Buddha
Context: The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu sent greetings on the eve of Buddha Purnima.
Important Pointers:
► Birth: Born as Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, Nepal, in 563 BCE. ► Family: Belonged to the Sakya clan; father was Suddhodana, ruler of Kapilavastu. ► Mother: Maya Devi.
Symbols
Associated with
Places
Lotus and Bull
Birth – The Buddha was born.
Lumbini
Horse
Mahabhinishkramana (Renunciation) – Buddha left his palace to seek enlightenment.
Kapilavastu
Bodhi tree
Nirvana/Sambodini (Enlightenment) – Buddha achieved enlightenment under a Bodhi tree.
Bodh Gaya
Wheel
Dharmachakra Pravartana (First Sermon) – Buddha’s first sermon in the Deer Park.
Sarnath
Stupa
Mahaparinirvana (Moksha) – Buddha died at the age of 80 in Kushinagar.
Kushinagar
► Four Noble Truths: Life is full of suffering (Dukkha); The Cause of suffering is desire (Trishna); The End of suffering is possible (Nirodha); Follow the Eightfold Path to end suffering.
► Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marga): Right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration.
► Three Jewels (Triratnas): Buddha, Dhamma (teachings), and Sangha (monastic community).
►Buddhist Councils
Council
Place
Ruler
Significance
1st
Rajgriha
Ajatashatru
Compilation of teachings
2nd
Vaishali
Kalashoka
Division into Sthaviravadins & Mahasanghikas
3rd
Pataliputra
Ashoka
Patronage to Buddhism; spread to Sri Lanka
4th
Kashmir
Kanishka (Kushan)
Rise of Mahayana Buddhism