Buddha Purnima (Vesak)
🗓️ Vaishakh Purnima (Apr–May)
The story behind Buddha Purnima (Vesak)
Buddha Purnima falls on Vaishakh Purnima and marks three events tradition places on one tithi: the birth of Siddhartha at Lumbini, his enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, and his mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar. Known internationally as Vesak, it is a gazetted holiday in India and is observed at Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Sanchi with recitation, circumambulation and the offering of lamps. In the Vaishnava reckoning the Buddha is counted among the ten avatars of Bhagwan Vishnu, and many households keep the day with charity and abstention from meat.
Buddha Purnima (Vesak) Puja Vidhi
- 1
Snana & Vrata Sankalpa
Bathe early, wear white, and take the sankalpa of ahimsa for the day — abstention from meat and from harm in speech.
- 2
Deep & Pushpa Arpan
Offer lamps, incense and white flowers before an image of the Buddha, and circumambulate a stupa or bodhi tree where one is accessible.
- 3
Path & Dhyana
Recite or listen to the Dhammapada or the Triratna, and sit in meditation for as long as your practice allows.
- 4
Dana & Seva
Offer food, water or medicine to those in need, and water the roots of a bodhi or peepal tree — dana being the practice the day most emphasises.
Buddha Purnima (Vesak) Mantra
बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि। धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि। सङ्घं शरणं गच्छामि॥
Meaning
I go to the Buddha for refuge; I go to the Dharma for refuge; I go to the Sangha for refuge — the Triratna, the three refuges.
How to chant
Recited three times at the start of the day's observance, before the lamp offering.