Buddha Purnima is also known as Buddha Jayanti or Vesak, this auspicious day is celebrated to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Gautham Buddha. In 2023 the Buddha Purnima falls on the 5th of May 2023 which is on full moon day (first lunar eclipse). This year marks the 2585th birth anniversary of Lord Gautham Buddha, who is the founder of the religion of Buddhism. It holds great significance among the Hindus who offer their prayers to Lord Gautham Buddha by visiting temples and donating alms to the needy and offering sweets.
HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE:
According to the Vedic literature, Lord Buddha is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. On this auspicious day, Buddhist community people offer their prayers to Lord Buddha by visiting his holy shrines. And Many devotees also visit temples and donate alms to the needy.
It is majorly celebrated in East Asia and South Asia to mark the significance of the birth anniversary of Lord Gautham Buddha. It is believed that on this auspicious day, 3 major events were taking place in the life of Lord Buddha they are Birth, Enlightenment, and Death.
On this day they will recite the teachings of Lord Buddha and also spreads his teachings to the people. Many believe that on this day he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya. And people vow to follow the path of spirituality by doing meditation on this day. Some people observe fast and read the holy scriptures.
Gautham Buddha was born around the year 563 BCE (approx.) in Lumbini, Nepal. And he died at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, and the Buddha’s birth and death are uncertain. The death of Lord Gautham Buddha is around the year 483 BC (approx..). According to Drik Panchang, the Buddha is the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
It is believed that Gautham Buddha got liberated from the cycle of birth and rebirth. He is a philosopher, Mediator, Religious Leader, and Spiritual Guide. Also, he is the founder of Buddhism.
He was born to the head of the Shakya clan, Suddhodana (Father), and Koliyan Princess Maya (Mother) as Prince Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, Nepal. He has grown up with luxuries, without hardships in his late 20s. Once, as he was wandering around he came across an old man, sick and with a corpse and suddenly he wanted to find the reasons for the suffering.
In order to find the reasons for the suffering he left the home at the age of 29. And started to investigate teachings and one fine night went into deep meditation under a bodhi tree and woke up at the age of 35 years with all the answers then he called the Mahatma Buddha and he attained enlightenment under that bodhi tree with full answers for his quest. He started to preach to all the people how to lead their life with spiritually. And encouraged them to walk on the path of spirituality. For the rest of his life, he followed the path of dharma, and the same was preached to his disciplines. And he attained nirvana at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
On this auspicious day, the devotees clean their houses, take a bath and sprinkle the Gangajal around their houses. After they light the candles and decorate their houses with flowers, a swastika is in front of the entrance door. And light a candle and pour milk near the Bodhi tree. And visit the Buddhist shrines and spend their day in the shrines and recite the teachings & Principles of Lord Buddha and about his life. The Buddha’s idol is placed in a basin full of water in that devotees offer their prayers by offering flowers and candles to the Buddha’s idol.
On this day devoted follow Buddha’s principles and teachings with sincerity, only consuming vegetarian food, offering goods and sweets (kheer) to needy people, and preferring to wear white clothes which symbolizes purity.
TIMINGS OF BUDDHA PURNIMA:
This year the Buddha Purnima timings and tithi, according to Drik Panchang is: Buddha Purnima Tithi begins at 04:14 AM on 5th May 2023 Buddha Purnima Tithi ends at 03:30 AM on 6th May 2023.
TOP 5 PLACES TO WITNESS BUDDHA PURNIMA IN INDIA:
Bodhgaya, Bihar – Mahabodhi Temple, where he attained enlightenment
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh – Buddhist pilgrimage site, where he delivered his 1st Sermon.
Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh- a 2-feet statue of the dying Buddha, where he attained nirvana
Sravasti, Uttar Pradesh- After enlightenment he spent most of his time here. Also performed several miracles.
Rajgir, Bihar – Lord Buddha used to stay here in monsoon seasons and delivered sermons to his disciples.
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT TEACHINGS BY LORD BUDDHA:
First is the presence of suffering. It means that suffering is a part of each birth. Second truth determines the cause of suffering. This implies that suffering comes from attachment and desires.
Third is the end of suffering by attaining Nirvana or salvation.
To attain the end of suffering, one must follow these eight Nobel Eightfold Path:
Right Understanding
Right action
Right Thought
Right Mindfulness
Right Livelihood
Right Speech
Right Effort
Right Concentration
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