Pictures from Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India
Today is Buddha Purnima
Day.
On this day, Buddhists celebrate
the commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism,
thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C.
He is also known as 9th Avatara
(incarnation) of Vishnu by Hindus as by born he was a Hindu and Chatriya or
Rajput.
Although
Buddhists regard every full moon as sacred.
The
moon of the month of Vaisakh has special significance because on this day the
Buddha was born, attained enlightenment (nirvana), and attained
parinirvana (nirvana-after-death of the body) when he died.
Traditions
of Buddha Purnima. -
Shakyamuni
Buddha was the son of the king of the Shakyas, a small clan whose kingdom was
located at the foothills of the Himalayas, south of what is now central Nepal,
fifteen miles from Kapilavastu.
Shakya of Shakyamuni is taken from the name of
this tribe and muni means sage or saint.
His family name was Gautama (Best Cow)
and his given name was Siddhartha (Goal Achieved) though some scholars say this
is a title bestowed on him by later Buddhists in honour of the enlightenment he
attained.
Even
though many Buddhists observe Buddha's historical birth on 8th April, the exact
date remains in question.
Although modern archaeological and historical
research confirms that Prince Siddartha Gotama lived around this time.
On
Buddha Purnima, people dress in white clothes and give out kheer (a rice
pudding) as, according to legend, a woman named Sujata once offered Gautam
Buddha kheer on his birthday and it has since become a tradition.
The
dharmacakra or dharma wheel is a symbol often seen during Vaisakh.
It is a wooden
wheel with eight spokes.
The wheel represents Buddha's teaching on the path to
enlightenment.
The eight spokes symbolize the noble eightfold path of Buddhism.
What
Do People Do?
Many
Buddhists visit temples on Vaisakh to listen to monks give talks and recite
ancient verses.
Devout Buddhists may spend all day in one or more temples.
Some
temples display a small statue of Buddha as a baby.
The statue is placed in a
basin filled with water and decorated with flowers.
Visitors to the temple pour
water over the statue.
This symbolizes a pure and new beginning.
Many
Buddhists pay special attention to Buddha's teachings during Vaisakh.
They may
wear white robes and only eat vegetarian food on and around Vaisakh.
Many people
also give money, food or goods to organizations that help the poor, the elderly
and those who are sick.
Caged animals are bought and set free to display care
for all living creatures, as preached by Buddha.
Friends to follow his middle path is the best gift we can give to Buddha and the world.Buddha taught 4 noble truths.
They are -
(a). – There is suffering in the
world.
(b). - This suffering has a
cause.
(c). – The cause is desire,
and
(d). – It is possible to put an
end to suffering, if desire is removed.
Buddha prescribed the 8 fold
path. These are -
(A). – Right View,
(B). – Right Resolution,
(C) - Right Words,
(D) - Right Action,
(E). – Right Living,
(F). – Right Effort,
(G). – Right Thinking, and
(H). – Right Concentration.
Buddha stressed upon the
importance of “Middle Path” and said that one should avoid the 2 extremes of
strict abstinence and self denial for spiritual discipline and too much
indulgence in worldly pleasures.
He preached for Ahimnsa (Non -
Violence).
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