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Significance of the Month of May in Hindu Calendar

The month of May - Vaisaaka commences with the celebrations of Buddha Purnima/Buddha Jayanti on 02^nd May

Buddhists regard every full moon as sacred, the moon of the month of Vaisakh (April - May) has special significance because on this day the Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and attained Nirvana when he died. Characteristic of the Indian cultural mélange, Buddha's relation with Hinduism is so close that it's easy to confuse Buddhism with Hinduism. The two religions have close connections, and yet they are distinct. This was because of Buddha's reform movements and his refining of Hindu beliefs. The great unification of Buddhism and Hinduism is still prevalent in Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha. Ironically, Nepal is the world's only Hindu nation, where people don't consider the two religions distinct from each other.

Hindus believe that the purpose of the avatar of Buddha, like all divine avatars, was to re-establish “dharma” where "adharma" (irreligiousness) had become prevalent. Buddha is regarded by some sects of Hindus as an incarnation of Vishnu, or even as a Hindu. This is because Buddha's theistic beliefs are not contrary to Hinduism, but only a step ahead. This is also because the nature of Hinduism itself is such that all beliefs are recognized as being facets of the Ultimate Truth. It is interesting to note that the word "Nirvana" - used by Lord Buddha to describe the state of permanent bliss - is indeed a Vedic term.

It would not be wrong to state, then, that Buddha founded a noble religion by distilling Hinduism, and offering a commonsense approach to self-betterment to which the people can relate easily. Buddhism seems, to Westerners especially, to offer a benign and palatable form of the Indian religious experience. Most students of religion know that Buddha tried to reform some of the ancient practices; they think of him as having brought order and sophistication to primitive chaos. When they prepare lists of the great world religions they think of themselves as demonstrating respect for the religion of India by calling it Buddhism. Buddha, as we know, began his meditation as a Hindu. He was awakened with a new enlightenment only to denounce Hinduism and emerge as the founder of a new religion. Therefore, to understand Buddhism fully, one should not separate it from Hinduism; while at the same time view it separately from Hinduism. Buddha's way of life was "the golden mean" and a relief from some of the dogmatic practices prevalent in society at that time.

The Significance of Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti!

Festivals and religious events help bring people of all sects and classes together and they remind people, after many years, of a special event or happening - something that might have otherwise been forgotten.

Buddha Purnima is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar.

One may well ask why Buddha Purnima is observed by the Buddhists. The answer is simple: because it is associated with the founder of their faith, Lord Buddha. Although Buddhists regard every full moon as sacred, the moon of the month of Vaisakh (April - May) has special significance because on this day the Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and attained Nirvana when he died. This strange, three - fold coincidence, gives Buddha Purnima its unique significance. It is also believed that Yashodara, Gautama's wife, his charioteer Channa and even his horse Kantaka were born on the same day. On this day, Buddhists offer prayers in their temples. Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh and Bodh Gaya in Bihar are the main centres of celebration.

Whereas followers of others religions observe the births, deaths, and other important occasions in the lives of their founders, for Buddhists all these events are combined in one on the full moon day in Vaisakh. On this day they take a ritual bath and wear only white clothes. They gather in their viharas for worship and give alms to monks. Many spend their entire day at the vihara listening to discourses on the life and teaching of the Buddha or invite monks to their homes to speak to them. They reaffirm their faith in the five principles (Panch Sheel) - not to take life, not to steal, not to die, not to imbibe liquor or other intoxicants and not to commit adultery.

On Buddha Purnima, Buddhists refrain from eating kheer which they share with the poor. They set up stalls in public places which provide clean drinking water. Their special forms of charity include kindness to animals: they buy caged birds and set them free and pay butchers to let go animals meant for slaughter. Just as in some homes paper lanterns are hung on Diwali, on Buddha Purnima Buddhists make Vaisakh Vakats out of bamboo, festoon them with starts and decorate their houses with them. Some people also drape the walls of their homes with paper or cloth depicting incidents from the Jataka tales which are based on incarnations of the Buddha prior to his birth as Prince Gautama.

Different Buddhist countries have different ways of celebrating this great day. In Sri Lanka the celebrations are very similar to Diwali. All homes are brightly illuminated and even the poorest light at least one oil-lamp. In Japan, Buddhists are fixed the eighth of April as the Buddha's birthday. On this day, they make replicas of shrines with spring flowers and place a small idol of the Buddha on them. They bathe and consecrate these idols with great reverence. In Burma, the Buddhists set a day apart every month in honor of the Buddha. Since the Buddha attained enlightenment sitting under a Bodhi tree, special care is taken in watering and tending Bodhi trees.

Celebrations of Buddha Purnima have been extensively written about in poems and novels and depicted in paintings because Buddha Purnima is not only a day of rejoicing; it is also a day for reflection on the life and teaching of one of the greatest teachers the world has ever known.

Sources:

http://hinduism.about.com

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