Buddha Purnima which is also known as Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, is an important festival in Buddhism that marks the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Gautama Buddha. It is observed on the full moon day of the lunar month of Vaisakha (generally falling either in the month of April or May), this auspicious occasion holds profound spiritual significance for Buddhists.
Gautama Buddha was the founder of Buddhism.
This year, Buddha Purnima falls on Monday, 12 May.
Know about the Spiritual and historical significance:
Three significant moments in the life of Siddhartha Gautama, a prince who eventually became Buddha, or "the awakened one," are commemorated on Buddha Purnima.
Around 563 BCE, Siddhartha was born in Lumbini, which is now Nepal. He is the prince who sacrificed his life as a prince to find solutions to the problems that people face. At the age of 35, he finally achieved enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, following years of austere practices and meditation.
The Dharma, the core teachings of Buddhism, are the result of Siddhartha's life-changing experience.
The Buddha achieved Parinirvana, or freedom from the cycle of birth and death, at the age of 80.
These three events—birth, enlightenment, and passing—all occurring on the same lunar day imbue Buddha Purnima with immense reverence. It is a reminder of the Buddha’s teachings on compassion, mindfulness, and the path to liberation from suffering.
Worldwide celebration:
Other than India, Buddha Purnima is marked with great devotion in other nations as well, such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and Bhutan, as well as in Western nations with Buddhist communities. While customs vary, the essence of the festival lies in reflecting on the Buddha’s teachings and practising kindness.
In India and Nepal, devotees visit sacred places such as -- Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Lumbini, offering prayers, lighting lamps, and meditating.
Temples are adorned with flowers and colourful decorations, and monks deliver sermons on the Buddha’s life and principles. Many Buddhists also engage in acts of charity, such as donating food, clothes, or money to the underprivileged.
In Sri Lanka, the day is marked with vibrant displays of lanterns and pandals (temporary structures) depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life. Homes and streets are illuminated with oil lamps, symbolising the light of wisdom. Whereas in Thailand and Myanmar, devotees participate in processions, pour water on Buddha statues as a gesture of purification, and release birds or fish to signify liberation.
Purnima - a time for spiritual renewal:
Buddha Purnima is a time for spiritual renewal and adherence to the Five Precepts of Buddhism, which include abstaining from harming living beings, stealing, lying, intoxication, and immoral conduct. Meditation and mindfulness practices are central, as devotees seek to cultivate inner peace and wisdom.
Buddha’s teachings, encapsulated in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, resonate deeply during this time. The Four Noble Truths address the nature of suffering and its cessation, while the Eightfold Path provides a practical guide to ethical living, mental discipline, and wisdom. These principles inspire Buddhists to lead lives of balance and harmony.
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