A pure festival celebrating the birth, death, and enlightenment of the spiritual teacher Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha Purnima is something that spreads joy and makes your life happy & meaningful. One of the most sacred festivals, Buddha Purnima is celebrated all over the world with great devotion and enthusiasm.

When is Buddha Purnima actually celebrated??

As per the Gregorian Calendar, Buddha Purnima 2020 falls on 7th of the May month. To say, the exact is the first full moon in the fourth month according to the Chinese calendar. Celebrated as the 2582nd birth anniversary, Buddhists observe this festival on every full moon, especially the month of Vaishakh is given great importance.

Buddha Purnima Significance

Back in the fifth or sixth century a great philosopher, spiritual teacher, and master named, Shakyamuni Buddha were born to the king of Shakyas. Leaving his family at the age of 29, Siddhartha wandered for many years in search of enlightenment and truth after he observed the people around him suffering to a very bad extent.

It was this when he sat under a sacred fig tree at Bodhgaya, where he meditated under Alara Kalama and Udraka Ramaputra to master their teachings. Achieving the highest level of enlightenment, he also went about preaching & founded Buddhism. Many Buddha devotees dressed in white pray, visit temples, recite ancient verses, & meditate together under the Bodhi tree before sunrise.

What to do on Buddha Purnima

Here, the baby statue of Buddha is placed in a basin filled with water & allured with decorative flowers & is poured on with water signifying new beginning & purity. It is said that a woman named Sujata offered Kheer or the rice pudding to Buddha on his birthday.

Consuming only vegetarian food, devotees show their complete concentration to the Buddha teachings. Along with food & money goods are also donated to the poor, sick, elderly people & a few organizations. As said by Buddha, no animal is caged but are freed on this day.

Buddha Purnima Prayer Benefits

On the day of Vesak, Dharma Chakra or Dharma Wheel is the often seen symbol. Describes as a wooden wheel with eight spokes, where each of the spokes represents the noble eightfold path of Buddhism. Here are the benefits you can experience on Buddha Purnima.

• Takes care of your health with a good food routine & avoids illness.
• It helps you to focus your mind on the present.
• It makes you ready to face both happiness & unhappiness.
• Brings peace of mind, eliminates doubts, jealousy, & selfishness.