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Bodhi Day-The Day Of Buddha's Enlightenment

Bodhi Day, Buddha's Enlightenment
Bodhi day is celebrated to commemorate Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
It falls on the the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, the eighth of December.

Bodhi day is observed by Zen and Shin, traditions that stem from the Mahayana form of Buddhism, though not widely celebrated like the birthday of Buddha. The followers

Buddha's Enlightenment

Prince Siddharta, who later became the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree, on the very day that is being celebrated as the Bodhi day, meditating to find the solution for the root cause of suffering. However, traditions vary while describing Buddha's enlightenment.

While it is believed that Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree, and vowed to nirvana and the earth that he was ready to die trying to find the root cause for suffering; other traditions say that Mara, symbolised as illusion, tormented him to give up the mission. According to other traditions, it is believed that He simply meditated experiencing different states of meditation until the nature of the self revealed to Him.

The Pali Canon however states, the states that revealed to Buddha.

The first watch of the night Buddha got to see His past lives as to how He was born and reborn over and over again. The cycle of birth was revealed to Him.

The Law of Karma or the operation of Karma was revealed to Buddha and the significance of living by the Eight fold paths, in the second watch of the night

The third watch of the night, the Four Noble Truths were revealed to Buddha, as He became spiritually awakened.

Celebrating The Bodhi Day

The real essence of the festival is remembrance and engaging in meditation for the spiritually mature.

Others celebrate it by having different coloured lights strung about their houses, which signify the different paths to enlightenment. The lights are turned on in the evenings for the following month. A candle is lit to symbolise enlightenment.

The fiscus tree is another important aspect in the celebration, on which coloured lights with beads are strung to signify the union of all things in their essence, with three shiny ornaments symbolising The Buddha, the Dharma and the Sanga.

People take a meal of rice and milk in the remembrance of Sujata's offering to Buddha after His enlightenment.

People also make a visit to Bodh Gaya, where He was enlightened, on Bodhi day to receive His grace.

So let us all celebrate this Buddhist festival understanding the essence of it.

Story first published: Wednesday, December 8, 2010, 17:07 [IST]