India is a land of festivals and celebrations. The vast cultural diversity is the reason, there are lots of festivals and auspicious celebrated all year long. Buddha Purnima is one of the significant festivals that is celebrated with great fervour. It is believed that this auspicious day marks the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha. Performing puja and visiting holy shrines is thereby considered beneficial on this. Want to know when is the Buddha Purnima date or how to perform Buddha Purnima puja?
What Is Buddha Purnima and Why It Is Celebrated?
Buddha Purnima is a Buddhist festival that has great significance across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar. Prayers, meditation, and celebrations are part of the rituals performed on this day. It is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
The festival is important because it is considered an auspicious day to reflect on the teachings of Gautam Buddha. It is celebrated on the full moon day of Vaishakh month of the Hindu Calendar. Those who follow Buddhism, use this day as an opportunity to donate. Food, clothes and other necessities are donated, and different kinds of social services are performed on this day.
What Is the Importance of Buddha Purnima?
The auspicious day of Buddha Purnima is also known as Thrice Blessed Festival. It is believed that on this day, three important life events took place for Gautam Buddha. Buddha Purnima was the day when Gautam Buddha was born, attained enlightenment and got Paranirvana which means death.
When is Buddha Purnima in 2023?
The date of the full moon day in the month of Vaishakh keeps changing, hence it is best to confirm the date prior by referring to a Vedic calendar. This year, Buddha Jayanti date falls on Sunday, 15th May 2023. Vaishakh full moon day is the most important date and those who follow Buddhism must plan to celebrate the day.
On the day of Buddha Purnima, bathing in the holy river, donation and worship have special significance. Auspicious time for worship on Buddha Purnima - Vaishakh Purnima i.e. Buddha Purnima is being celebrated on 16th May i.e. today. The auspicious time of Buddha Purnima will be from 12.45 pm on Sunday, 15th May to 9.45 pm on Monday, 16th May.
Which God is Worshipped on Buddha Purnima?
Buddha birthday date is celebrated with great fervour across the country because it is believed that Gautam Buddha was the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hence, if you want to offer prayers to God, you can worship Lord Vishnu on this auspicious day. The Buddha Purnima Puja Vidhi can be similar to the rituals of performing prayers and chanting mantras to appease Lord Vishnu.
What Are the Rituals of Buddha Purnima?
If you follow Buddhism, it is best to recite the Buddhist scriptures. Others can offer prayers to the almighty in the form of chanting mantras and meditations. Social service is a ritualistic activity that is followed by many in different states in the country. People also like to donate food and clothes to the needy on this auspicious day. If you are planning to perform a ritualistic puja or celebratory havan on this auspicious day, you can book the Vedic experts at Pujarambh. We have a vast network of experienced pandits, who will follow the Vedic Buddha purnima puja vidhi and help you attain peace and prosperity in life.
What Should We Eat on Buddha Purnima?
According to legends, Sujata once offered Kheer to Gautam Buddha on his birthday. Hence, it has become a ritualistic practice to prepare kheer for this festival. Other popular food items which are recommended by Gautam Buddha are boiled rice prepared with ghee, baked grains called Sattu, Barley, and Kummasa a mixture of boiled rice and barley.
What Not to Do in Buddha Purnima?
It is very important to follow the Panchsheel rituals on the day of Buddha Purnima. The rules are as follows:
- Do not kill any living being!
- Refrain from robbing anyone!
- Do not lie to anyone!
- Do not consume alcohol!
- Do not commit infidelity!
It is important to have a peaceful mind to offer prayers to Lord Vishnu. Devotees can also practice medication before puja to reach a calm state of mind.
Which State Is Famous for Buddha Purnima?
It is believed that Lord Buddha attained enlightenment in Sarnath Uttar Pradesh. Hence, the festival is celebrated on a huge scale in this state. Apart from this, Bihar state has the famous Buddhist temple Mahabodhi in Bodh Gaya. Mahabodhi is considered an important and sacred place in Buddhism and the celebrations here are remarkable on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima.
What Are The 5 Major Rituals in Buddhism?
Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the world that teaches enlightenment as a way to get rid of the sufferings of human life. There is a huge significance of meditation in this religion. The 5 major rituals that are taught in Buddhism are as follows:
- Devotion
Devotion towards sacred things is a common ritual in Buddhism. Devotional practices are taught in many Buddhist schools. Devotion is considered beneficial to practice during Uposatha days and annual festivals.
- Chanting
Recitation of mantras is considered a ritual or an act of worship in Buddhism. The most common mantra in Buddhism is auṃ maṇi padme hūm.
- Gratitude
Buddhism teaches that humans must bow to sacred and religious objects. The act of bowing shows gratitude, humility, respect and acknowledgement.
- Life Cycle
Life cycle rites are performed in Buddhism to transfer punya to the deceased family members. Relatives of the deceased family member visit the temple and perform certain rituals to improve their afterlife.
- Pilgrimage
There are numerous pilgrimage sites which include temples, shrines and landscapes associated with legends. Visiting these sites and offering prayers is a common ritual in Buddhism.
Which Is the Largest Buddhist City in India?
Bodh Gaya is the centre of Buddhist places in India. However, Maharashtra has the largest Buddhist population in the country. Marathi Buddhists are considered the largest Buddhist community in the country.
Offers Prayers on Buddha Purnima
Buddha Purnima is an auspicious occasion to bring peace and prosperity to life. Want to learn more about the rituals then consults our experienced priests. They will help you learn more about the auspicious Buddha purnima 2023 date and time and you can also book a puja package for this festival. Our experienced pandits can arrive at your place with Buddha Purnima Puja Samagri to help you organize the ritualistic puja.
