A legendary race to Buddha’s side…..

“Please summon all animals, big or small, wild or tame, to see me for one last time before I make my departure from this world,” Buddha instructed Ananda, his closest disciple, one day in 483 BC.

At 80 years of age, The Enlightened One was dying and he wanted to bid farewell to all animals. Of course the animals loved and respected him very much. They were all eager to meet him too.

The cat and rat were good buddies at that time. They play, eat and sleep together. The cat, upon hearing this news, wanted to take a beauty nap first before going because it wanted to look prim and proper. “Remember to wake me up when it is time to go,” it reminded the rat before curling itself up and drifted off to sleep.

This cunning little rodent thought to itself, “The cat is bigger in size than me and its legs are longer, surely it will reach faster than I.” “No, I must run first, or else I will be left behind!” Off the tiny animal ran and along the way, met the ox who was also on his way to meet Buddha.

“Hi Mr. Ox, how about giving me a ride on your strong and handsome horns as my little legs were tired from all the running?” asked the rat.

The ox was a humble and kind animal. He took a pity on the little rat which was panting breathlessly. ”Alright, alright, get on my horns, my little friend, and I will get you across the river!” answered the friendly ox.

When they reached the other side of the river, the little rat jumped down from the horns and ran as fast as it could. It was the first animal to reach Buddha’s death bed. As a result, it was named the first animal in the zodiac calendar. The ox was the next animal to reach and was named the second animal in the cycle.

Of course the cat was furious when it got up and found the rat missing. It felt betrayed by its best friend. From then on, the cat would chase the rat around and eat it up when it sees one.

Meanwhile, a tiger roared loudly on its way, frightening many small animals along its path. They ran helter-skelter to make way for the King of the Jungle. The great feline managed to clinch the third place at Buddha’s side.

A cute little hare hopped and hopped tirelessly to reach the gathering place. It was given a place of honor as the fourth animal in the zodiac calendar.

There was a small village suffering from drought at that time. The villagers were begging for some rain to end their sufferings. The Jade Emperor, upon hearing the people’s pleadings, dispatched the mystical dragon to bring rain to the land. After sprinkling water droplets all over the skies, the majestic creature soared high into the sky before landing at Buddha’s side. It was the fifth animal to make it for the farewell gathering.

A horse came galloping from a faraway land and on its way, met up with a snake. The cunning reptile coiled itself around the horse’s hoof, thus saving itself from having to glide a long journey. When it reaches the site, it uncoiled itself and made its way to Buddha’s death bed. It was given the sixth place while the horse was placed seventh.

After grazing the grasses to its content, a little goat ran over to meet the Buddha. It was the eighth animal to reach there.

The ever greedy monkey swing from tree to tree, plucking fruits and stuffing itself full before making its journey to see the Buddha for the last time. Upon reaching, it found itself to be the ninth animal to arrive at the scene.

“Are there any more animals who wish to see me before I closed my eyes forever?” chuckle the Buddha.

Just then, the rooster came walking in, fresh from his daily duty of waking up the people at dawn. “Ah, so you are the tenth animal that I saw today!” Buddha exclaimed.

Before he could finish speaking, in ran the dog. He was rather late because he had to wait for his master to come home from work before he could take his leave.

“A dog is man’s most loyal, reliable and faithful companion. Although you are late but you did come and I shall honor you with a place in the zodiac, the eleventh place!” Buddha told the canine.

Lastly in came the pig, just aroused from his sleep and reached there in time. It was the twelfth animal and the last in the zodiac calendar.

“Farewell my friends, I wished I could wait longer so that more animals can come but then the time for me to go is already here and I could not wait anymore!” he said to them and closed his eyes, leaving this earthly world for Nirvana, the Land of Everlasting Bliss.

From then on, the Chinese lunar calendar, consisting of a cycle of twelve years, was named after these animals. The rat was always the first while the pig was the last, just like it was on that fateful day when they made their legendary journey to see the Buddha for the final time.

Yes, this is another story Dad told me as we made preparations for the Chinese New Year. Hope you will like this one as well.