Context:
Millions of Buddhists worldwide celebrated Buddha Purnima
Buddha Purnima:
- The day falls on the Poornima (full moon) of the Hindu month Vaishakha (April or May).
- It marks the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha
- Calculated based on the lunisolar calendars prevalent in Asia.
- Major festival in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
Gautam Buddha:
- Born in – 563 BCE, in Lumbini (Nepal)
- His family belonged to the Sakya clan which ruled from Kapilvastu, Lumbini.
- At the age of 29, Gautama left home and rejected his life of riches and embraced a lifestyle of asceticism or extreme self-discipline.
- Attained Nirvana (enlightenment) under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya, Bihar.
- 1st sermon – Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh
- Known as Dharma Chakra Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
- Died in – 483 BCE at Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh.
- The event is known as Mahaparinibban or Mahaparinirvana.
- He is believed to be the 8th of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu (Dashavatar)
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts:
1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Nettipakaraṇa is related to Buddhism’s Pali Canon. Hence, option 1 is not correct.
The Avadanashataka or “Century of Noble Deeds” is an anthology in Sanskrit which contains some collection of Buddhist narratives compiled from the second to fifth centuries CE. Hence, option 3 is not correct.
