Buddha Purnima | 12 May 2025

Why in News? 

Bihar Chief Minister highlights the importance of Lord Buddha's teachings and extends greetings on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. 

Key Points 

  • About Gautam Buddha: 
    • Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini around 563 BCE and belonged to the Shakya clan. 
    • Gautama attained bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar. 
    • Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. This event is known as Dharmachakra Pravartan (the turning of the wheel of law). 
    • He died in 483 BC at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. This event is known as Mahaparinirvana. 
    • He is revered as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of the deity. 

Buddhism