Why do we celebrate Bodhi Day? History and Importance of the day

Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday that celebrates the day that Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni) experienced bodhi (enlightenment). In Japan, Bodhi Day (Rōhatsu (臘八)) has been celebrated on December 8 since the introduction of the Gregorian calendar.

Bodhi day is seen as a holiday and celebration that remembers the day when Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment. The day is celebrated with various names internationally in Buddhism-following nations. As per the popularly known legends, Gautama Buddha sat under a peepal tree and meditated for years to discover the reason for misery in human life and solutions to it. Numerous Mahayana Buddhism following fans and nations praise this day.

Devotees reaffirm confidence, empathy, and consideration towards fellow humans and spend the day praying and wishing others. For the most part, the day is celebrated on December 8 internationally as individuals believe that it is a similar date when Gautama Buddha got enlightened in 596 BC, yet the celebration date actually may change country wise.

As per custom, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extraordinary ascetic practices and made plans to sit under a peepal tree, otherwise called a Bodhi tree (Ficus Religiosa), and essentially meditate until he found the root of suffering, and how to liberate oneself from it.

As indicated by Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama (the historical Buddha) achieved enlightenment at 35 years old following 49 days of meditation under a sacred fig tree, presently known as the Bodhi tree. Gautama found the reason for anguish and understood the means important to free oneself from it. Buddha’s enlightenment is believed to have happened in the 5th or 12th lunar month.

In Japan, Bodhi Day is otherwise called Rōhatsu or Rōhachi. It was initially celebrated on the 8th day of the 12th month of the lunisolar calendar. At the point when Emperor Meiji started the westernization of Japan and presented the Gregorian calendar, the celebration was moved to December 8.

In Japanese, the word literally implies the 8th day of the twelfth month. It is ordinary for Zen priests and layperson supporters to remain up the whole night before Rōhatsu practicing meditation, and the holiday is often preceded by an intensive sesshin. It is seen on the Gregorian date of December 8 because of the Westernization of Japan during the Meiji Restoration (1862–1869). In Tendai and other Japanese groups, it is called either Shaka-Jōdō-e (釈迦成道会) or basically Jōdō-e (成道会).

This one extremely important occasion would become the central establishment whereupon Buddhism has been based upon for the last 2,500 years. It is a day on which supporters can renew their dedication to Buddhism; reaffirm themselves to enlightenment, sympathy, and consideration to other living animals; furthermore, comprehend the importance of this religion as it applies to the modern world.

Who was Siddhartha Gautama?

Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, is famously known as the Buddha. Siddhartha, when an Indian Prince, eventually relinquished his life of luxury for a lot easier one. Many believe that Siddhartha made plans to sit underneath a Bodhi tree and meditate until he found the root of suffering and how to liberate himself from it.

It took 49 days of unbroken meditation. In the wake of getting enlightened and experiencing Nirvana, Siddhartha became a Buddha, or “Awakened One.” For 2,500 years, Buddha’s enlightenment has served as the central inhabitant of the Buddhist faith.

The Bodhi tree grows close to the banks of the Falgu River in Gaya, India. Additionally situated there is a Buddhist temple. Buddhists think of it as their most holy site of the journey.

The Enlightenment of Buddha

2500 years back, a youthful Indian prince named Siddharta Gautama deserted his austere lifestyle – which he had recently received when he relinquished his life of luxury – sat underneath a Bodhi tree with the one objective of looking for genuine enlightenment. This youthful prince at that point confronted a stunning inward journey that tried him to his very core and had him go head to head against demons – both literal and figurative ones. Following exceptional meditation, he had the option to perceive how everybody and everything was associated and thusly, arrived at a state of enlightenment. Enlightenment that would lead him to make the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path. It is this enlightenment that Bodhi Day celebrates.

The Bodhi Tree

A Bodhi tree is a very old sacred tree that has a place with the family Ficus religiosa and can be found in Bodh Gaya. In religious iconography, the leaves of this tree are quite often represented as being heart-shaped. And keeping in mind that the tree in Bodh Gaya is the one that is regularly referred to when talking about Buddha’s enlightenment, there are different trees in different spots which have a significance in Buddhism. For instance, there is likewise a Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Bodhi Day History

Siddhartha Gautama, who later in life became the founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini (which is currently in Nepal) to an honorable family of Kshatriyas in 563 BC. His dad Suddhodhana was the king of the Shakya tribe and he gave Siddhartha a very sumptuous and agreeable childhood.

Siddhartha once went on a visit through his kingdom and saw individuals experiencing neediness and illness which strongly affected him. At 29 years old, he left his family and kingdom looking for truth and solutions for these torments. For 6 years, he traveled and meditated, and afterward at last in Bodhgaya, he accomplished enlightenment.

A few Buddhists observe Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death all on one day. They call the celebration Vesak and follow the lunar calendar to get ready for the recognition. Mahayana Buddhists in China, Korea, and Vietnam separate Vesak into three separate holy days. One of the three days incorporates Buddha’s enlightenment or Bodhi Day. Mahayana Buddhists observe Bodhi Day on the 8th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar, which implies the dates change from year to year.

In Japan, notwithstanding, Bodhi Day follows the Gregorian calendar. This is on account of Emperor Meiji, who started the westernization of Japan when he administered from 1867 to 1912. Every year, Bodhi Day in Japan is celebrated on December 8th. It’s not understood what year it became a day of celebration.

Bodhgaya is a town in Bihar, India. The place is visited on extraordinary events like Bodhi Day, Buddha Purnima, and more by aficionados and tourists from over the globe. Bodhgaya is additionally home to the popular Bodhi tree under which Buddha meditated.

Bodhi Day is definitely not an official holiday in Japan. It is praised simply by Buddhists, who involve about 34% of the country’s population. Zen priests usually remain up the whole night before the celebration meditating. The traditions of celebration may change, however, the most widely recognized ones incorporate meditation, reciting of sutras, performing acts of kindness, and so on.

Bodhi Day can be celebrated in various manners. Often, Buddhist homes will have ficus religiousa tree that they decorate with beads and multi-colored lights – much similarly that Christians decorate their Christmas trees. They will likewise put on reflective ornaments that represent the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. A few people will go through the day meditate on the life of Buddha. Others will visit stupas (shrines). In certain homes, Buddhists will serve special cookies formed like Bodhi trees or their heart-shaped leaves.