Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima
 

News: PM Modi greeted the nation on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
 

Why do we celebrate Buddha Purnima?
 The occasion marks the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha and is also believed to be the day he attained salvation or Nirvana under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya.
 It is also known as Vesak. In 1999, it became an UN-designated day, to acknowledge the contribution of Buddhism to society.
 

About Gautam Buddha:
 He was born as Siddhartha Gautama around 563 BCE, in Lumbini and belonged to the Sakya clan.
 Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. This event is known as Dharma Chakra Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
 He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. The event is known as Mahaparinibban or Mahaparinirvana.
 Gautama Buddha, is considered the ninth avatar among the ten major avatars of the god Vishnu, according to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism.
 

Teachings of Buddha:
 4 noble truths of Buddha – The world is full of suffering; it is our desire which causes suffering; when we get rid of desire; suffering will be removed. Following the 8 fold path will help to win over desire.
 8 fold of Path – It consists of the right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right mindfulness, right effort, and right concentration.
 Buddha laid great emphasis on the code of practical ethics and the principle of social equality.

Significance of Buddha Purnima:
 Buddha Purnima celebration is all about praying with the purest of feelings, and adopting what Buddhism stands for – peace, non-violence and harmony.
 Devotees visit Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.
 Buddhism is practiced in different forms all over the world and is considered inclusive as it does not celebrate any deities.
Source – PIB, NCERT