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Posted on September 13, 2007 by Shantame | Posted under Religion
Stories Behind Buddhist Festivals
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The most important amongst all these festivals is Vesak. It is a day that commemorates three important events of Gautam Buddha's life - his birth, enlightenment (nirvana) and demise (mahaparinirvana). Vesak is known by different names in different countries. Visakah Puja, Buddha Purnima, Visakha Bucha, Phat Dan, Waisak, Vixakha Bouxa and Ka-sone are amongst the most prominent of these names. Though the festival is celebrated to honour three important events in the life of Lord Buddha, yet in many countries, it is just the birthday that is celebrated. Amongst the countries that celebrate only Buddha's birthday on Vesak are Japan, Hongkong, Macau, Taiwan and South Korea. Other important festivals that revolve around the Buddha and important events in his life are Asalha Puja Day, Magh Puja day, Pavarana Day, Kathina ceremony and Abhidhamma Day. The first of these, Asalha Puja celebrates the very first teaching given by the Buddha post his enlightenment at Bodhgaya to his five ascetic friends at the Deer park of Sarnath. It also marks the beginning of three month long rains retreat in Buddhism during which monks cease their wanderings and stay within the premises of monasteries. At the end of three months, Pavarana day is celebrated. This is the day when monks invite criticism from one another and also try to figure out the advantages and disadvantages of monastic life. The festival traces its beginning from the event in which during a rains retreat monks maintained complete silence in order to avoid any conflict amongst themselves. The Buddha, on learning this, was not happy. Instead he urged the monks to reprimand each other in constructive ways and find out flaws with monastic life so that changes could be brought about for the overall betterment. Deer Park, the place where the Buddha gave his first discourse, was also the place where the Buddha spent his first rains retreat or vassa. When this rains retreat culminated, he made his way to Rajgir, where much to his surprise around 1250 Arahats had gathered to hear him preach. The Magh Puja Day commemorates this event of the Buddha's life and is also known as the Sangha day. The Abhidhamma Day has a story that goes back to the seventh lent of the Buddha. It is believed that during this period, the Buddha went to heaven to preach his mother and other devas out of compassion. The teachings went on for three months at the end of which the Buddha returned to the earth. His return back to the earth is celebrated in form of Abhidhamma day. As with a number of the festivals mentioned above, the Kathina ceremony is also related to the rains retreat. The story relates to 300 monks who were on their way to meet the Buddha and hear him preach but were stopped by the arrival of rains retreat. As per customs, this was the period when all the travelling of the monks had to be stopped. When after the rains retreat, the monks finally met the Buddha, he understood their disappointment. In order to boost them up, He set them completely free to roam around and collect clothes for robes. They even had to sew the robes with the help of a frame called Kathina. It is from here that the celebration of the Kathina ceremony began. There are quiet a few other Buddhist days that have interesting stories of the Buddha and his life around them but have got nothing to do with the rains retreat. Ullambana and the Ploughing Festival are two of these. The story of Ullambana relates to the misery of the Buddha's disciple, Maudgalyayana, on his discovery that his (Maudgalyayana) mother was suffering in the hell. He sought the Buddha's help who suggested him to offer food to the dead. Buddha's advice reaped successful result as Maudgalyayana mother got rid of all excruciations and since then Ullambana has become the day for honouring the ancestors and relieving their sufferings. All the above mentioned festivals and days have stories that are associated with Gautama Buddha's life after He attained enlightenment, however, the Ploughing festival is different. The story of the festival goes back to the time when Gautama was still a young child of seven. A ploughing festival was organised at that time and the little prince accompanied his father to one of these ploughing festival. In between, he was left alone by the maids while sleeping. On getting up, he indulged himself into meditation and attained the first ecstasy (jhana). This is called the first enlightenment of Lord Buddha. About The Author: To know more about Buddhist festivals, the stories associated with them and other details, visit Buddhist Tourism |
Tags: BUDDHIST FESTIVALS, FESTIVALS IN BUDDHISM, ABOUT BUDDHIST FESTIVALS, BUDDHIST FESTIVALS AND STORIES BEHIND THEM
