BUDDHA PURNIMA

The Buddha Purnima is the celebration commemorated on the eve of the birth ceremony of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and it is also known as Buddha Jayanti. Gautam Buddha was a prince whose name was Siddhartha Gautam and was born c. 563 - 483 BCE in Lumbini province in present Nepal. In south and southeast Asia, Gautam Buddha's birth is celebrated as part of Vesak, which also celebrates His enlightenment and death during the month of Baisakh. The exact date for Buddha Purnima is based on the Asian Lunisolar Calendar.

Different Asian countries like India, Nepal, Taiwan, Mongolia, Japan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, North Korea, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam celebrate the occasion on slightly different days based on their respective lunar calendar.

Buddhism stands for peace, non-violence and harmony. In Buddhism, morality is codified with 10 precepts known as Dasa-Sila. It also guides the layman to observe the Pancha-Sila, which are the first five precepts from the Dasa-Sila.

1. Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from destroying living creatures.

2. Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from taking that which is not given.

3. Abrahmacariya veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from sexual activity.

4. Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from incorrect speech.

5. Suramerayamajja pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

6. Vikalabhojana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from eating at the forbidden time (after midday).

7. Nacca-gita-vadita-visuka-dassana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from dancing,singing, music, going to see entertainments.

8. Mala-gandha-vilepana-dharana-mandana-vibhusanatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with cosmetics.

9. Uccasayana-mahasayana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from lying in a high or luxurious sleeping place.

10. Jatarupa-rajata-patiggahana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami: Refrain from accepting gold and silver (money).

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Lunisolar Calendar: This calendar indicates both the moon phase and time of the solar year.

Dasa-Sila: The Dasa-Sila are the 10 precepts that Buddhism follows which guides them to stay away from worldly and physical pleasures, harming living creatures and heavy meals during the wrong phase of the day.