“A Man Should Have Four Wives!” Did Gautama Buddha Really Say So?

Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to insight into the true nature of reality. Siddhartha Gautama was the founder and preacher of this great religion. He contributed a lot to the society by spreading many valuable teachings. His teachings have been preserved in the form of many Buddhist scriptures.

In one of the Agama Sutras, the Buddha's early sermon a very interesting and influential story has been mentioned. Here Buddha has said that " A MAN SHOULD HAVE FOUR WIVES". He has also justified the reason behind it. I am sure you will be deeply moved by this story.

There was a man who had four wives. He was very ill and almost in his last stage of his life. Lying in his sick bed he was feeling very lonely and was wondering about life after death. He got afraid by the thought of his lonely wondering soul and hence wanted one of his wife to accompany him after his death.

He called his first wife and said, 'I loved you day and night, took care of you all my life. Now I am going to die and want you to accompany me wherever I go after my death'.

He had expected a Yes from her, but to his surprise she answered, 'I know you have always loved me but now its time for you to leave this world and separate from me. Goodbye, my dear.'

Being sad he called his second wife. He said, 'I have loved you all my life, Sometimes I was afraid you would leave me but I did everything to keep you happy. Now its time for me to leave and hence I want you to accompany me.'

The second wife was amazed by his question and replied, 'I know you have loved me but it was all because of your selfish needs. You have never done anything for me without your own requirements being fulfilled, and you expect me to come with you? I am sorry, I can't.'

This made the man even sadder. He then called his third wife and asked her to accompany him after his death. She seemed very sad and concerned for her husband. Laying a sympathetic hand on his head and with tears in her eyes she replied, 'My dear husband I have always loved you as much as you have, I will  not restraint from my duty for you and hence accompany you till the graveyard but that will be the end of my duty.'

Now the man was totally broken and felt very sad. He then called his fourth and the last wife. He said, 'I know I have never loved you as much as I have loved the other three. I have treated you like a slave and have also never cared for you. But now I am helpless and just can't take the loneliness after death. Can you please accompany me after my death?'

The fourth wife gladly accepted his proposal and got ready to accompany him.

Now Gautama Buddha has tried to explain us what these four wives signify....

KNOW THE COMPLETE STORY HERE. I bet this is going to be very interesting.