fu like martial arts.


Place of Rest

When Bodhidharma was well over a hundred years, he passed away. His mortal remains were buried in the premises of the monastery.

However, after few years of his demise, a Chinese monk saw Bodhidharma on his way back from a pilgrimage. He was carrying a shoe on his shoulder. When the Emperor found out about this, he got curious and ordered to dig up his grave. To their utter surprise, they found a shoe in the place of the body.

Although most of these stories are tainted with centuries of fiction, Bodhidharma and Zen Buddhism are extraordinary examples of expansion of culture from India to almost entire Asia.

A temple in the Shaolin monastery is dedicated to Bodhidharma. It is the earnest desire of all Zen philosophers and students to visit this sacred shrine at least once in their lifetime.

Written By - Saija Bhumireddy

Edited by - Sandhya R