Buddha Purnima also known as Buddha Jayanti is a religious festival of the Buddhists. It marks the birthday of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhist religion. It falls on the full moon day in the month of Vaishak of the Hindu calendar. This festival is celebrated with zest all over the World, especially in those nations where Buddhism is the official religion.
About Lord Buddha
Lord Buddha was born in 563 BCE in Lumbini, Nepal to King Shuddhodhana and queen Mayadevi, who passed away after seven days of his birth and was brought up by his step mother Gautami and named him Siddhartha. When he was born, the astrologers predicted that he will not live the life of a prince and will choose a path of his own. Hearing this, his father got scared and to prevent him form any thing of that sort, he never let Siddhartha move out of the palace with the belief that his son will be the heir to his throne and rule Kapilavastu. Siddhartha was an intelligent child and was bought up amidst luxuries of royal life. At the age of 16, he was married to a distant cousin of his Yashodhara and had a son, named Rahul. However, one day despite of his father trying to avert him to know about sufferings of the outside World, he gathered all the courage and moved out of the palace. This day changed his whole life when he experienced the sufferings of life that included old age, diseases and death, which moved him deeply. Finally, one day he decided to leave his wife and son and gave up all the comforts of luxurious life. He travelled all throughout the nation in quest of inner peace and to find out the reality of life. During his voyage, he found several people and understood what real life is and it is full of sufferings. He lived the life of a hermit and meditated in order to find the reason behind life and death but not late enough, he realized the truth that he will not be able to realize the truth by torturing his body. However, he kept on travelling in the quest of truth and finally one day he reached Bodha Gaya. Out of severe exhaustion, he sat under the shade of a peepal tree and closed his eyes. Under this very tree, he felt a divine light coming from within and this is when he got enlightened. After this very incident, he came to be known as “Buddha”.
However, he still continued with his meditation until the age of 45, when he started spreading his message of spirituality. He coined the Buddhist philosophy and preached about attainment of Nirvana, i.e. attaining freedom from the cycle of birth and death. His teachings emphasised on soul by following the Eightfold Path, purification of mind, heart and ultimately, the Four Noble Truths and the Five Perceptions. He preached the way towards the attainment of Nirvana and this is how along with his followers and disciples formed the new religion Buddhisim. He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at Kushinagar, India. Owing to his teachings about reality of life, this religion spread across the World and today, there are several followers of Buddhism and its philosophy.
Significance of Buddha Purnima
Buddha Purima also known as Buddha Jayanti and Vesaka is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the great religious leader and philosopher. It is also the celebrated as the day when Siddhartha, a common man or rather a prince attained enlightenment as well as attained Nirvana on the same day. Thus, this day is considered to a very auspicious one as well as an important day for the Buddhists.
Celebration of Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is celebrated all over the Globe and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. On this auspicious occasion, a fair is held at Sarnath temple in the state of Orissa and is also celebrated with huge fervour in Varanasi,Gaya and Kushinagar. On this very day, followers of Buddhism gather together in Monasteries and the religious leaders recites Buddhist scriptures and doctrines, followed by prayers, sermons and meditation.
About Lord Buddha
Lord Buddha was born in 563 BCE in Lumbini, Nepal to King Shuddhodhana and queen Mayadevi, who passed away after seven days of his birth and was brought up by his step mother Gautami and named him Siddhartha. When he was born, the astrologers predicted that he will not live the life of a prince and will choose a path of his own. Hearing this, his father got scared and to prevent him form any thing of that sort, he never let Siddhartha move out of the palace with the belief that his son will be the heir to his throne and rule Kapilavastu. Siddhartha was an intelligent child and was bought up amidst luxuries of royal life. At the age of 16, he was married to a distant cousin of his Yashodhara and had a son, named Rahul. However, one day despite of his father trying to avert him to know about sufferings of the outside World, he gathered all the courage and moved out of the palace. This day changed his whole life when he experienced the sufferings of life that included old age, diseases and death, which moved him deeply. Finally, one day he decided to leave his wife and son and gave up all the comforts of luxurious life. He travelled all throughout the nation in quest of inner peace and to find out the reality of life. During his voyage, he found several people and understood what real life is and it is full of sufferings. He lived the life of a hermit and meditated in order to find the reason behind life and death but not late enough, he realized the truth that he will not be able to realize the truth by torturing his body. However, he kept on travelling in the quest of truth and finally one day he reached Bodha Gaya. Out of severe exhaustion, he sat under the shade of a peepal tree and closed his eyes. Under this very tree, he felt a divine light coming from within and this is when he got enlightened. After this very incident, he came to be known as “Buddha”.
However, he still continued with his meditation until the age of 45, when he started spreading his message of spirituality. He coined the Buddhist philosophy and preached about attainment of Nirvana, i.e. attaining freedom from the cycle of birth and death. His teachings emphasised on soul by following the Eightfold Path, purification of mind, heart and ultimately, the Four Noble Truths and the Five Perceptions. He preached the way towards the attainment of Nirvana and this is how along with his followers and disciples formed the new religion Buddhisim. He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at Kushinagar, India. Owing to his teachings about reality of life, this religion spread across the World and today, there are several followers of Buddhism and its philosophy.
Significance of Buddha Purnima
Buddha Purima also known as Buddha Jayanti and Vesaka is celebrated to commemorate the birth of the great religious leader and philosopher. It is also the celebrated as the day when Siddhartha, a common man or rather a prince attained enlightenment as well as attained Nirvana on the same day. Thus, this day is considered to a very auspicious one as well as an important day for the Buddhists.
Celebration of Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is celebrated all over the Globe and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. On this auspicious occasion, a fair is held at Sarnath temple in the state of Orissa and is also celebrated with huge fervour in Varanasi,Gaya and Kushinagar. On this very day, followers of Buddhism gather together in Monasteries and the religious leaders recites Buddhist scriptures and doctrines, followed by prayers, sermons and meditation.