The festival of Buddha Purnima falls on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month, in the month of Vaishakha (May). This year it is going to be observed on 18th May. Though it is celebrated mainly as the birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, it is on this particular day that he attained Bodhi (Enlightenment) on the banks of the river Niranjana, Bodh Gaya, Bihar, under a pipal tree (Ficus religiosa), which has since been called the Bodhi Tree. He also attained Mahaparinirvana, at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh on Vaishakha Purnima. That is why it is called a thrice-sacred day or ‘triple blessed festival’. Siddhartha’s wife,Yashodhara, his charioteer Channa, his disciple Ananda, his horse Kantaka and the Bodhi Tree under which he received Enlightenment were all born on the same day.
The birth of Gautama Buddha is steeped in both history and legends. The Buddha was born in the royal clan of an Aryan tribe, Sakyas, in East India in the 6th Century B.C. His father King Shuddhodana was the chief of the clan and ruled the principality of Kapilavastu on the borders of present-day Nepal. The King was married to Mahamaya, the daughter of the Raja of the Kolyan clan. Scriptural accounts of the life of Buddha mention that his greatness was foretold in a dream of his mother in which she saw a white elephant holding a lotus enter her womb. Buddha was born in about 563 BC and his mother died seven days later. The child was brought up by his mother’s younger sister Mahaprajapati Gautami. He was named Siddhartha Gautama. At the time of casting his horoscope it was predicted that he would become either a world monarch or a great religious leader. Shuddhodana did not wish his son to be an ascetic. So he had him married to his cousin, Yashodhara, when he was 16 years old. Siddhartha lived a happy life, unaware of suffering, old age, disease and death.
But in his twenty-ninth year, he came across a man bent with old age, a sick person, a dead body, and finally , an ascetic and became aware of the sufferings of life. He became dissatisfied with his luxurious style of life and decided to give it up in his quest for Truth. Returning home, he heard of the birth of his son, Rahul, and the same night he left the palace renouncing his kingdom, his son and his wife. It is called the Buddha’s Mahabhinishkraman. After crossing the Anoma river he sent his horse and the charioteer back to the palace with his royal robes. Siddhartha continued his journey alone till he attained Enlightenment six years later. Since the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana, in his eightieth year on Vaishakha Purnima, Buddhists have been celebrating this thrice-sacred day with great fervour and devotion. Fa-Hien, the Chinese traveller who visited India in the fifth century AD, also mentioned about the celebration of this festival in his memoirs.
Celebration
The mode of celebration has remained unchanged since ancient times. It consists of continuous recitation from the Buddhist scripture the Tripitakas; worship of the Buddha’s statue with offerings of incense, flowers, candles and fruits and distribution of fruits and clothes among the poor. The Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya is also worshipped. Its branches are decorated with garlands and coloured flags. Rows of lamps are lit and milk and scented water are sprinkled on the roots of the Bodhi Tree.
On this auspicious day meditation and contemplation is undertaken by monks and laymen alike. Buddhists, taking refuge of the Buddha, the refuge of Dharma and the refuge of Sangha (order), take 10 precepts: the charge to avoid the taking of life, taking what is not given, sex, falsehood, liquor, untimely meals, dancing, playing music and seeing unseemly scenes, use of unguents and ornaments, lofty and luxurious beds and acceptance of gold and silver. A large number of pilgrims attend the celebration at places associated with the great events of the Buddha’s life; Lumbini (where he was born), Bodh Gaya (the place of his Enlightenment), Sarnath, near Varanasi (where he delivered his first sermon) and Kushinagar where he attained Mahaparinirvana (his death).
Four Noble Truths
According to the teachings of the Buddha, there are Four Noble Truths- all life is suffering; suffering is caused by craving; to end suffering, one must end craving; suffering individuals have to follow the Eightfold Path of right view, right aim, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort and right contemplation. The ideal practice of Buddhism involves moral conduct as the pre-requisite, study and meditation as the means; and contemplation for fulfilment.
The birth of Gautama Buddha is steeped in both history and legends. The Buddha was born in the royal clan of an Aryan tribe, Sakyas, in East India in the 6th Century B.C. His father King Shuddhodana was the chief of the clan and ruled the principality of Kapilavastu on the borders of present-day Nepal. The King was married to Mahamaya, the daughter of the Raja of the Kolyan clan. Scriptural accounts of the life of Buddha mention that his greatness was foretold in a dream of his mother in which she saw a white elephant holding a lotus enter her womb. Buddha was born in about 563 BC and his mother died seven days later. The child was brought up by his mother’s younger sister Mahaprajapati Gautami. He was named Siddhartha Gautama. At the time of casting his horoscope it was predicted that he would become either a world monarch or a great religious leader. Shuddhodana did not wish his son to be an ascetic. So he had him married to his cousin, Yashodhara, when he was 16 years old. Siddhartha lived a happy life, unaware of suffering, old age, disease and death.
But in his twenty-ninth year, he came across a man bent with old age, a sick person, a dead body, and finally , an ascetic and became aware of the sufferings of life. He became dissatisfied with his luxurious style of life and decided to give it up in his quest for Truth. Returning home, he heard of the birth of his son, Rahul, and the same night he left the palace renouncing his kingdom, his son and his wife. It is called the Buddha’s Mahabhinishkraman. After crossing the Anoma river he sent his horse and the charioteer back to the palace with his royal robes. Siddhartha continued his journey alone till he attained Enlightenment six years later. Since the Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana, in his eightieth year on Vaishakha Purnima, Buddhists have been celebrating this thrice-sacred day with great fervour and devotion. Fa-Hien, the Chinese traveller who visited India in the fifth century AD, also mentioned about the celebration of this festival in his memoirs.
Celebration
The mode of celebration has remained unchanged since ancient times. It consists of continuous recitation from the Buddhist scripture the Tripitakas; worship of the Buddha’s statue with offerings of incense, flowers, candles and fruits and distribution of fruits and clothes among the poor. The Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya is also worshipped. Its branches are decorated with garlands and coloured flags. Rows of lamps are lit and milk and scented water are sprinkled on the roots of the Bodhi Tree.
On this auspicious day meditation and contemplation is undertaken by monks and laymen alike. Buddhists, taking refuge of the Buddha, the refuge of Dharma and the refuge of Sangha (order), take 10 precepts: the charge to avoid the taking of life, taking what is not given, sex, falsehood, liquor, untimely meals, dancing, playing music and seeing unseemly scenes, use of unguents and ornaments, lofty and luxurious beds and acceptance of gold and silver. A large number of pilgrims attend the celebration at places associated with the great events of the Buddha’s life; Lumbini (where he was born), Bodh Gaya (the place of his Enlightenment), Sarnath, near Varanasi (where he delivered his first sermon) and Kushinagar where he attained Mahaparinirvana (his death).
Four Noble Truths
According to the teachings of the Buddha, there are Four Noble Truths- all life is suffering; suffering is caused by craving; to end suffering, one must end craving; suffering individuals have to follow the Eightfold Path of right view, right aim, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort and right contemplation. The ideal practice of Buddhism involves moral conduct as the pre-requisite, study and meditation as the means; and contemplation for fulfilment.
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