Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. The day is celebrated to commemorate three significant incidences of Lord Buddha’s life. It is on the day of Buddha Purnima that Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and achieved Nirvana (one is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth) during the time of his death. Gautama Buddha is the one who founded Buddhism. Also known as the ‘guiding light of Asia’, his message for peace captured the hearts and minds of millions of devotees from around the world. He is also revered as the 9th ‘avatar’ of Lord Vishnu himself. Buddha Purnima is celebrated largely in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Traditionally this annual festival is observed by Buddhists as ‘Visakha’. It is also known as Vaisakh Purnima and Vesak Day. According to Buddhist legend, his wife Yashodhara, his first disciple Ananda, his charioteer Channa, and the horse Kantaka on which he renounced his kingdom, were all born on this sacred day. Even the Bodhi tree, under which he attained nirvana was also believed to have been created on this day. And it was on this day Buddha chose to preach his first sermon at Varanasi in India.

Buddha Purnima is celebrated in the month of Vaisakha of the Hindu calendar. The day is celebrated on the night of the full moon during the month of April or May.

History

Prince Siddhartha was born in 563 BC to the King of Kapilavastu and Shuddhodana. Siddhartha grew of age without knowing the miseries that were faced by people outside the gates of his palace. As he grew older, Siddhartha grew more inquisitive about the life outside his home and decided to visit the city for the first time in his life. The sights outside shocked him. He came across a crippled man, a corpse and a sick person. The prince was perturbed and while walking back to the palace, he came across a saint who seemed to have triumphed over worldly temptations and attained the highest bliss of life. This encouraged Siddhartha to choose the path of the saint. He left his riches to become an ascetic and sought higher truth. After years of study, meditation and sacrifice, he is known to have found the Nirvana and became the Buddha (Awakened One). During this time, he became known as Gautama Buddha. The supreme light of enlightenment dawned on Buddha on the Vaisakha Purnima Day, under a Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya. Gautama Buddha then left the mortal world on the full day of Vaisakha, in his 80th year. Bodhgaya, the place where he attained Nirvana, is one of the most sanctified places of pilgrimage today.

Significance of Buddha Purnima

Devotees and pilgrims from all over the world celebrate Buddha Purnima to celebrate Gautama Buddha’s teachings of life. It is a significant day for not only Buddhists, but for also people from all religions. People pray and utter summons related to the life of Lord Buddha. Religious discourses are recited from the Holy Scriptures. The day is marked with special events that highlight the life of Gautama Buddha and his teachings of life, love, peace and spirituality. Meditation is a major event that is observed on this day. Group meditation is done and people worshipping the statue of Buddha fill in the environment with complete devotion and dedication. The sacred Maha Bodhi tree is wonderfully decorated and decked up with fresh flowers and colorful flags.

Spiritual Significance of Buddha Purnima

Buddha through tremendous efforts transformed himself and his life. He was an ideal guide who helped commoners achieve spiritual peace and bliss. People find that Lord Buddha’s teachings are more relevant today than that they were at the time he preached. Buddha tried to explain people that all the sufferings of this world are simply because of desires. So he gave the eight fold path to follow for humans – “Right belief, right intention, right living, right conduct, right word, right thinking, right efforts and right meditation”. He said that if anyone follows this path, he will be away from the common sufferings of life and living. Once you go through the preaching of Lord Buddha you will find that they are extremely useful in the present day life. It gives complete peace of mind and helps any person have peace and harmony in life. The main thing is that people need to purify their minds and thoughts. Buddha’s teachings help in attaining peace of mind and in developing wisdom and compassion for the world around. In Buddhism, along with the eightfold path, some basic principles are also followed. They are known as “Panchsheel”. The five principles are:

1. Not To Take Life
2. Not To Steal
3. Not To Lie
4. Not To Take Alcohol
5. Not To Commit Adultery

Knowing Gautama Buddha and learning about his life and teachings is enlightening for others too. It brings awareness about true nature of human life. Those who are confused about their life or those who wish to understand the spiritual aspect of life, Buddha stands as monumental figure. His struggles to search for a meaning in life bring about a realization of the true nature of a human soul. His teachings helps one to shun extreme ways of indulgence in joy or in mortification. Buddha Purnima is a celebration of Buddhist teachings to the world. Among his many teachings, the foremost is ‘Ahimsa’ (not causing harm to anyone) and non-violence. Before Buddha died he advised his faithful attendant Ananda not to weep, but to understand the universal law that all compounded things (including even his own body) must disintegrate. He advised everyone not to cry over the disintegration of the physical body but to regard his teachings. He also stressed that the way to pay homage to him was not merely by offering flowers, incense, and lights, but by truly and sincerely striving to follow his teachings. This is how Buddhists are expected to celebrate Vesak. People use the opportunity to reiterate their determination to lead noble lives, to develop their minds, to practice love and kindness and to bring peace and harmony to humanity.

Following are some ways to celebrate Buddha Purnima

• As per Buddha’s teachings, no birds should be trapped in cages. Birds are freed from the cages on this day.
• Give alms, fruits, food and clothes to poor and needy.
• Lord Buddha’s teachings, scriptures, and sermons are taught to people.
• Avoid consuming non-vegetarian food, alcohol and smoking.
• Bodhi tree is worshiped on the day of Vesak. Lamps are lit around the tree and the roots of the tree are offered water. This signifies the importance of nature.
• People usually dress up in white clothes to signify purity of mind and thought.
• Meditation on this day helps one to accelerate in the path of spirituality.
• Follow Buddha’s teachings – Panchsheel and Eight fold path