Gautam Buddha Teachings: Along with Baishakh, Buddha Purnima is being celebrated across the country today. It is a very sacred and spiritual festival. This day witnesses the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Gautam Buddha, hence it is not just a festival but also a day that shows the right path to humanity. This is the 2588th birth anniversary of Mahatma Buddha. It is believed that on this day, any devotee who worships Lord Buddha properly and reads his story attains happiness and prosperity in life. Not only this, all the troubles are removed.According to the Drik Panchang, the full moon date began at 9:12 PM on April 30th and will end at 10:52 PM today. During this time, Lord Buddha's birth anniversary is being celebrated across the country.Buddha Purnima StoryLong ago, King Shuddhodhan and Queen Maya Devi of Kapilvastu were blessed with a son. Astrologers predicted that the child would either become a great king or a great saint. The king tried his best to shield him from the world's sorrows, but one day, Siddhartha ventured outside and saw four visions: an old man, a sick man, a dead body, and a monk. These visions shook his mind. He realized that suffering is inevitable in life. He then left the palace and began his search for truth. After years of rigorous austerity, he attained enlightenment while meditating under a peepal tree in Bodh Gaya. At that moment, he became Gautama Buddha. He taught the world the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which even today offer a path to a simple and peaceful life.According to the calendar, Buddha is considered the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu in North India, while Lord Krishna is considered the 8th incarnation. In South Indian belief, Buddha has never been considered an incarnation of Vishnu. In South India, Balarama is considered the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and Krishna the 9th. Balarama is considered an incarnation of Vishnu by the majority of Vaishnavite movements. Even Buddhists do not consider Buddha an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.Three major pilgrimage sites associated with Gautam BuddhaGautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal. He was named Siddhartha Gautama. He later became Gautam Buddha and became a spiritual leader whose teachings influenced people and led to the founding of Buddhism. For those involved in Buddhism, Bodh Gaya is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites related to Gautam Buddha's life. Besides Bodh Gaya, Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath are three other major pilgrimage sites. It is said that Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya and first taught the Dharma in Sarnath.
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