Buddha's Birthday and Related Topics

Gautama Buddha

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Ascetic and spiritual teacher of South Asia who lived during the latter half of the first millennium BCE.

Seated Buddha from Tapa Shotor monastery in Hadda, Afghanistan, 2nd century CE

Ancient kingdoms and cities of India during the time of the Buddha (c. 500 BCE)

Inscription "The illumination of the Blessed Sakamuni" (Brahmi script: 𑀪𑀕𑀯𑀢𑁄 𑀲𑀓𑀫𑀼𑀦𑀺𑀦𑁄 𑀩𑁄𑀥𑁄, Bhagavato Sakamunino Bodho) on a relief showing the "empty" Illumination Throne of the Buddha in the early Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya. Bharhut, c. 100 BCE.

One of the earliest anthropomorphic representations of the Buddha, here surrounded by Brahma (left) and Śakra (right). Bimaran Casket, mid-1st century CE, British Museum.

Māyā miraculously giving birth to Siddhārtha. Sanskrit, palm-leaf manuscript. Nālandā, Bihar, India. Pāla period

The legendary Jataka collections depict the Buddha-to-be in a previous life prostrating before the past Buddha Dipankara, making a resolve to be a Buddha, and receiving a prediction of future Buddhahood.

Map showing Lumbini and other major Buddhist sites in India. Lumbini (present-day Nepal), is the birthplace of the Buddha, and is a holy place also for many non-Buddhists.

The Lumbini pillar contains an inscription stating that this is the Buddha's birthplace

The "Great Departure" of Siddhartha Gautama, surrounded by a halo, he is accompanied by numerous guards and devata who have come to pay homage; Gandhara, Kushan period

Prince Siddhartha shaves his hair and becomes a sramana. Borobudur, 8th century

The gilded "Emaciated Buddha statue" in Wat Suthat in Bangkok representing the stage of his asceticism

The Mahabodhi Tree at the Sri Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya

The Enlightenment Throne of the Buddha at Bodh Gaya, as recreated by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE.

Miracle of the Buddha walking on the River Nairañjanā. The Buddha is not visible (aniconism), only represented by a path on the water, and his empty throne bottom right. Sanchi.

Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath, India, site of the first teaching of the Buddha in which he taught the Four Noble Truths to his first five disciples

The chief disciples of the Buddha, Mogallana (chief in psychic power) and Sariputta (chief in wisdom).

The remains of a section of Jetavana Monastery, just outside of ancient Savatthi, in Uttar Pradesh.

Mahāprajāpatī, the first bhikkuni and Buddha's stepmother, ordains

This East Javanese relief depicts the Buddha in his final days, and Ānanda, his chief attendant.

Mahaparinirvana, Gandhara, 3rd or 4th century CE, gray schist

Mahaparinibbana scene, from the Ajanta caves

Buddha's cremation stupa, Kushinagar (Kushinara).

Piprahwa vase with relics of the Buddha. The inscription reads: ...salilanidhane Budhasa Bhagavate... (Brahmi script: ...𑀲𑀮𑀺𑀮𑀦𑀺𑀥𑀸𑀦𑁂 𑀩𑀼𑀥𑀲 𑀪𑀕𑀯𑀢𑁂...) "Relics of the Buddha Lord".

The Bodhisattva meets with Alara Kalama, Borobudur relief.

Gandharan Buddhist birchbark scroll fragments

Buddha meets a Brahmin, at the Indian Museum, Kolkata

Schist Buddha statue with the famed Ye Dharma Hetu dhāraṇī around the head, which was used as a common summary of Dependent Origination. It states: "Of those experiences that arise from a cause, The Tathāgata has said: 'this is their cause, And this is their cessation': This is what the Great Śramaṇa teaches."

Gandharan sculpture depicting the Buddha in the full lotus seated meditation posture, 2nd-3rd century CE

Buddha Statues from Gal Vihara. The Early Buddhist texts also mention meditation practice while standing and lying down.

The Buddha on a coin of Kushan ruler Kanishka I, c. 130 CE.

Buddhist monks from Nepal. According to the earliest sources, the Buddha looked like a typical shaved man from northeast India.

A Royal Couple Visits the Buddha, from railing of the Bharhut Stupa, Shunga dynasty, early 2nd century BC.

Adoration of the Diamond Throne and the Bodhi Tree, Bharhut.

Descent of the Buddha from the Trayastrimsa Heaven, Sanchi Stupa No. 1.

The Buddha's Miracle at Kapilavastu, Sanchi Stupa 1.

Bimbisara visiting the Buddha (represented as empty throne) at the Bamboo garden in Rajagriha

The great departure with riderless horse, Amaravati, 2nd century CE.

The Assault of Mara, Amaravati, 2nd century CE.

Isapur Buddha, one of the earliest physical depictions of the Buddha, c. 15 CE.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Quintanilla |first1=Sonya Rhie |title=History of Early Stone Sculpture at Mathura: Ca. 150 BCE – 100 CE |date=2007 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=9789004155374 |pages=199–206, 204 for the exact date |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X7Cb8IkZVSMC&pg=PA204}}</ref> Art of Mathura

The Buddha attended by Indra at Indrasala Cave, Mathura 50-100 CE.

Buddha Preaching in Tushita Heaven. Amaravati, Satavahana period, 2d century CE. Indian Museum, Calcutta.

Gandharan Buddha with Vajrapani-Herakles.

Birth of the Buddha, Kushan dynasty, late 2nd to early 3rd century CE.

The Infant Buddha Taking A Bath, Gandhara 2nd century CE.

Sarnath standing Buddha, 5th century CE.

Chinese Stele with Sakyamuni and Bodhisattvas, Wei period, 536 CE.

The Shakyamuni Daibutsu Bronze, c. 609, Nara, Japan.

Amaravati style Buddha of Srivijaya period, Palembang, Indonesia, 7th century.

Korean Seokguram Cave Buddha, c. 774 CE.

Seated Buddha Vairocana flanked by Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani of Mendut temple, Central Java, Indonesia, early 9th century.

Buddha in the exposed stupa of Borobudur mandala, Central Java, Indonesia, c. 825.

Vairocana Buddha of Srivijaya style, Southern Thailand, 9th century.

Seated Buddha, Japan, Heian period, 9th－10th century.

Cambodian Buddha with Mucalinda Nāga, c. 1100 CE, Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia

Sakyamuni, Lao Tzu, and Confucius, c. from 1368 until 1644.

Shakyamuni Buddha with Avadana Legend Scenes, Tibetan, 19th century

Gautama statue, Shanyuan Temple, Liaoning Province, China.

Burmese style Buddha, Shwedagon pagoda, Yangon.

Large Gautama Buddha statue in Buddha Park of Ravangla.

Buddha's Birthday is called Buddha Purnima in Nepal, Bangladesh, and India as he is believed to have been born on a full moon day.

Vesak

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Holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia as well as Tibet and Mongolia.

Queen Maya holds onto a branch of a tree while giving birth to the Buddha, who is received by Śakra as other gods look on.

Vesak is celebrated in Jetavana, India, 2011

Vesak Day celebration in Borobudur temple, Indonesia

People thronged to the Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple during the Wesak Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Burmese Buddhist devotees traditionally water Bodhi trees to mark Vesak.

Burmese Buddhist devotees converge on a Bodhi tree in preparation for watering.

Lotus Lantern Festival (연등회, Yeon Deung Hoe) in Seoul, South Korea

In the East Asian tradition, a celebration of Buddha's Birthday typically occurs around the traditional timing of Vesak, while the Buddha's awakening and passing away are celebrated as separate holidays that occur at other times in the calendar as Bodhi Day and Nibbāna Day.

Bodh Gaya

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Religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar.

The Bodhi Tree under which Gautama Buddha is said to have obtained Enlightenment

Mahabodhi temple, built under the Gupta Empire, 6th century CE.

Illustration of the temple built by Asoka at Bodh-Gaya around the Bodhi tree. Sculpture of the Satavahana period at Sanchi, 1st century CE.

Over time, the place became known as Bodh Gaya, the day of enlightenment as Buddha Purnima, and the tree as the Bodhi Tree.

Vaisakha

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Month of the Hindu calendar that corresponds to April/May in the Gregorian Calendar.

Vaisakha Purnima is celebrated as Buddha Purnima or the birthday of Gautama Buddha amongst Buddhists of South and Southeast Asia, Tibet and Mongolia.

Purnima

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Word for full moon in Sanskrit.

Buddha Purnima, the day of birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha, on the full moon day of Vaishakha. Kurma Jayanti is also celebrated on the day.

Yeondeunghoe

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Yeondeunghoe is a lantern-lighting festival in Korea celebrating the Buddha's Birthday.

Details of the Song Dynasty painting "One Hundred Children Playing in the Spring" (百子嬉春图页) by Su Hanchen (苏汉臣) showing children performing the lion dance.

Lion dance

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Form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume to bring good luck and fortune.

Japanese illustration of a Lion Dance that some argued represents the Tang Dynasty lion dance described by Bai Juyi. The original painting is dated to the Heian period.

Cantonese lion dance troupe holding a Rui shi (瑞狮;, "auspicious lion") sign in the late 19th century.

Lion dance at Hok San Association in Singapore

A Cantonese Guan Gong (Kwan Kung) lion ushers in the Chinese New Year in Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City (USA).

Lion dance at the Triều Khúc village festival in Hanoi

Vietnamese unicorn dance performance at Duyet Thi Duong, Huế

A Japanese lion dance performed in Sakurai, Nara by a single person accompanied by flute and drum musicians

Lion dance of Minagi shrine in Asakura, Fukuoka

Tibetan Snow Lion Dance, Bodhgaya, India

Sisingaan lion dance performance during 2018 Asian Games opening ceremony.

Lettuce being offered to a lion, and a Big Head Buddha at the start of a Lion Dance during a Chinese New Year festival in Boston's Chinatown.

A lion pouring Chinese Tea during DimSum service in Toronto, Ontario.

Chinese lion dance performing a "cai qing" where the "greens" are hung high above for the lion to pluck.

Lion dance in competition may be performed on a series of small circular platforms on poles similar to the ones shown here.

It is thought to have been imported from China during the Tang Dynasty, and became associated with the celebration of Buddha's Birthday.

Big Mikoshi "Yatai" Parade on Miki Autumn Harvest Festival In Miki, Hyogo

Japanese festivals

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Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions often celebrated with dance and music in Japan.

Mikoshi fighting on "Nada no Kenka matsuri" In Himeji

Stalls selling food or toys are a familiar sight at festivals throughout Japan

"Wakakusa Yamayaki" An annual festival during which the grass on the hillside of Mount Wakakusayama is set on fire.

Hanami party along the Sakai River in Beppu, Oita

Hanamatsuri: Flower Festival (April 8)

Yunnori, traditional Korean game on Seollal

List of Korean traditional festivals

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Korean traditional festivals (Hangul: 한국전통축제, Hanja: 韓國傳統祝祭) are the national and local festivals that have continued among Korean people throughout their long history.

Chopail (8th day)

Mother's Day

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Celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, the site of the first Mother's Day service of worship in 1908; it serves as the International Mother's Day Shrine.

Northern Pacific Railway postcard for Mother's Day 1916.

Mother and daughter and Mother's Day card

Commemorative gold medal issued in the Pahlavi era on the occasion of Mother's Day, dated 1975. Obv: Bust of Empress Farah Pahlavi. Rev: Mother and children standing around a seated Farah Pahlavi, holding open book

Balloons outside, in the week before Mother's Day 2008

Prince Harry, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden helping children create Mother's Day cards at the White House, 9 May 2013

In Taiwan, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of the month of May, coinciding with Buddha's birthday and the traditional ceremony of "washing the Buddha".

A report on Buddha's Birthday

15 related topics with Alpha

Gautama Buddha

Vesak

Bodh Gaya

Vaisakha

Purnima

Yeondeunghoe

Lion dance

Japanese festivals

List of Korean traditional festivals

Mother's Day