Celebrating Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima marks the birthday of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Find out how Buddha Purnima is celebrated by Buddhists around the globe. The birthday of Gautam Buddha is known as Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti or Vesak by the Buddhists. Owing to the popularity of Buddhism, Buddha Purnima is celebrated and observed with great devotion to the Buddha, master philosopher and founder of Buddhism. In this articleThe Birth of Lord BuddhaHow is Buddha Purnima Celebrated?The Buddha Purnima RitualsMany are of the opinion that Buddhism should be perceived not just as a religion but also as a set of teachings laid down by an Enlightened soul. There are many differing opinions regarding the Buddha and his place in history. Some consider him as God, some as an incarnation or Avatar of Lord Vishnu, while some as the royal prince who gave up earthly pleasures in order to seek the truth. Where all coalesce is in the opinion that he was a great learned soul whose every sermon preached peace and brotherhood and immortal truth that leads to salvation. The Birth of Lord Buddha In 500 BC, Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddharta to King Suddhadhana and Queen Mayadevi in Kapilavastu. Royal priests foretold that the prince would be disenchanted by the tragedies of life and grow up to be a great spiritual leader. As had been prophesied, at the age of thirty, Prince Siddharta renounced the life of a royal prince and all the materialistic worldly elements associated with it, in his quest for true wisdom. He yearned to understand life, its meaning and purpose. After many years of wandering and observing the various tragedies of human life, he sat down to meditate under the Pipal tree in Bodhgaya. It is here that Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment and came to be known as The Buddha. He roamed the land preaching sermons of truth and peace. At the age of eighty, he attained Nirvana or Salvation, when he passed away. It is notable that all the three major events of his life, birth, enlightenment and demise took place on a full moon night.How is Buddha Purnima Celebrated? As per the Hindu calendar, Buddha Purnima falls on the full moon night of the first month or Vaishakha, which normally is the middle of April-May. On this day, devotees gather in monasteries in large numbers and worship Lord Buddha’s idols. The monks read the Holy Scriptures throughout the day. Devotees lead processions in the streets chanting the holy mantras of Buddhism. Devotees clean their houses and light up Diyas and candles symbolically to ward off the darkness of ignorance. In some Asian countries, where Buddhism is the national religion, people also put up white, blue, red and yellow flags atop their houses. The Buddha Purnima Rituals Buddha Purnima is particularly celebrated in Sarnath, Sanchi, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar; the places which are directly linked with the various stages of Lord Buddha’s life. Every year during Buddha Purnima, hordes of devotes flock to the Sarnath temple and devoutly participate in the religious activities led by the monks. The Pipal tree or the fig tree is worshipped on this day, as it is considered sacred. Candles are lit and incense is offered to commemorate the day when Buddha attained enlightenment. Sermons are held where people recite the Buddhist scriptures to signify that they will always try to follow and imbibe the teachings of the Great Buddha in their own lives. Thus one can say that Buddha Purnima is a great occasion to recall and revive the teachings and philosophies propagated by the great soul. His philosophies are even more relevant at present when the world has degenerated into a meaningless muck inhabited mainly by a poor, helpless, angry, selfish, discontent, ailing, thieving, murdering population.Lord Buddha preached that suffering may be overcome only by facing and enduring it. In an age where people question the meaning of their lives every moment, Lord Buddha’s ideologies may aid in enlightenment of our minds and hearts. This is an occasion where we are encouraged to consciously attempt to relook and re-access our lives so that we can attain peace within our souls. This can invariably result in creating better communal bonds and fostering tolerance within the human society along with much needed peace and love.

The birthday of Gautam Buddha is known as Buddha Purnima, Buddha Jayanti or Vesak by the Buddhists. Owing to the popularity of Buddhism, Buddha Purnima is celebrated and observed with great devotion to the Buddha, master philosopher and founder of Buddhism.

Many are of the opinion that Buddhism should be perceived not just as a religion but also as a set of teachings laid down by an Enlightened soul. There are many differing opinions regarding the Buddha and his place in history. Some consider him as God, some as an incarnation or Avatar of Lord Vishnu, while some as the royal prince who gave up earthly pleasures in order to seek the truth. Where all coalesce is in the opinion that he was a great learned soul whose every sermon preached peace and brotherhood and immortal truth that leads to salvation.

The Birth of Lord Buddha

In 500 BC, Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddharta to King Suddhadhana and Queen Mayadevi in Kapilavastu. Royal priests foretold that the prince would be disenchanted by the tragedies of life and grow up to be a great spiritual leader. As had been prophesied, at the age of thirty, Prince Siddharta renounced the life of a royal prince and all the materialistic worldly elements associated with it, in his quest for true wisdom. He yearned to understand life, its meaning and purpose.

After many years of wandering and observing the various tragedies of human life, he sat down to meditate under the Pipal tree in Bodhgaya. It is here that Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightenment and came to be known as The Buddha. He roamed the land preaching sermons of truth and peace. At the age of eighty, he attained Nirvana or Salvation, when he passed away.

It is notable that all the three major events of his life, birth, enlightenment and demise took place on a full moon night.

How is Buddha Purnima Celebrated?

As per the Hindu calendar, Buddha Purnima falls on the full moon night of the first month or Vaishakha, which normally is the middle of April-May.

On this day, devotees gather in monasteries in large numbers and worship Lord Buddha’s idols. The monks read the Holy Scriptures throughout the day. Devotees lead processions in the streets chanting the holy mantras of Buddhism. Devotees clean their houses and light up Diyas and candles symbolically to ward off the darkness of ignorance. In some Asian countries, where Buddhism is the national religion, people also put up white, blue, red and yellow flags atop their houses.

The Buddha Purnima Rituals

Buddha Purnima is particularly celebrated in Sarnath, Sanchi, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar; the places which are directly linked with the various stages of Lord Buddha’s life. Every year during Buddha Purnima, hordes of devotes flock to the Sarnath temple and devoutly participate in the religious activities led by the monks. The Pipal tree or the fig tree is worshipped on this day, as it is considered sacred. Candles are lit and incense is offered to commemorate the day when Buddha attained enlightenment. Sermons are held where people recite the Buddhist scriptures to signify that they will always try to follow and imbibe the teachings of the Great Buddha in their own lives.

Thus one can say that Buddha Purnima is a great occasion to recall and revive the teachings and philosophies propagated by the great soul. His philosophies are even more relevant at present when the world has degenerated into a meaningless muck inhabited mainly by a poor, helpless, angry, selfish, discontent, ailing, thieving, murdering population.

Lord Buddha preached that suffering may be overcome only by facing and enduring it. In an age where people question the meaning of their lives every moment, Lord Buddha’s ideologies may aid in enlightenment of our minds and hearts. This is an occasion where we are encouraged to consciously attempt to relook and re-access our lives so that we can attain peace within our souls. This can invariably result in creating better communal bonds and fostering tolerance within the human society along with much needed peace and love.