Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima, has got three fold significance for Buddhists and is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. This is the day when Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and attained Nirvana when he died. This strange, three - fold significance, gives Buddha Purnima its unique significance among the Buddhists and they celebrate the Full Moon Day of the month of Vaisakh (April-May) as Buddha Purnima Day. The full moon of the month of Vaishakh is celebrated with prayers to commemorate the day of enlightenment of Gautam Buddha, which happened more than 2500 years ago. Gautam Buddha was a great teacher and had a tremendous following in the provinces of Magadha, Kosala and all the neighboring territories. Gautam Buddha adopted the life of a religious teacher from the age of thirty-five till his death at the age of eighty (486 BC).

Gautam Buddha was born as Siddhartha to the king of Kapilavastu, Shuddhodana. It was prophesied by the royal astrologer that Siddhartha will become either a famous emperor or a world-renowned ascetic. The father of Siddhratha , anxious that his son should not take to the thorny path of a recluse, took extraordinary precautions to avoid every situation which would provoke such thoughts in his son's mind. Siddhartha grew of age without ever knowing what misery or sorrow was. One day the prince desired to see the city. The King ordered that the city should be all gay and grand, so that everywhere his son would meet with only pleasing sights. However, an old and crippled man by the roadside happened to catch Siddhartha's eye.

As he grew into manhood, Siddhartha was caught by the sufferings of the world (old age, disease and death being important of them), left his riches to become an ascetic and sought higher truth. After years of study, meditation and sacrifice, he is known to have found the Nirvana (cure to ills of the world) and became the Buddha or the completely enlightened. One of the greatest spiritual teachers of mankind which Bharat has produced is undoubtedly, Buddha. Edwin Arnold has fittingly called him the "Light of Asia". Buddha's message has traveled far and wide and captured the hearts and minds of billions of people outside Bharat also.

To this day most of these countries look upon Buddha as their supreme spiritual redeemer.Buddha passed into eternity after completing his Sahasra Chandra Darshana i.e., 1000 full moon days (80th year) on the full moon day of Vaishaakha - the day of his birth as also of his Enlightenment. And to this day, Buddha lives on as a beacon-light to billions the world over, who yearn for the peace and well-being of all living creation.