Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is celebrated in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Gautama Buddha is one of the greatest spiritual teachers of mankind. He is called the 'Light of Asia' and his message has captured the hearts and minds of millions of people the world. He has also been revered as an Avatar (incarnation) of God. He is the founder of Buddhism, the religion and philosophical system that produced a great culture throughout much of southern and eastern Asia.
The essence of Buddha's early preaching was said to be the Four Noble Truths: i. life is fundamentally disappointment and suffering; ii. Suffering is a result of one's desires for pleasure, power, and continued existence; iii. in order to stop disappointment and suffering, one must stop desiring and iv. The way to stop desiring and thus suffering is the Noble Eight-fold Path of salvation - right life, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mind and right concentration.
During Buddha Purnima, devotees refrain from killing of any kind and are encouraged to partake vegetarian food. Birds, insects and animals are released in thousands as a 'symbolic act to liberation'. Some devout Buddhists will wear a simple white dress and spend the whole day in temples with renewed determination to observe the eight Precepts. Celebrating Buddha Purnima means making special efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate like the aged, the handicapped and the sick.
Buddhist Pilgrims come from all over the world to Bodh Gaya in Nepal to attend the Buddha Poornima celebrations on birthday of Buddha. The day is marked with prayer meets, sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourses, continuous recitation of Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions, worship of the statue of Buddha and symposia.
The Mahabodhi Temple wears a festive look on the occasion.
Buddha Jayanti Festival is the most sacred day in Buddhist calendar. It is the most important festival of Buddhists, and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Although Buddhists regard every full moon as sacred, the moon of the month of Vaisakh/Baisakh (April - May) has special significance because on this day Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and Nirvana. This strange, three-fold coincidence, gives Buddha Purnima its unique significance.
Buddha's overflowing love for the downtrodden and the destitute people has acted as one of the factors for social harmony and justice to the weaker sections of the society. The spiritual and moral forces generated by Buddha have strengthened and enriched Hinduism. As days have passed, the effect of Buddha's teachings has not only influenced the people of India but spread over a vast region of the globe.
Students' Oxygen movement view
13/05/2012
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