The World marks the Day on May 10

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Buddhists and many others will observe ‘Buddha Purnima’ on May 10, 2017.

Even though many Buddhists observe Buddha’s historical birth on April 8, the exact date remains in question. Although modern archeological and historical research confirms that Prince Siddartha Gautama lived around this time.

The festival commemorates the birth anniversary of Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism and should not be confused with ‘Guru Purnima,’ an observance that pays obeisance to the ‘Guru,’ usually to Sage Vyasa. Guru Purnima, celebrated throughout the world by Hindus, will occur this year on July 19 or 20.

Buddha Purnima is marked during the Lunar month of ‘Vaishakha’ (corresponding to May). Gautama Buddha, whose birth name was Siddhartha Gautama is worshipped by followers of Buddhism, which Lord Buddha established to promote peace, harmony, goodwill and understanding among human beings throughout the world.

The time of Gautama Buddha’s birth and death is uncertain. However, most historians date his lifetime between 563-483 BC. A majority of experts consider Lumbini in Nepal as the birth place of Buddha.

He died at the age of 80 at Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh in India.

Bodh Gaya

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important pilgrimage site related to the life of Gautama Buddha. The other three important pilgrimage sites are Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. It is believed that Gautama Buddha obtained Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and first taught the Dharma at Sarnath.

In North India, Buddha is considered as the Ninth Incarnation and Lord Krishna as the Eighth Incarnation of Lord Vishnu. However, Buddha is not considered so in South India.

Gautama was the son of the king of the Shakyas, a small clan whose kingdom was located at the foothills of the Himalayas, south of what is now central Nepal, fifteen miles from Kapilavastu.

Shakya or Shakyamuni is taken from the name of this tribe and muni means sage or saint.

His family name was Gautama (Best Cow) and his given name was Siddhartha (Goal Achieved) though some scholars say this is a title bestowed on him by later Buddhists in honour of the enlightenment he attained.

Photo:

The Statue of Buddha in Bodh Gaya in Bihar, India