Buddha Purnima 2017: Way To Vanish The Sufferings Of Life

Buddha Purnima is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Hindu month Vaishakha. In 2017, it will be marked on May 10, devotees observe this day by visiting the temples of Lord Buddha and wearing with coloured clothes. This day is commemorates the journey of Lord Buddha - his birth, enlightenment and death. Stay connected to this article to know more..

About Gautam Buddha

Gautam Buddha was born on the night of full moon or Purnima, hence birthday of Gautam Buddha is celebrated as Buddha Purnima.

Gautam Buddha was originally named as Siddhartha Gautama. Some incidences that occurred in his life, made him to be known as Gautama Buddha. At the age of 29, he left his parents, wife and son, in search of enlightenment.

When he left the palace, he saw people facing the sufferings of life. Hence, he thought of finding the answers of those sufferings. So, he decided to find the path of enlightenment. He wandered from place to place and at last reached Bodh Gaya. After a deep meditation of 49 days, he got the answers to all his questions.

Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima in 2017 will be celebrated on May 10. Buddha Purnima is known by different names amongst Buddhists such as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Buddha’s birthday, etc. One of the most famous name is Wesak or Vesak.

The Buddhist community celebrates the Buddha Purnima zeal and love as it has been celebrated for so long. The Vesak helps the people finding out the answers to their questions. In this way, Wesak or Buddha Jayanti will become a path of understanding the truth of life.

Buddha Purnima is celebrated as the birthday of Gautam Buddha. It is said that Gautama Buddha is the one who founded Buddhism. As per the Hindu Calendar, Buddha Purnima or Wesak falls on the full moon day of the month Vaishakh. This is the reason due to which, this festival is also called Vesak.

Buddha Purnima or Vesak is believed to be celebrated due to three important occasions in Buddha’s life. So, before celebrating the Buddha Purnima, let’s know these three important events:

1. Gautam Buddha was born on the day of Wesak.
2. Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment i.e. the one who is fully awake.
3. On the day of Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti, Gautam Buddha attained Nirvana i.e. he left the world.

Teachings Of Gautam Buddha

Gautam Buddha is well known amongst all the people for his teachings. It is said that on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, people especially organize events to recite and spread the teachings of Gautama Buddha. This way they try to get a solution for their sufferings.

Gautam Buddha’s teachings are said to be entirely dedicated to help the human beings. They help a person in getting away from the problems, evil thoughts, and the sufferings that one faces in a lifetime.

Though Gautam Buddha is not in the world, still his teachings are immortal and they will always help human beings to attain peace and the path of enlightenment. There are countless followers of Gautama Buddha’s teachings. People from all the groups of society accepted the teachings of Gautam Buddha, as he believed in the equality among all.

So, on this Buddha Purnima in 2017, you also try to imbibe the teachings of Gautama Buddha and try to get liberated from the sufferings in your life. Make this Buddha Purnima in 2017 a path to attain the solution for your issues and find the right way to resolve them.

Buddha Purnima : Follow Eightfold Path

Lord Buddha, in his teachings, mentioned about the ‘Eightfold Path’ that may help a person to master over his sufferings. These are:

1. Right Conduct
2. Right Move
3. Right Speech
4. Right Effort
5. Right Mindedness
6. Right Livelihood
7. Right Attentiveness
8. Right Meditation

Hence, take an oath to follow these eight ways of right conduct and behavior toward life, on this Buddha Purnima. Hopefully, this oath of following them on this Buddha Purnima or Wesak changes your life and bring upon the light of positivity.

Buddha Purnima: Three Events Of Buddha’s Life

It is said that the three most prominent events of Gautam Buddha’s life took place on the day of Buddha Purnima. These are his birth, enlightenment and Nirvana (death). All these events happened at the same day in his lifetime. Let’s have some details about these important events of his life:

Buddha Purnima: Birth of Gautam Buddha

It is said that Lord Buddha’s mother, Queen Mayadevi gave him birth, while she was emerging from a bath at Lumbini garden’s, Pushkarni pool. Gautam Buddha was born on the full moon night. As per the legend, it is said that when Buddha was born, he could speak at that time. He spoke to his mother that he has taken birth to help people and remove their sufferings. It is also said that he walked in all the four directions a bit, as soon as he took birth. Since Gautam Buddha was a miraculous child, he was named as Siddhartha. His name meant - ‘The one who has attained all the goals.’

Buddha Purnima: Day Of Finding Enlightenment

Gautam Buddha left his family in search of finding the reason for the sufferings of human life.He reached Bodhgaya. He decided to meditate until he would find the answers to the sufferings of human life. Gautama Buddha did a deep meditation to remove all the distractions in mind and was able to open all his senses to realize the truth of life.

While he went deep into the meditation, he was able to recall his past lives. He was also able to see all that was happening in the universe. Hence, on the full moon day or Purnima, he was able to get the answers for all his questions. After this, he became the Buddha that means – ‘The one who is awakened.’

Buddha Purnima: The Day Of Nirvana

When Gautam Buddha turned to 80 years of age. He called up his cousin Ananda and friends. He told them that he would leave the world very soon. Hence, at the full moon night, he took some spoiled food. This made him fall ill. After this incident, he decided to go into a deep meditation and left the world, at last.

Rituals Of Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima or Wesak is a festival that indicates calmness and tells to follow the path as well as preaching laid by Gautam Buddha. There are certain rituals that are to be followed on the day of Buddha Jayanti. They are as follows:

1.On the day of Vesak or Buddha Purnima, birds are set free from cages. Along with this, people distribute clothes and food among the poor and the needy.

2. One should avoid eating non-vegetarian food, on the day of Buddha Purnima.

3.The Bodhi tree is also decorated on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. Lamps are lit around that tree and water is also poured in the roots of the Bodhi tree at the time of Vesak.

4.On the day of Buddha Purnima, people offer prayers, along with these sermons of Gautam Buddha’s life are also recited.

5.Lord Buddha’s statue is worshiped on the day of Buddha Purnima, by the monks and devotees.

6.People also offer flowers, candles and many more things to those who continuously prostrate before the idol of Gautam Buddha.

7.On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, people only wear white clothes.

8.The five principles called the ‘Panchsheel’ are also followed by the Buddhists, on Buddha Purnima. They have firm faith in these principles. These are as follows:

• Not To Take Life
• Not To Steal
• Not To Lie
• Not To Take Alcohol
• Not To Commit Adultery

So, do not forget to follow the rituals on this Buddha Purnima in 2017. This way you can also find the way to overcome your bad times on this Buddha Purnima in 2017.

Celebrations Of Buddha Purnima

The celebrations of Wesak are organized on a large scale by the Buddhists. The celebration of the day starts with the beginning of prayers on a large scale. The holy scriptures of Buddhism are also recited on the occasion of Vesak.

People also meditate in a group and after this Lord Buddha’s idol is worshiped. Some religious events are also held on the day of Buddha Purnima. However, at Bodh Gaya, the celebrations of Buddha Purnima are held at a large scale. On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, a large number of devotees gather and follow the rituals of Buddha Jayanti. The Buddha Purnima in 2017 will again be celebrated at large, instead there may be an increase in number of the devotees.

Buddhists usually prepare Kheer (sweet rice porridge) and it is offered to the poor people, on the day of Buddha Purnima. Various stalls are also set up where people are offered food and water.

Hopefully, this information on Buddha Purnima will prove helpful to you and you will be able to enjoy the festivity of Buddha Purnima. Make this Vesak a day when you can find the answers to your sufferings and able to resolve them.

AstroCAMP wishes you a very Happy Buddha Purnima..!