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VISAKHA PUJA DAY
Miss Yaowalak Kunnalak
THE MEANING OF
VISAKHA PUJA DAY
Visakha Puja Day falls on the full moon day of May
(the sixth lunar month) in each year. The word Visakha
Puja comes from the word Visakhapunnamipuja in
Pali which means Worshiping on the full moon day of
the sixth month. It marks the three important events,
occurred in the Buddha’s life, namely; His Birth, His
Enlightenment, and His Passing away (Parinibbana).
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
On the full moon day of May (the sixth lunar month),
known as Visakha Puja Day, before 623 B.C. there was born
a young prince, named Siddhattha at Lumbini park between
the borders of Kabilavatthu City and Thevathaha City. His
father’s name was King Suddhodana, who was the king of
Kabilaphattu City. His mother’s name was Queen
Sirimahamaya who lived in Thevathaha City. His mother
passed away seven days after his birth. He was later taken
care by Pajabodi (his mother’s younger sister). Later on
when he grew up at the age of 7 years, he was sent to study
with Visavamit who was a famous and well-known teacher
during that time.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
When he was 16 years old, he got married to a very beautiful
Princess named Yasodhara or Bimba. Thirteen years after their
marriage, they had one son whose name was Rahula. One day while
traveling to the Royal Garden, he saw four sights, he saw an old
man, a sick man, a dead body, and a monk (a Brahmin monk).
These made him realize that only a luxurious life could not let him
reach the real happiness of life. Later he renounced a worldly life to
be a homeless monk at the bank of Anoma river. After being a
homeless monk, he wandered from place to place to seek for the
real happiness of life.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
When he was 35 years old, on the full moon day of May
(the sixth lunar month), he attained enlightenment which
means he had founded the real happiness of life. At that
time, he was called as the Buddha which means the
Awakened One or the Enlightened One. Not soon after his
enlightenment, he started to deliver his teachings for the
welfare of mankind. He delivered his first teaching to the
Panjavakkiya (the Group of Five Monks)- Kondhanna,
Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama, and Assaji.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
His first teaching was called the Dhammacakkappavattanasutta
(setting into the motion of the wheel of Dhamma). After his
preaching, Kondhanna, the head of the group, attained the eyes of
Dhamma and later asked for the ordination from the Buddha. The
Buddha ordained him as the first monk in Buddhism. After that
he wandered to preach his teachings for fourty-five years without
stopping. And when he was 80 years old, on the full moon day of
May (the sixth lunar month), after he had firmly established his
teachings to his Orders, he then passed away under the pairs of
Sala trees in Kusinara, Malla state.
VISAKHA PUJA DAY
Visakha Puja Day is one of the greatest
religious holidays which falls on the 15th day of
the waxing moon in the 6th lunar month. The
significant celebration is held to commemorate
the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death
(Parinibbana)
THE ACTIVITIES
In Thailand, as a Buddhist country with His Majesty the
King as the Upholder of all Religions, this auspicious day is
celebrated throughout the country. Religious flags are flown.
Religious ceremonies and merit makings are performed
countrywide. Meanwhile, in the countryside people will wake
up in the early morning to prepare food and sweets for monks,
and at dawn they walk in a long line to the nearby temple
where they will spend the greater part of the day in religious
activities.
THE ACTIVITIES
The activities are usually centred around the
temple where they attend sermons during the day and
in the evening take part in the candle-lit procession
that circumambulates the main chapel three times. In
the procession, each person carries flowers, three
incense sticks and a lighted candle in remembrance of
the Triple Gems (The Buddha, His Teaching and His
disciples).
THE ACTIVITIES
On this occasion, a grand religious ceremony is also
held at Phuttha Monthon in Nakhon Pathom Province
where the statue of the Walking Buddha is located. Here the
candle-lit procession is usually led by a member of the royal
family. Buddhists from nearby and other provinces come to
take part in the procession and some of them may take the
time off to purify their minds through the practice of
meditation and listening to the sermons.
REFERENCE
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http://www.etcband.net/v3/webboard/show.php?id=7
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