"Asita"
in Sanskrit means incomparably proper, or of correct
proportions in spirit and physique. According to legend,
Asita was born with two long white eyebrows. The story
was that in his previous life he was a monk who, though
having tried very hard yet could not attain enlightenment
even at a ripe old age, and had only two long white
eyebrows left. After his death he reincarnated as a
human being again.
After
he was born, his father was told that Shakyamuni Buddha
also has two long eyebrows, therefore his son had the
look of the Buddha in him. As a result, Asita was sent
away to a monastery to become a monk, eventually attaining
enlightenment.
