Buddha’s Birthday
As per the Nepal
calendar, Buddha Purnima falls on the Purnima of the Baishakh month, and
coincides with the first lunar eclipse of the year. Buddha
jayanti is the birth day of loard gautam Buddha. Which marks the birth anniversary
of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Gautama Buddha.
Buddhist and Hindu’s worship Buddha and offer many kind of food and beverages. Buddha’s
original name was Sidhartha Gautam. Siddhartha gautam was born about 543BC in kapilvastu
of Nepal. Sidhartha was son of King Suddhodhan Gautam and queen Maya Devi.
Buddha was born in garden of sal trees (Shorea robusta), sitated in the
beautiful and peaceful Lumbini zone in Rupendehi district of Nepal. Buddha was
born on full moon day, his achived nirvana in the same day and left this world
on the same day of Baishakh sukla Purnima. Siddhartha, the truth wasn't easy
to find. He took to the life of an ascetic. In Bodh Gaya, he sat down under a
tree to embark on an extended journey of meditation and decided not to rise
until he found enlightenment. He meditated for 49 days straight, formulating a
body of wisdom, which was ready to bring mankind a new religion. Soon after the
enlightenment, Buddha preached to a small group who soon became his disciples.
From then onwards, Buddha became a spiritual teacher. After years of teaching,
he finally liberated himself from the cycle of rebirth and achieved salvation. Buddha spent his first 29 years in Devdaha, his maternal
home; during his stay there, he visited many sacred places and monasteries
around the country.
This day is celebrated as Buddha as Buddha purnima
all over the world. Buddha means “Awakened One”. Gautam Buddha is also known as
Shakyamuni. Two great stupas, Shyambhunath, Baudhanatha and Lumbini, were
also established in honor of Lord Buddha. UNESCO has also enlisted these stupas
as a World Heritage site.
On Buddha Purnima, individuals
dress in white garments and give out kheer (rice pudding). As per legend, a
lady named Sujata once offered Gautam Buddha kheer on his birthday and it has
since become a practice. According to Buddhism, the three most important foods
served to the Buddha were the final meal (discussed above), most likely
mushrooms, the meal just before enlightenment, which was the milk rice served
by Sujata, and the meal right after enlightenment, which was barley meal and
honey items.
It is recommended to opt for a
sattvic meal throughout the day. Buddha Purnima is a time to reflect on the
teachings of the Buddha and to practice compassion, peace, mindfulness, and
generosity. By choosing what to eat and avoid, one can maintain the sanctity of
the occasion and promote spiritual growth and development.
