Buddha Purnima 2024:Buddha Purnima is usually celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Vaisakha in the Buddhist calendar. In 2024, Buddha Purnima will be celebrated on May 23. Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, is a significant and joyous festival celebrated by Buddhists worldwide.
Buddha Purnima 2024: Date & Time
It is believed to be the 2586th Birth Anniversary of Gautama Buddha. This year, Buddha Purnima (Vesak) or Buddha Jayanti will be celebrated on Thursday, May 23rd.
- Purnima Tithi Begins – May 22, 2024 – 06:47 PM
- Purnima Tithi Ends – May 23, 2024 – 07:22 PM
(Source: drikpanchang)
Buddha Purnima History
The Buddha’s story began in Lumbini, Nepal, about 2,500 years ago. Legend says that when Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, was born, he took seven steps, and a lotus flower bloomed with each step. Buddhists celebrate this on Buddha Purnima as his birth.
His enlightenment, called nirvana, is seen as the most important event. According to Buddhist writings, he meditated under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, and achieved enlightenment. Buddhists worldwide mark this by meditating, praying, and being kind to others.
Kushinagar is believed to be where the Buddha died, known as Parinirvana. His passing is seen as his final escape from the cycle of life and death. On Buddha Purnima, Buddhists recite sutras, offer flowers and incense, and visit temples to remember these events. Happy Buddha Purnima wishes and quotes to share.
Buddha Purnima Significance
Buddha Jayanti is one of the most auspicious Buddhist, joyous events in honour of Gautama Buddha, the ‘Enlightened One’ who has transcended ‘Karma’, and got liberated from the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Gautama delivered his first sermon in Sarnath. Also known as Shakyamuni (Sage of the Shakyas), Tathagata, is considered the ‘Fully Awakened One’.
Buddha preached ‘Dharma’, non-violence, harmony, kindness, path to ‘nirvana’ for 45 years. Buddhism is founded on the Lord Buddha’s teachings, a compilation named ‘suttas’.
He was a phenomenal being – a philosopher, spiritual guide, religious leader, and meditator who attained enlightenment after continuous meditation for 49 days under the Bodhi (banyan) tree in Bodh Gaya; and unravelled the secret to end the ‘suffering’.
Despite being born into a royal family, He relinquished the luxurious life and left home at the age of 30, leading a life of penance, and austerity, in search of the truth that liberates one from the pangs of suffering (duhkha).
Who was Gautama Budha?
Gautama Buddha, also known as Lord Buddha, founded Buddhism. He was born in a noble family in Southern Nepal around 623 BC. His father was the head of the Shakya Clan, and his mother was a princess. Buddha lived a sheltered life until he saw suffering outside his palace. This inspired him to seek answers. He left his luxurious life to become an ascetic and find solutions to suffering.
Buddha learned meditation techniques from different teachers but found them insufficient. After intense meditation under a bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment and became Buddha, the enlightened one. He then formed a community called the Sangha, starting with his five companions, to spread his teachings.