Does the name Siddhartha ring a bell? Well, a lot of you might know which Siddhartha I meant. Siddhartha, a prince who lived in the Indian subcontinent some time between the 5th and 6th centuries BC turned out to be one of the most influential people to walk the face of the earth. The prince who renounced his royal life and went in search for the truth would later become the ‘Buddha’ or the ‘enlightened one’. Today Buddhism is a major religion, with a great amount of popularity within the Asian continent. Every year on the full moon day of the lunar month of Veshaka, Buddhists around the world commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Different countries often end up celebrating Vesak on different days. So what happens on this day which is the most important day for Buddhists?
Following the example
The Buddha is said to have told his followers that in order to commemorate him in a true manner all they were to do was to follow his teachings. The celebrations during Vesak take this into due consideration. Many people take to charity or other acts of kindness and service on the day. It is also a day where a lot of people make resolutions to lead better lives. In keeping with the Buddhist traditions of ahimsa or non-violence to everything, many keep away from meat during the celebrations…
Hoisting the Flag
Many special rituals are performed by believers during Vesak. The day typically starts off with the followers gathering at the temple and hoisting the Buddhist flag. This act is accompanied by the chanting of hymns dedicated to the Triratnas. And what exactly are these Triratnas? They are considered as the three jewels to be referred to namely, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
Different Sects
Celebrations of Vesak vary depending upon the sect. The followers of Mahanaya Buddhism take part in a ritual which is known as ‘three steps, one bow’. Devotees take part in this by taking steps while remaining on their knees. At every third step, they take a bow as well. This time-consuming and challenging ordeal is often accompanied by silent prayers and is also seen as an act of repentance. It teaches the devotee the importance of perseverance and is believed to purify the person. On the other hand, we come across the followers of the Theravada stream of Buddhism. On Vesak, these followers take a page of the Buddha’s life. And how do they do so? Well, they cook. Yes, they cook a pot of rice in milk, reminiscing the final meal that the Buddha has before taking his long fast that would eventually culminate in enlightenment.
Bathing the Buddha
This is one of the special celebrations during the day. The images of the Buddha are bathed by drawing water from basins. Do you know that there is an interesting reason behind this? It is said that the Buddha upon birth was bathed in the holy waters of the gods or dragons according to the Chinese lore. Many traditions attribute even more divinities to the birth of the Buddha.
Vesak may be celebrated today or on different days. But it is by no means restricted to any region or religion. It is the celebration of the life and teaching of one of the greatest man to ever walk the face of this planet.
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