The King Suddhodana had an old teacher. As the teacher was very wise, he was known as a Sage. His real name was Kala Devala but people usually call him Asita the Sage. Asita lived in the jungle. He had heard that the King then had a son; he was very happy because this was the first time a child was born to the King.
The next day, he went to see the King’s son. The King was very happy to see his wise old teacher again. In the palace , after the sage was seated, the King brought the Prince before the Sage and said
"Teacher, my son was born only yesterday. Here he is. Please see if his future will be good.”
As the King said thus, he lowered the infant Prince before the Sage so that he might examine him properly. However, the baby turned his feet on to the Sage’s head. Thus surprised, Asita took hold of the baby’s feet and examined them very carefully. He saw some marks on the Prince’s feet. Then he got up and said,
“This Prince will become a very great Teacher in this world.”
The Sage was very pleased and putting him palms together, paid due respect to the baby Prinece. The King seeing this, also did the same. This was the first salutation of the King.
Everyone was happy and pleased to know of the Sage’s prediction.
On the fifth day, the King invited five wise men to witness the Naming Ceremony and to suggest a good name for the Prince. The wise men examined the birth marks of the Prince and concluded that
“The Prince will be a King of kings if he wants to rule. If he chooses a religious life then he will become the Wisest – the Buddha.”
The youngest of the five wise men called Kondanna said
“This Prince will be the Buddha and nothing else.”
Then the wise men gave hime the name SIDDHARTHA meaning “wish-fulfilled”
