Buddha Purnima Festivals: Commemorating Buddha's Birth, Enlightenment and Death
Places of Celebrations: Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) and Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh)
Meaning
Amongst all multifarious festivals celebrated in India, the Buddhists rejoice annually in a grandeur style. Well's that Buddha Purnima—reverberating three in one life precious moments of the world's greatest teacher of humanity. His name was Lord Buddha or Gautama Buddha.
Hailed as a 'Beacon of Light' in South East Asian countries, the teachings of Lord Buddha is still pertinent in today's times. The followers of Buddhism still hail Lord Buddha as their supreme spiritual redeemer.
Information on Buddha Purnima - When Is It Celebrated?
The term 'Purnima' means a full moon day. In the Hindu calendar, every month has a full moon night, which is very sacred. However, for the followers of Buddhism, the full moon of the months of April-May called as 'Vaisakh' is beyond its sanctity. On this day, the three strange co-incidence episodes of Lord Buddha were significant. These include:
The day of Birth
The day of Enlightenment
The day of attainment of Nirvana, when he passed away.
Reflections On Buddha's Teachings
Buddha Purnima is not only the day of celebration, but also a day for reflection on the life and teaching of Lord Buddha. On this day, the Buddhist community reaffirms their faith in Panscheel—meaning—five basic principles of Buddhism. These are
Not to kill
Not to steal
Not to lie
Not to drink alcohol or other intoxicants
Not to commit adultery.
Buddhist Monks: Enriching Minds
The monks at the Buddhists monasteries recite verses uttered by the Buddha twenty-five centuries ago. They pray for world peace and happiness for the Government and the people. They are reminded to live in harmony with people of other faiths and to respect the beliefs of other people as the Buddha had taught. Thereafter, it is followed by a meditation session.
Places of Commemoration
Buddha Purnima is far and wide celebrated at the following places in India.
Bodh Gaya in Bihar
Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh
Sanchi and Kushinagar in Madhya Pradesh.
In New Delhi, the mortal remains of the Buddha are taken out at the National Museum for public viewing.
The Illuminated Pipal Tree
The Bodhi (Pipal) Tree in Bodh Gaya is a delight to watch during Buddha Purnima. On this day, the branches are decorated with colorful garlands and flags. Rows of lamps are illuminated around the trees. Milk and scented waters are sprinkled on its roots.
Rituals During Buddha Purnima
The month of Vaisakh is devoted to paying obeisance at architectural Buddhists monuments and stupas beautifully decorated with flowers and lights. On this day, Buddhists from all over the country gather to join for the holy celebrations at the prayers halls. Dressed in spotless white clothes, the devotees offer incense, flowers, candles and fruits; prostrates several times in front of the statue for their happiness and joy. Thereafter, the family prepares kheer—a sweet milk pudding in rice.
As a part of its cultural tradition, the Buddhists carry out different acts of compassion to keep alive the teachings of Lord Buddha. Some of them include:
Birds are freed from the cages
Fruits and clothes are distributed among the ailing and needy patients
Non-vegetarian diet is strictly forbidden.
Buddha Purnima is not only celebrated in India, but also celebrated around the world
Buddha Purnima Puja Vidhi: Method of Worship
- First, get up early morning and take bath and after bath worship the lord Vishnu by lighting incense sticks and diyas.
- while worshiping the lord offer seasonal fruits and a full of water pitcher
- now worship the lord by lighting Deepak and decorate the house with flowers.
- draw a Swastik from Haldi and roli on the main gate and spray Ganga Jal on the main gate.
- light Diya around bodhi vrikshya and dispersal milk in the root of the bodhi tree
- After worship offer the pitcher, fruits and grains to brahmins and any needy person
- On this day feed water and sarbat/syrup to anyone as much as possible.
Buddha Purnima Puja Katha: Buddha Purnima Puja Story
One day Siddhartha left the house to roam the garden. Do not know how, even after being vigilant, some people were seen carrying the dead. The corpse was wrapped in cloth and tied with cords. The relatives of the deceased were crying out loud. His wife's chest was thrashing.Her mother and sisters were in bad shape. The prince asked the charioteer the reason for this weeping. He told me that the four people who are walking with the clothes wrapped and tied with cords are moving, it has died. Those who cry are their relatives. It will be burnt in the crematorium.
Hearing this, there was deep sadness on the prince's face. He asked, why did it die? '
Sarathi said, 'Everybody has to die one day. Who has survived till death?
The prince ordered the charioteer to return the chariot. The king still asked the charioteer the reason for his early return. The charioteer told all the things.
The king guarded and increased it. For the fourth time, while walking in the garden, the prince saw a monk. He was wearing a well-worn ocher. His face was shining brightly. He was going to rejoice.
Rajkumar asks the charioteer who is going to do this? He told that it is a monk. It has broken ties with God by connecting with each other.
That day Siddhartha visited the garden. He returned to the palace and thought, how can we get rid of old age, disease, and death?
What is the way to avoid suffering? What should I do? Why should I not be like that blissful monk? '
In those days, Siddharth's wife Yashodhara gave birth to a son.
As soon as King Shuddhodan came to know that his son's son was born, he made a lot of charity.
The boy was named - Rahul.
Siddhartha stood up silently for a few days at night. Going to the gate, he asked the guard, 'Who is it?'
The watchman said, 'I am a poet.'
Siddharth said, get a horse ready.
'as you say.' Saying the stanza went away.
Siddharth thought that before leaving the palace forever, let me see the son's face. He stood near the bed of Yashodhara. Slept in the Yashodhara Palace with the infant. Siddharth thought that if I try to remove Yashodhara's hand and see the son's face, she will wake up. Therefore, I will not see my son's face. When I become knowledgeable, I will come and see.
Chhandak returned with a beautiful horse backing. The name of this horse was Kanthaka.
Siddharth got down from the palace and rode on a horse. This horse was very white.
Chhandak followed the horse. They left the city at midnight.
He crossed his capital and his maternal uncle's capital by night. Then, leaving Ramgram behind, he reached the banks of the river 'Anima'. Standing on the bank across the river, Siddharth said to Chhandak, 'Chhandak! You go back to me with these jewels and this horse. I will become a monk now.
Chhandak said, I will also become a monk. Siddharth prevented him from becoming a monk and asked him to return. Then Siddhartha cut the long hair of his head with his sword.
Siddhartha entered the Rajgriha in disguise as a monk. After that, he went to the city to ask alms.
The king got the news of this beautiful young man coming to the city.
The king went to this ascetic young man. The king asked to ask for his desired item. This young monk replied, 'Maharaj! I neither desire anything nor enjoy the world. It was everything in my palaces. I have come out of the house to get the ultimate knowledge.
The king said, 'Seeing your firm determination, it seems that you will definitely succeed. My only prayer is that when you get the ultimate knowledge, then come to our state first. This man became a monk wandering here and there for a long time to get true knowledge. After reaching Urubel, he started austerities. Five people like Kaundinya etc. also became monks and started living with him in Urubel.
He also stopped eating and drinking while doing hard penance. His beautiful body turned black. Now he did not see any symptoms like great men. One day he got dizzy and fell down. Then he thought what did I get by drying the body? So he again started eating food by asking for alms.
Seeing this, his five fellow monks thought that his penance was disturbed. Now how will it get knowledge? Thinking this, the five of them left him and left.
On the full moon day of Vaishakh month, this monk was sitting under the Bodhi tree. A young girl named Sujata from a nearby village cooked here. He gave this pudding to the monk to eat. Eating kheer started gaining strength in the body of the monk. After six years of penance, Siddhartha attained true knowledge. Then he was called 'Buddha'. Buddha means one who has become enlightened. All their wishes came to an end.
