PUSAT FURNITURE KANTOR
"Vesak Day Significance for Buddhists - Happy Vesak Day"
Waisak Day is also known as Visakah Puja or Buddha Purnima in "India" "Tibet" "Malaysia" "Singapore", Visakha Bucha "Thailand" "Sri Lanka". This name is derived from the Pali language "Wesakha", which in turn is also related to "Waishakha" from "Sanskrit". In some places, it is also referred to as "Buddha Day".
Every year, the Waisak holiday falls on a different date, but generally in May or depending on the marking of the Buddhist calendar or Buddhist Era (BE). It is celebrated in May during the full moon (purnama sidhi) to commemorate 3 (three) important events, namely:
- The Birth Prince Siddharta
- Prince Siddharta attained Enlightenment and became Bodh Gaya) at the age of 35 in the year 588 B.C.
- Buddha Gautama parinibbana (passed away) in "Kusinara" at the age of 80 in the year 543 B.C.
These three events are called "Trisuci Waisak". The decision to celebrate this Trisuci was stated at the first World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) conference in "Sri Lanka" in "1950". This celebration is held on the first "Purnama" in the month of May.
Waisak itself is the name of one of the months in the Ancient Indian calendar.
In the Buddhist tradition "Mahayana", the Waisak day comes from , वैशाख (Vaiśākha), and originates from its variants. Vesākha is known by the name Vesak or ;(衛塞節) in Sinhala.
- The series of national Waisak celebrations is primarily as follows:The taking of blessed water from spring (umbul) Jumprit in , "Grobogan Regency".
- a ritual of offering food donations to the bhikkhus/"Monks"; by the community (the devotees) to provide an opportunity for the community to perform good deeds.
- Samadhi pada the peak moments of the full moon. The determination of the full moon is based on astronomical calculations, so the peak of the full moon can occur during the day.
"Before discussing the events and the meaning of each activity carried out on the Waisak holiday, Grameds needs to know the history of Waisak first. Here is an explanation of the history of the Waisak holiday."
Photo Credit : Kompas Travel
Waisak is a festival celebrated by Buddhists to commemorate Buddha Gautama, the Great Teacher or Spiritual Teacher, around the 5th century BC.
Buddha Gautama is also known as Siddhartha Gautama, who was born as a teacher and had the thought that luxury and wealth do not guarantee a person's happiness.
Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree located in Bodh Gaya, and that tree is now a historical site for Buddhism in India. Buddha Gautama himself is said to have wandered as a homeless person and learned to meditate for approximately six years.
"On that journey, the Buddha always learned and practiced the life of asceticism, which is a life without worldly pleasures in order to gain spiritual benefits."
Photo Credit: Borobudur News
"After achieving perfect enlightenment, Buddha Gautama then taught others to follow the path to freedom from all ignorance, to be free from all desires, and to be reborn after suffering."
Then, in 1950, Sri Lanka held the first conference on the World Fellowship of Buddhists; to decide on the celebration of Vesak as the birthday of the Buddha in several countries simultaneously.
A brief history of the life of Buddha Gautama ultimately becomes an important value and history for Buddhists, such as the birth towards perfect enlightenment and the journey of the death of Buddha Gautama.
The Buddha has spread Buddhism throughout the world, but in each country, the way of celebration and the timing of the Waisak day varies.
Meaning of Waisak Day
As previously explained, the Waisak celebration not only commemorates the birth and death of the Buddha. However, there is a meaning behind this celebration. The meaning of Waisak day is related to three events known as the Trisuci Waisak. Here is the explanation.
1. The Birth of Siddhartha Gautama
The first meaning of the Waisak holiday is the birth of Siddharta Gautama. Siddharta Gautama was a prince and the son of a king, namely King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya. Siddharta was born in the Lumbini Garden in 623 Before Christ (BC).
The birth of Siddhartha Gautama took place in the Lumbini Garden in 423 BC, and at the time of Siddhartha Gautama's birth, he was born clean without any blemish, and he was able to stand upright and walk immediately, unlike most newborns.
The situation of Siddhartha Gautama's birth into the world marks that the prince will become the future Buddha who will attain the highest happiness.
2. Siddhartha Gautama attained the Great Enlightenment
The second meaning of the Waisak holiday is the Great Enlightenment attained by Siddharta Gautama. After Siddharta was born, the leader of Asita Kaladewala predicted that in the future, Siddharta Gautama would become a World Emperor or Chakrawatin.
After the moment of birth, at the age of 35, Siddhartha Gautama attained the Great Enlightenment, and then he became the Buddha in Bodh Gaya when the month of Waisak arrived.
Then for 45 years, during which he received the Great Enlightenment, the Buddha Gautama then wandered to spread the truth, also known as Dharma.
3. Parinibbana
The third meaning of the Waisak celebration is Parinibbana. The death of the Buddha Gautama occurred in 543 BC when the Buddha was 80 years old. In honor of the Buddha's passing, his followers performed prostrations as a final tribute to the Buddha.
Then, from the three important events, a conference was held in Sri Lanka in 1950 and the Waisak festival was subsequently established to be celebrated every year in May or when the full moon occurs.
Because it is celebrated during the full moon, the date of the Waisak holiday commemoration can change every year, but the month remains the same, which is in May.
Buddhist communities in each region have different traditions in celebrating Waisak day. However, one thing is certain, that the Waisak celebration takes place in several Asian countries, such as North Korea, South Korea, India, and Thailand.
According to the Borobudur Conservation Center, the tradition of Buddhists celebrating the Waisak holiday at Borobudur Temple has been carried out since 1929. The celebration is synonymous with the moment of releasing thousands of paper lanterns into the sky.
Usually, Buddhists will go to their local temples and some will stay at the temple all day until the full moon arrives. They will also do many good deeds, meditate, reflect on the teachings of Buddha, bring offerings to the temple, and various foods to other people.
Some Buddhist families usually also decorate their homes with lanterns. They will also perform rituals and wear white clothing. Not only that, Buddhists will also exchange greetings with friends and family on the Vesak holiday.
In addition to celebrating Waisak with festivals and ceremonies, Buddhists usually also perform the Bathing the Buddha ceremony on Waisak day. This ceremony commemorates the moment when water flows over the shoulders of the Buddha, with the aim of reminding people to purify their minds from all negative thoughts, such as hatred and greed.
This celebration will be initiated by Theosophical Society of the Dutch East Indies, which has among its members a mix of Europeans and Javanese nobility.
Previously, the celebration of Waisak at Borobudur was temporarily halted during the Indonesian independence revolution. In addition, the celebration was also paused due to restoration work in 1973. During the restoration period, the Waisak celebration was moved to Mendut Temple.
The Indonesian nation is a pluralistic nation and becoming a unity is a shared aspiration. Borobudur Temple serves as one of the main images for the identity of the nation, thus it is entitled to be owned and utilized by all members of society. Borobudur Temple was long not functioned as a center for religious activities after it was built around the 8th and 9th centuries. However, the tradition of the Waisak celebration has become evidence of tolerance and efforts to appreciate and respect the existing differences.
On the Waisak holiday, Buddhists not only celebrate the festival but also honor and reflect on the qualities of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Not only do they engage in reflection, but Buddhists also honor their ancestors, including Buddha Gautama, who spread the Dharma or truth.
"Usually, during the Waisak day, Buddhists will hold a service at the temple or vihara, and the duration of the service will be longer compared to a regular service day."
"After the three stages or processes of the Waisak holiday, pradaksina is also performed."
Pradaksina or parikrama is an activity performed as a form of respect by circling a worship object such as a stupa, Buddha Pratima, or the Bodhi tree, done three times. This act of respect should be accompanied by walking meditation in a clockwise direction. When performing pradaksina, participants must be accompanied by others, with the aim of keeping their position always on the right side of the worship object.
Pradaksina is concluded by placing a paper lotus flower at the edge of the temple. Pradaksina is performed to circle the reliefs and stupas of the temple, which symbolize high goodness, especially during the holy month of Vesak, the day when Buddhists perform good deeds repeatedly and gain wisdom many times over.
The pradaksina ceremony can also be interpreted as a ritual that has faults, so those faults can be purified by performing a ritual. Pradaksina is not just a ritual, but it also has benefits for Buddhists, namely by achieving perfection or covering up faults when feeling that they have not performed worship perfectly.
In the belief of Buddhists, circumambulating a temple that contains reliefs and stupas has been explained in a sacred text called the Tripitaka. Walking around the temple three times in a clockwise direction signifies the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, or the teachings of the Buddha that need to be emulated.
Before performing the pradaksina ritual, thousands of Buddhists coming from various regions will participate in a series of rituals leading up to Waisak, which will be held in front of the altar located to the west of the temple.
The moments of Waisak take place depending on the results of astronomical calculations. A series of rituals during the moments of Waisak include bhikkhus from various sanghas and sects within Buddhism who also recite prayers.
Indonesia is a country that upholds religious tolerance, the Indonesian government guarantees the rights of 5 officially recognized religions including Buddhism.
#OSCARLIVING #OLIV #BELANJAFURNITUREJADIMUDAH #FURNITUREJAKARTA #INDONESIABAIK #CARIFURNITURE #FURNITUREKANTOR #PUSATFURNITUREKANTOR #KURSIKANTOR #PTOSCARMITRASUKSESSEJAHTERATBK #jalanjalanbersamaoliv #kelilingdunia #travelling #Traveltheworld #jalanjalan #Keberlanjutan #sustainability #buddha #vesakday #harirayawaisak #borobudur #candiborobudur #lampion
Source : Wikipedia - Gramedia
Leave a comment