What religious holidays are celebrated in Buddhism? Rites and rituals of Buddhism are unusual traditions of the East.

Hello, dear readers - seekers of knowledge and truth!

Buddhist philosophy, like any other religion, is associated with special traditions and customs. In today's article, we will talk about the rites and rituals of Buddhism, and also tell about how the followers of the Buddha celebrate the holidays.

Ritual part of religion

Next comes the burial, which should also take place according to special rules, accompanied by the illumination of the grave, the singing of mantras. People believe that this will help to avoid new victims in the family and will put the soul of the loved one to rest.

Visiting temples

The Buddhist faith is inseparable from visiting temples. Services are held here according to the lunar calendar, which can be considered traditional: the days of the new and full moon have special power. But this does not cancel the weekly and even daily services.

The believer comes to the sanctuary, where a mandatory attribute is a statue of Buddha, seated with a serene half-smile. Here and there are images of other deities, mythical creatures. The worshiper takes off his shoes, sits down, bows and communicates with the divine in his own way.

The monastery is filled with the spirit of peace, the sweet smell of incense and the whisper of mantras as a musical accompaniment to unity with the gods. Offerings to them and to the monks are considered an inseparable part of the visit. Often there are those who are able to convey a prayer amplified hundreds of thousands of times.

But even outside the walls of the temple, a person is accompanied by his faith. The Buddhist cult is expressed by meditations, rituals at the home altar, reading sacred literature. During vows, the essence of which is similar to fasting, Buddhists try to limit themselves in food, lead more ascetic image life, nourish your mind with bright thoughts - do everything to get as close as possible to harmony within yourself and in the outside world.

Holidays

For Buddhists, a holiday is not a day of excesses, as Westerners often embody this event. Even in English, the holiday is “holy day”, which means “holy day” in translation. And the supporters of the Buddha do not forget about this for a minute.

They know that the energy of this day is special, and any action - good or bad - increases its strength, its impact on the world around it. Cleanliness is what the soul needs today more than ever, so people try to visit the temple, pray, turn with thanksgiving, supported by offerings, to deities, monks and to each other.

The celebration results in the celebration of life, the joint reading of mantras, religious texts, in chanting, playing on loved ones. musical instruments, appeal to cult objects. Especially widely, reverently celebrated Vesak , or Visakha Puja - the birthday, enlightenment and departure to nirvana of the Awakened.

It is interesting! There are three main developments in the direction of the Mahayana life path Buddhas are celebrated on different days, while in all other schools, including Theravada, they fall on the same day. Therefore, it is celebrated with a special scale.

Vesak is usually celebrated in May. Throughout the week, crowds of believers flock to the temples, where prayers are held day and night, and the abbots tell exciting stories about the path of the Buddha and his faithful disciples.

At this moment, everything is illuminated with light, which symbolizes the enlightenment of the Teacher: candles are burning near the stupas, and monasteries, streets and even houses are decorated with paper lanterns.

A distinctive feature lies in the fact that they depend on the lunar calendar, so they "jump" from year to year. Because of this, the work of local astrologers is so important, who constantly calculate the dates of upcoming events and make forecasts.

rituals

In Buddhist practice, rituals are often used that European people have not heard of. Despite this, the representatives of the West endlessly believe in the effectiveness of these methods, so they take them extremely seriously. Their names may vary from direction to direction, but the basis remains unshakable.

We have chosen the main, most interesting, in our opinion, rituals, and we will talk a little about them:

Mangyn Zasal

Buddhist philosophy claims that every nine years a person faces a kind of crisis, for example, at the 18th, 27th, 36th, 45th year of life, and so on. To avoid stagnation and trouble at this age, it is worth resorting to the help of llamas.

First you need to collect nine special stones and bring it to the llama. He, in turn, will perform a ceremony over them, read special prayers, and bless them with a good breath. After that, you will need to throw stones on different sides, as the monk says.

Tchaptui

If a person is often sick or fails at every step, then his energy is polluted. And here, too, mantras will help. To do this, you need a special vessel filled with water. After reading the prayer many times - thousands, maybe a million times - the water will become endowed with healing properties and wash away all bad energy.

Mandal Shiva

This ritual helps a lot with any undertakings - the miracle of birth, the creation of a new family, the construction of a home. Green Tara, a goddess known for her benevolence, is responsible for this. However, in order to deserve it, one should make offerings to her in the form of flowers, incense sticks, sweet water, food, light, as well as give a 37-link mandala and recite special mantras.

Conclusion

Buddhist tradition unique and multifaceted, which is further confirmed by numerous ritual ceremonies. They may seem mysterious and unusual, but, interestingly, they work, you just have to believe.

Thank you very much for your attention, dear readers! If the information of the article turned out to be interesting for you, share it with your friends on social networks, and we will search for the truth together.

Dzul-khural

This is the name of the "holy rite" performed late autumn. Datsan temples are illuminated inside and out with many candles, by the light of which believers repent in front of the image of the gods in all cases of mistreatment of domestic animals. Poor food, beatings, overwork that make animals suffer are grave sins that cause an allegedly bad rebirth. Indeed, in every pet, according to Lamaist ideas, a reincarnated deceased relative of a believer can live. Repentance should free the believer from guilt before the dead. It is possible that in its origins the dzul-khural goes back to the Indian cult of "sacred" animals.

Naydani Khural

A rite dedicated to hermits (naidans) elevated to the rank of deities. It also takes place in autumn. Hanging images of naidans, emphasizing their decrepitude, indifference to everything around them, the lamas tell believers that the naidans were once worldly people, but, having gone into hermitage, they deserved “salvation”. The Naidani Khural emphasizes the danger of any attachment to life, for this attachment leads to bad rebirths.

Obo is a rite adopted by Lamaism from shamanism. Usually in Buryatia it takes place in the summer, before the start of haymaking. Near a pile of stones, piled on a hilltop, a mountainside, on a pass, lamas and believers read prayers in which they ask for help from the spirits - the "masters of the area." A sacrifice is left on the stones - food, coins, silk scarves (hadaki). Especially intensely they pray near the obo during a drought, since the lamas assure that the rain is sent by the "masters of the area." During the obo, cattle are often slaughtered.

There are also obos dedicated to the deities of the lamaist pantheon.

Usu tyalgn

In the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, it is occasionally observed that a rite close to the ritual is usu tyalgn, i.e., sacrifices to the spirit - "the owner of the water." To increase the catch of fish with a large confluence of members of the fishing artel, a goat kid is slaughtered on a specially constructed raft driven into the sea, whose blood flows into a cauldron with freshly boiled fish soup under the spells.

Worship of "holy" places

In a number of places in Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva there are places declared "sacred" by lamas. Believers make pilgrimages to them. Mount Alkhanai in the Aginsky Autonomous National Okrug of the Chita Region and Arshan in the Tunkinsky Aimag of the BASSR are especially famous. It is usually believed that springs (arsha-ny), as well as rocks and stones, provide magical healing assistance. unusual shape. So, on the slope of Alkhanai there is a rock with a small hole through which pregnant women crawl, believing that this will bring them a safe birth. Often people seek help from "holy" places for infertility, chronic diseases, etc.

family altar

In each dwelling of a believing Buryat, Kalmyk, Tuvan, a low cabinet with a shelf in front of it is placed in a place of honor. Inside there are metal, clay, wooden sculptural images of the deities of the Buddhist pantheon (burkhany), small icons painted on canvas, silk or wood hang, various “sacred” objects lie. On the shelf are bronze cups for sacrifices, smoking candles, flowers. The manufacture of icons and figurines of deities was monopolized by lamas and brought them large incomes.

Prayer

The prayers addressed to the Bodhisats were usually memorized mechanically by the believers, since their language (Tibetan) remained incomprehensible. In addition to prayers, believers had to memorize many spells (tarni) in order to protect themselves from the action of evil spirits and all kinds of misfortunes. Those who wished could keep a "record" of the uttered prayers and spells with the help of special rosaries. Some especially pious believers collected these rosaries in a bag and gave them to those who were going to worship the shrines of Tibet, so that the gods would know more precisely about his - the believer - piety.

Along with this, Lamaism introduced a kind of "mechanization" of prayer. In the so-called khurde - hollow, usually metal, cylinders - prayer texts are laid. Cylinders come in a variety of sizes, ranging in diameter and height from a few centimeters to several meters. An axis is passed through the centers of the cover and the bottom of the cylinder, around which the entire structure can rotate. It is believed that one turn of the cylinder is equivalent to reading all the prayers and sacred texts contained in it.

Faith in talismans

Boo - a talisman - is worn by almost all lamaists. It consists of a piece of paper or cloth on which the texts of prayers and spells are applied - for a long life, for protection from illness or violent death, etc. The folded text is sheathed in leather and worn on a cord around the neck. More effective is considered to be a small figurine of Buddha or a part of the clothes of the “living god”, which is also worn around the neck in a wooden or silver case decorated with embossing. After the ceremony performed when naming a newborn, the lama ties paper talismans to the neck, arms and legs of the child, which should avert illness and misfortune from the newborn.

Gurums and abarals

Any event in the life of a lamaist makes him seek advice from a lama-zurkhachin, i.e., a fortuneteller-astrologer. The latter indicates to the believer what rituals and spells must be performed for a successful migration to another place, when buying livestock or marrying off a daughter, when a relative is ill and buried, etc. The Indian calendar adopted in Buddhism plays a significant role in this. In it, the years are named after the signs of the zodiac circle: mouse, bull, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog, pig. These names are combined with one of the five "elements" - wood, fire, earth, iron, water. As a result, sixty-year cycles are obtained, “beginning from 1027 of our chronology. Now the 16th cycle is underway. It is this calendar, commonly referred to as the Japanese one, that formed the basis of some of the neomystical ideas that have become widespread in recent years. Months are also called signs of the zodiac or simply serial numbers. Days of the week - the names of the seven luminaries. Having calculated all the “data”, the lama astrologer draws up a horoscope for the newborn, in which, based on the qualitative features of the year of birth (“fire dragon”, “water chicken”, etc.), day and month of birth, etc. ., “predicts” what and when one should be afraid of entering the path of life, what spells to cast, whom he can marry, etc.

In less responsible cases, they guess from the cracks that form when a red-hot lamb shoulder is lowered into cold water, by playing dice (shoo), etc. When the “cause” of an illness, theft, or natural disaster is “established”, a special lama-caster (abaralchin, or gurum-chin) often performs a complex and expensive rite - gurum, or abaral. Especially many gurums are associated with the idea of evil spirits as the cause of illness and death of a person, loss of livestock, etc. One of the popular gurums is aminzolik, which was previously mandatory for believers if appointed by a lama, even if it led to complete ruin. The lama made a straw man in the yurt, dressing him in best clothes sick. Then, by means of spells, he “driven” the evil spirits that caused the disease there, after which he took the scarecrow to the steppe along with the payment for the gurum. Gurum "pathetic" demanded the construction on a special table of images of people or animals fashioned from dough or clay, which need to be "helped". They are surrounded by a fence of sticks, sabers and arrows. Evil spirits were driven here too. During the “uhedel darah” gurum, lamas allegedly catch devils and can even conquer death.

Many rituals and superstitions are associated with the idea that happiness is something semi-material that can be "given" or "torn away" from a given home. In order to “keep” happiness in the house, when part of the property is removed from it (when selling livestock, milk), believers leave a particle of what is removed in the house - a tuft of sheep's wool, a few drops of milk spilled on the floor.

The culture and philosophy of the East has long occupied the minds of Europeans with its special attitude to life, living beings and the world as a whole, but Buddhism was especially alluring: this religion became the third most massive, after Christianity and Islam. Buddhist holidays and rituals have always been colorful, pompous and special, specific rituals dating back to ancient times. They are based on the teachings of the great saint Buddha Gotama (Gautama).

Briefly about Buddhism

The founder of this religious teaching was Shakyamuni Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama), a real person who achieved Enlightenment on the 49th day of meditation. It is worth noting that Buddha is not a name, but rather a designation for a specific state of consciousness: literally, it means "enlightened, awakened."

It was Siddhartha who became the founder of one of the most powerful and influential religions on earth, although in fact Buddhism is more of a science than a belief in the divine. The Buddha formulated four truths, on the basis of which the teaching grew - "Four Diamond (Noble) Truths":

Life is suffering.
The cause of suffering is desire.
Relief from suffering is in Nirvana.
One can reach Nirvana by following the Eightfold Path.

Buddhism is divided into several main and many minor schools, between which there are minor, but still differences in views on their teaching:

Mahayana is one of the leading schools in Buddhism. One of its main ideas is compassion for all living beings and non-harm to all things.
Vajrayana - some also call it Tantric Buddhism. The essence of the teaching and its techniques involve the use of mystical practices that can significantly affect the subconscious of a person, leading him to enlightenment. Some researchers claim that the Vajrayana school is a branch of the first teaching, the Mahayana.
Theravada is the earliest branch of Buddhism. Supporters of this school claim that their teaching most accurately conveys the words and instructions of the Buddha Shakyamuni, set forth in the "Pali Canon" - the oldest teaching that was transmitted orally for quite some time. long time and was recorded relatively recently, although with some distortions, according to connoisseurs. Theravada monks firmly believe that only the most zealous and diligent follower of the teaching can achieve enlightenment, this is confirmed by stories about 28 enlightened masters (there were so many of them in the entire history of Buddhism).

Chinese Buddhism and Zen are also considered to be offshoots of Buddhism, but they emphasize the achievements of the later masters rather than Gotama Buddha himself.

What is special about Buddhist holidays?

The Eastern mentality is significantly different from the European one, and the religious one is even more so: “a holiday means we have a rest and walk” - this is not about Buddhists. On the contrary, these days they zealously observe various restrictions, austerities and vows, perform various rituals, because they know that the energy of the holidays is special and can enhance the effect of actions hundreds of times: both positive and negative.

Another feature is that the Buddhist chronology follows the lunar calendar, and since the lunar month is shorter than the solar month, almost all holiday dates are transitional, that is, sliding by numbers ( christian easter- also a passing holiday). Also, many dates originate from a specific event, the birthday of the Buddha, for example. Therefore, astrologers are constantly busy calculating future celebrations, memorable events and important events.

The most important holidays in Buddhism

Regardless of belonging to different currents of Buddhism, most of the holidays are common, which means that they are celebrated simultaneously in all regions and schools. The following list of holidays in Buddhism includes events that are important for all adherents of this trend.

Gautama Buddha's Birthday: Usually falls at the end of May or beginning of June in the European calendar.
The day when the Buddha revealed his teaching to the first disciples is the beginning of the term of retreat for bhikkhus, Buddhist monks. Occurs on a full moon in July.
The Kalachakra festival falls on April - May and is celebrated for three days, but the most solemn action falls on the 15th lunar day of the third month of the Buddhist calendar.
Circulation of Maitreya (Maidari Khural) is one of the revered events, which gathers a crowd of thousands. A huge statue of Buddha Maitreya is taken out of the temple on a chariot and they go around the territory of the temple, moving in the direction of the sun. Believers follow the chariot, forming a living wheel (justifying the name), they sing mantras, read prayers. The procession moves slowly, often stopping, so the action drags on until late in the evening.
The holiday of a thousand lamps (Zula Khural) is the day when Bogdo Tsongkhava, the bohdisattva who founded the Gelug school in Tibet, which is currently considered the main one in the world, enters nirvana. The celebration falls on the 25th day of the moon of the first month and lasts for three whole days, during which oil lamps and candles are continuously lit in memory of the great Teacher.
The descent of the Buddha from Heaven to Earth (Lhabab Duisen) - on the 22nd day of the 9th lunar month, the great Buddha descended to Earth for his last rebirth in the human body (Siddhartha Gotama).
Abhidhamma Day - the ascent of the Buddha to the Tushita sky, is celebrated in April according to the Gregorian calendar, on the full moon of the seventh lunar month - according to the Buddhist.
Songkran in different years celebrated between the end of January and the second decade of March.

In addition to the main ones, the Dalai Lama's birthday is celebrated - the only fixed holiday, as well as many less pompous, but also important events for Buddhist communities.

Vesak

One of the main Buddhist holidays has several names that designate this day in different schools of Buddhism - the birthday, the day of going to Paranirvana and the day of attaining Enlightenment. Almost all schools of this teaching are sure that these three most important events in the life of the Buddha occurred on the same day, only in different years. Vesak, Donchod-Khural, Saga Deva, Vishakha Puja - all these names mean the same thing. For a whole week, the followers of the Buddha celebrate Vesak, telling the world about the life of their guru, lighting lanterns made of paper in his honor, which are a symbol of enlightenment to which the Teacher leads.

In monasteries and temples, solemn prayers, processions are held and prayers are read all night, mantras are sung and thousands of candles are lit around the sacred stupas. The monks tell everyone interesting stories from the life of Buddha Shakyamuni and his faithful disciples, and guests can take part in a group meditation or make an offering to the monastery showing their commitment to the Dhamma.

Asalha, Dhamma day

The most important holiday in Buddhism is Asalha (Asala, Asalha Puja, Chokhor Duchen), the day when the Buddha first delivered his sermon on the Noble Truths to his first five disciples, with whom he later founded the first community for monks (Sangha). In honor of such an outstanding holiday in Buddhism, the monks annually on this day read "Dharma-chakra-pravartana" - one of the sutras, and also give instructions on how to correctly follow the teachings of the Buddha. Many spend this Buddhist religious holiday in meditation, hoping to achieve Enlightenment on such a significant date, as happened to Kaundinya (one of the first students of Gautama).

Asola Perajara

This is what the Buddhists call the "Feast of the Tooth of the Buddha", which is especially revered in Sri Lanka, although it is not of a religious nature. At the origins of this celebration lies the legend that after the cremation of the Buddha Gautama, one of his disciples noticed the tooth of the Buddha in the ashes, miraculously preserved. This relic was placed in a Buddhist temple in India, but was transported to the island of Sri Lanka in the 4th century in order to save a valuable artifact for future generations. A special temple was built in which the tooth of the Buddha is kept to this day.

The celebration lasts for two weeks. Colorful processions go through the streets: dressed-up elephants and dancing people in the best outfits, on one of the elephants there is a casket with a relic, which is carried through all the streets. Buddhists sing songs, set off fireworks, glorifying their great guru.

elephant festival

In India, this holiday is also called the Procession of the Elephants, and it has more secular and social significance than religious. The fundamental principle is the story of how the Buddha once compared a wild untrained elephant and a domestic elephant tamed by people: in order for a wild elephant to understand where he should move, he is harnessed to the same harness along with a trained one. So it is with a person: in order to comprehend the Teaching of the Eightfold Path, one should attach oneself to the one who has already been trained, that is, the one who has attained Enlightenment.

How does the Buddhist festival of elephants go, reminding followers of the teachings about this sermon by Gautama? A mass procession of decorated elephants moves through the streets of the city to the sound of musical instruments, ritual singing and enthusiastic greetings from the inhabitants: more than 100 animals of all ages participate in this action, even babies of two weeks old.

Rituals in Buddhism

Many religious rituals are distinguished by specific beliefs and beliefs (as for a European person), sometimes a little strange, but at the same time having a mystical background to everything that happens on Earth. That is why Buddhists are trying in every possible way to influence karma with their good deeds, and not only their own, but the whole of humanity.

1. Mangyn Zasal: once every nine years, Buddhists perform this ritual to get rid of the "unpleasant consequences of the ninth year", which, according to legend, falls on the 18th, 27th, 36th, etc. year of a person's life. During these years, a person is especially vulnerable, which is why the Mengyn ritual is performed: a person collects nine “special” pebbles and gives them to a lama, who reads special prayers over them, blows his blessed breath and tells the person to throw them out in a special way in different directions. Buddhists believe that in this way a person is protected from misfortunes for nine whole years, so they try to spend it in the first month of the New Year.

2. Tchaptui: A ritual bath for those who are prone to illness or misfortune. It is believed that if this happens to a person, his life energy is too polluted, and it must be cleansed with a special ritual. In a closed room over a special vessel, a mantra is read in a huge number of repetitions (from 100,000 to 1,000,000 times). Buddhists believe that then a deity descends into the water in a vessel and endows it with healing power, which removes negativity from a person.

3. Mandala Shiva, or Four-part mandala offering to Tara - the goddess who removes any obstacles on the way. Often used at the birth of a child, marriage, or an important undertaking of a new business, building a house, for example. During the ritual, the goddess Green Tara is brought fragrant water, flowers, blessed food and incense, as well as lamps. Then a special mandala of 37 elements is presented and the corresponding mantras are chanted.

4. Chasum (Gyabsha ritual) - this is the name of the pagan offering to various subtle entities (devas, nagas, asuras, pretas), which negatively affect the life of a person and the planet as a whole. At the same time, these creatures are so quarrelsome and capricious that the time of offerings must be carefully selected so as not to bring even more anger to the person. It is especially important to carry out this ritual for those whose work is related to the extraction of metals, logging - any intervention in nature endangers the pest, so they try in every possible way to appease higher beings. Turning to the Buddha, those who ask read prayers and offer lamps, food and lud-tormas - these are human figures made of dough, as well as tsatsa - relief images of Buddhist stupas, the Buddha himself made of plaster or clay. Each version of the offering should be equal to 100 units, in the end it turns out 400 - that's why the Gyabshi ritual is called - "four hundred".

Buddhist New Year: Saagalgan

This holiday in Buddhism symbolizes the beginning of the New Year, which in Buddhist tradition falls in the spring. An interesting fact is that in different countries professing Buddhism, the New Year's holiday may fall on different dates, because they live according to the lunar calendar, which does not coincide with the solar one, so astrologers calculate in advance all the holidays and important dates informing the people.

Three days before the onset of Saagalgan, the monks in the temples hold a special prayer service - Dharmapalam, which is dedicated to the ten deities guarding the teachings of the Buddha, lamps are lit, and the bells beat 108 times. The goddess Shri-Devi is especially revered, who, according to legend, travels around all the possessions three times on New Year's Eve, checking whether people are ready, whether their houses are clean enough, whether pets are in poverty, whether children are happy. Buddhists firmly believe that if you do not sleep that night until six in the morning and sing mantras and prayers dedicated to the goddess, then luck in the coming year will be on their side. It is very important that in new year's eve on the table were milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, butter. It was also recommended to spend the first day of Saalagalgan with the family.

There is an interesting tradition of launching the "Wind-Fortune Horse" - this is an image on the fabric, symbolizing the well-being of a person or family. Be sure to consecrate this symbol in the temple and then tie it to a house or a nearby tree so that it sways in the wind. It is believed that the "Horse of the Wind-Fortune" is a powerful family amulet against failures, illnesses and sorrows of any kind.

In some provinces of the south, adherents of the Theravada schools put new monastic robes on the Buddha statues, which are then given to the monks for use: it is believed that such actions increase the good karma of a person. In Laos on this day people try to buy live fish and release it, thus also improving karma through compassion for the living being.

Katkhina-Dana

Bun Kathin is another holiday in Buddhism that motivates worldly people to do good deeds and thus "accumulate" good karma. "Kathina" - this word is called a special pattern, according to which clothes for monks are cut out. The holiday involves giving to bhikkhus (monks) new clothes, for this, the donor or his family invites the monk to the house for a festive dinner, before which a special prayer is read. After the meal, they go to the temple to present gifts. They are accompanied by lay people singing, dancing and playing local musical instruments. Before entering the temple, the whole procession goes around it three times, always counterclockwise, and only then everyone goes inside and sits down for the ceremony: the elders are in front, and the young ones are behind.

An important point: a robe for a monk must be made 24 hours before the holiday, that is, a person must have time to make cotton threads, weave fabric on a loom, cut out a robe and then dye it in a traditional Orange color, which means not to sleep or eat during these days, paying tribute to the members of the Sangha (monastic community) with such an act. It is interesting that at the moment of donation, the rector of the holy place asks all those gathered: is (the name of the monk is called) worthy of the gift, and if all those present confirm three times with the word “sadhu”, only then the bhikhu receives his gift, blessing the manufacturer. This blessing is considered very valuable, so hundreds of people try to make a gift for the bhikhu on the eve of the Buddhist holiday of Kathin.

Einstein called the Buddhist doctrine "the most scientific religion", which is especially evident in the tradition of its holidays. Denying the existence of God as the supreme Creator, Buddhists deeply revere the laws of nature and spiritual guides. Following this principle, the main holidays of Buddhism are dedicated to Siddhartha Gautama Buddha.

Gautama, known as Prince Shakyamuni, lived in the 6th century BC. e. in northern India. Siddhartha was born in royal family. At the age of 29, he left the luxurious palace forever, setting off in search of the truth. Becoming an ascetic, he wandered for a long time to discover the secret of getting rid of human suffering - illness, old age and death.

At the age of 35, during a long meditation under the sacred Bodhi tree, he achieved enlightenment and became known as the Buddha, which is translated from Sanskrit as ‘awakened’. Gautama Buddha devoted the rest of his life to the peaceful preaching of his teachings.

Buddhist celebration customs

The philosophy of celebration in Buddhism differs from other religions in its essence. This is not a time for sumptuous meals and rest from the labors of the righteous, but, first of all, intense spiritual work.

True Buddhists believe that karmic retribution is amplified thousands of times on significant days. In the same amount, the power of both good and negative thoughts increases. Therefore, this is the best moment for meditation and philosophical reflection. It is believed that religious unity during solemn ceremonies contributes to the achievement of enlightenment.

Another aspect inherent in the holidays of Buddhism is in tune with the Christian tradition. We are talking about ritual cleanliness - moral and physical. On the days of religious celebrations, Buddhists carefully clean their homes and monasteries. Such actions are not common. spring-cleaning, but a special rite. The purification process is accompanied by the singing of mantras, the extraction of musical sounds, which are designed to harmonize the surrounding space.

Other traditions include:

visiting temples;
participation in ritual ceremonies;
donations of gifts to monasteries;
offerings to monks and teachers;
doing good deeds.

Celebration time

Religious holidays in Buddhism are celebrated according to the lunar calendar. Their dates are calculated according to special tables by lamas-astrologers and change annually. Since ancient times, Buddhists have believed that during full moon energy increases, so many holidays fall on the full moon.

List of Buddhist holidays

Vesak - Birthday, Enlightenment and Departure to Nirvana of the Buddha;
Buddhist New Year;
Monlam - the memory of 15 miracles performed by the Buddha;
Maidari-khural;
Mystery TsAM;
Turning the wheel of learning;
Birthday of the Dalai Lama.

There are no strict regulations on which holidays in Buddhism must be celebrated strictly. Ritual preferences depend on the school (Mahayana, Theravada, Tantra) and on the historical traditions of individual countries.

The above list is far from complete. In particular, in Tibetan Buddhism, Dzul, unknown to other currents, is celebrated everywhere - the Day of Commemoration of the philosopher Tsongkhava.

Asola Perahara, the celebration in honor of the Tooth of the Buddha is celebrated only by Theravada followers in the only temple on the island of Sri Lanka, where this amazing relic is kept. The lavish celebrations last for two weeks and include processions with festively decorated elephants. On one of them, a casket with a sacred Tooth is transported around the city.

The main holidays of Buddhism

It is worth telling more about the most significant dates in the Buddhist world. To the question "What is the most important holiday in Buddhism?" can be answered unequivocally - Vesak. It symbolizes three sacred events at once: the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. According to legend, Gautama was born, gained the gift of enlightenment, and passed into Nirvana on the second full moon of the year. Usually it falls on the last days of May.

The Wesak celebration lasts for a whole week. In the monastic communities, special prayers are served and magnificent ceremonies are arranged. Houses and temples are lovingly decorated with lanterns, fresh flowers and burning lamps, which symbolize the light of Buddha's great compassion. People make pilgrimages, come to monasteries to indulge in meditation and listen to the stories of the monks. Agricultural work these days is prohibited as a sign of mercy to all earthly creatures, including livestock.

Saagalgan

New Year in the Buddhist tradition is celebrated on the first new moon of spring. Due to differences in the chronology of different schools, the New Year in countries such as Mongolia, Tibet, Kalmykia is celebrated at different times.

On the eve of Saagalgan, respected astrologer lamas announce predictions for next year. In the monasteries, prayers are performed to revered deities. The most beloved goddess is Sri Devi. She patronizes the ancient Tibetan capital - Lhasa.

There is a belief that Sri Devi inspects his possessions on New Year's Eve to make sure that the inhabitants are well prepared for her arrival. To earn the favor of the goddess and secure her favor for the year ahead, it is recommended to stay up all night: pray in the temple or chant mantras at the home altar.

A festive feast, according to tradition, should include dishes from white products. This period of the year is associated with the mass appearance of offspring in livestock. There is a lot of milk, hence the name Sagaalgan, which translates as ‘white month’.

Monlam

The Monlam prayer begins at the first dawn of the New Year and is read for 15 days in a row. The holiday is dedicated to the memory of the fifteen miracles created by the Buddha. The story goes that several monks left their former ascetic teachers to join the Buddha's followers. The monks who hated him began publicly slandering the Teacher, refuting his holiness.

The Buddha was indifferent to all ridicule, but his disciples begged him to show visible evidence of his power. In the Indian village of Shrasvati, Buddha performed miraculous deeds for 15 days in a row, after which his fame spread throughout the world.

After the end of the solemn prayers, the monks take exams for a higher rank. On the last day of the holiday, which always falls on a full moon, 15 clarified butter figurines are made to represent the miracles of the Buddha. They are exhibited for viewing in datsans.

Maidari Khural

This holiday is dedicated to the incarnation of Maitreya Buddha at the end of time. His reign is associated with a blessed era of prosperity and bliss, when people on earth will live 84 thousand years.

Many pilgrims flock to the monasteries at Maidari Khural. From the temples, a sculpture of Buddha Maitreya is taken out, which is erected on a richly decorated chariot. The procession, accompanied by numerous believers, slowly walks around the walls of the monastery in the direction of the sun. This event is reflected in the name of the festival - Maitreya's Circulation.

The ceremony is often interrupted by sutra readings and ritual tea parties, so it continues all day long. At the end, a table is laid with plentiful treats, gifts are brought to the monastic community.

Mystery TsAM

Some researchers believe that the roots of the ritual action of TsAM should be sought in ancient shamanic rites. Introduced it into the temple practice of Northern Buddhism great teacher Padmasambhava (VIII century). Mystery is especially widespread in Mongolian, Buryat, Tibetan monasteries.

The rite is a pantomime performed by lamas in frightening masks of dokshits (guardians). The characters act out a ritual action, dancing in a circle, gesticulating with their hands. The annually performed mystery pursued several tasks:

frighten and alienate evil spirits from the followers of Buddhism;
demonstrate the triumph of true dogma;
show the presence of a deity in the visible world;
prepare a person for the visions in the afterlife journey that accompany him on the path to rebirth.

The mission of fulfilling Tsam is entrusted to monks who have received a special initiation. A few days before the beginning of the mystery, they fast and plunge into deep meditation.

Turning the Wheel of Teaching

The most important holiday in Buddhism, celebrated on the fourth day of the sixth lunar month. Marks the day of the first sermon of Shakyamuni Buddha in the Indian province of Sarnath. The first teachings from the mouth of the Buddha were heard by five ascetics, who later became his devoted disciples.

The main action of the celebration is a tour of the temple with a sculptural image of Maitreya Buddha, which is accompanied by reading special sutras and playing ritual musical instruments. The spiritual task of the ceremony is to bring the period of the reign of Buddha Maitreya closer.

Birthday of the Dalai Lama

A list of Buddhist holidays would be incomplete without mentioning memorable date, the only one calculated according to the solar calendar. Every year on July 6, northern Buddhists celebrate the birthday of their spiritual leader in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama. The fate of this amazing person is a living illustration of Buddhist doctrine. He is considered the last physical incarnation of the Buddha of Compassion.

His predecessor left an indication where to look for his rebirth. It was there that, after the death of the 13th Dalai Lama, a search party of monks went. Born into a poor peasant family, 2-year-old boy Tenzin Gyatso was found by special signs that determine the new reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

This was followed by a series of special tests, during which the boy had to find a thing that belonged to him in a past life. Having successfully passed the test, on February 22, 1940, he was elevated to the throne of the Dalai Lama.

This is only a small fraction of the great collection of holidays and rituals that exist in Buddhism. Less significant celebrations are dedicated to deities, saints and patrons revered by individual schools, monasteries and communities.

There are two main directions in Buddhism (three are distinguished in some schools) - Buddhism Mahayana tradition and Buddhism Theravada traditions(In Theravada Buddhism, numerology is very influential).

AT Theravada traditions it is believed that, having accepted the teachings of the Buddha, some followers were also able to achieve a state of complete enlightenment. There are 28 such testimonies in the entire history of Buddhism. Therefore, in the religious practice of many peoples (especially in Burma), 28 Buddhas are revered.

Mahayana tradition based on the religious canon, performed in Sanskrit, and Theravada - on ancient language Pali. In these two traditions there are both minor and profound differences, which will be discussed a little later. Accordingly, Mahayana Buddhism was most widespread in such countries as India, Pakistan, Nepal, China, Mongolia, Buryatia, and Theravada Buddhism - in Cambodia, Burma, Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. But at the base of both traditions lies the recognition of the principle of a bothisattva - a majestic person, a teacher who, with his relevant example and world outlook deserved reincarnation into the Buddha by going to nirvana, however, he remains in this world of rebirths and incarnations to provide spiritual assistance to others.

Buddhist tradition, as well as in fact no matter what religion, in its own philosophy, edifications, rules, ceremonial practices and religious meditations are based on sacred texts. Among Buddhists, the Tipitaka canon is a similar text. The canon consists of three parts: vinaya-pitaka (basket of rules or dharma - law), sutta-pitaka (basket of edifications) and abidhama-pitaka (basket of spotless knowledge, i.e. interpretation of the teaching).

Theravada Buddhism recognizes two main states of the Buddha - Buddha instructing (samyaksan) and Buddha mute (pratyeka). Hence the differences in the depicted views of the Buddha.

Usually the Buddha is depicted in three poses - standing, lying or sitting. Exhausted (in a sitting posture), he is depicted as a symbol of the austerity he undertook during meditation. Also in the main thing in China, the image of Hotei (funny plump Buddha) is widespread. Buddha as a principle is eternal, he has been embodied more than once (about 500 times) in earthly life. Buddha as a person - real historical character. Part of the Buddhist teachings set forth in the Dikha Nikaya (Sutra of Symbols) even developed a system of physical signs of the Buddha - 32 main and 80 additional anatomical and physiological signs, according to which it is possible to find another earthly incarnation of the Buddha. According to the doctrine, it is believed that the Buddha is the only awakened state, completely free from delusions, vices and desires, and who has comprehended the essence of the nature of things.

Born as religious direction in India, Buddhism first spread in Ceylon, where for the first time the sacred text of the Theravada teaching was created - The Pali Canon of the Tipitaka. It is clear that in the Mon kingdom of Sufannapum already in the 3rd century BC. there was a cult of worship of the Buddha, who came here from Ceylon. The Mon people were the first to adopt Buddhism in the Indochina peninsula. In the 11th century, the Mon government fell in the fight against the Burmese, their capital, Thaton, fell under the control of the conquerors. The lord of the Mons, Manuha, handed over the Tipitaka and the sacred relics of the Buddha (some hair and 4 teeth) to the Burmese king Anavrata of Bagan, who, having adopted the teachings of Theravada Buddhism from the Mons he conquered, made it the state religion in the first Burmese empire.

Since the end of the 19th century, the forest tradition of Buddhism has also spread in Thailand - some monks went to the tropical thickets for meditation in order to achieve enlightenment. They became especially revered and were often revered as saints. Their asceticism is considered the highest spiritual feat. In total, 13 such elders are revered in Thailand, who practiced the forest tradition at various periods. Their images can often be seen in Thai houses like icons.

The founder of this practice was a monk Phra Achan Sao Katasilo Mahathera (1861-1941). His instructions were not written down and are transmitted in the oral tradition of believers and monks. His disciple and follower monk Pra Achan Mun Phuridatto (1870-1949) already had a large number of admirers and students, his instructions later became the subject of research, including in Buddhist Institutes.

In the second half of the 20th century, it became a common tradition to send teenage boys (not younger than 8 years old) to monasteries for temporary novice and teaching the Pali language and the basics of religious doctrine. They are called "dek vat" (monastery children). Some then choose the path of unchanging monasticism. In general, even adults sometimes undergo temporary novitiate in monasteries. Most often, this is due to serious events in life (the death of loved ones, etc.).

In Thailand (as opposed to Mahayana Buddhism) the doctrine of rewards is recognized and therefore temporary obedience is considered as a way to alleviate the fate of the dead after death. In contrast to the Burmese tradition, women's novitiate and monasticism is not so widespread in Thailand - there are only three ladies' monasteries. The minimum age for full ordination to monasticism is 20 years. Monks are ordered to observe 227 monastic rules, and nuns - 311.

The church calendar is based on lunar calendar. Therefore, the time of the advent of most holidays are calculated according to the phases of the moon and have a rolling date. More significant holidays always fall on the full moon, which, according to ancient tradition, is called the day of the wax moon.

makha pucha- one of the main holidays, celebrated in memory of the action from the life of the Buddha, when 1250 followers of his teachings from different parts of the world - the monks of the arahants (enlightened ones), without agreeing and not being invited, along with this came to the Veluwat temple in India to listen to instructions Buddha. On this day, they separately try to do good deeds, help those in need, donate vestments, money and necessary items to monasteries.

Visakha Pucha (Vesak)- Buddha's birthday. Formally, the date of the Buddha's birthday was set at the Global Buddhist Conference exclusively in 1950. Therefore, according to tradition, not only the birth of the Buddha, but also his enlightenment and departure to nirvana are associated with this holiday. During the celebration ceremony, the 8 precepts of Buddhism are separately remembered: do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery, do not indulge in filthy speeches, do not take harm into yourself (alcohol, intoxicants), refrain from excessive gluttony, refrain from sensual temptations, refrain from unnecessary luxury. It is considered a special virtue on this day to bring satisfaction to the unfortunate. Therefore, apart from helping the needy and giving them gifts, an obligatory part of the ceremonies is the release of birds and animals from the cages.

Asalkha Pucha (Asankha)- celebrated in memory of the preaching of the Buddha and the attainment of the sacred Sangha (the text of the rules).

pavarana Celebrated to mark the end of the rainy season South-East Asia. Tradition says that on this day the Buddha taught the monks the art of silence, and they all remained silent for three months. On this day, it is customary to ask for forgiveness from everyone who, during the long period of the wassa season (the rainy season, however, not according to the real weather, but according to the Buddhist calendar), insults and injustices were caused.

Anapanasati- the last big Buddhist holiday of the year to commemorate how the Buddha urged his disciples to follow solitude and meditation.

Songkran. This holiday falls in mid-April and lasts 3-5 days. The holiday symbolizes the celebration of water as a pure element. According to tradition, people gather on the banks of rivers or on sea beaches and pour water on each other. These days, monks are presented with gifts with an obligatory gift - eau de toilette. The atmosphere of the holiday is characterized by extraordinary fun. Also, the central ceremony of the holiday is the release of fish into the reservoirs for breeding.

Loy Krathong. It symbolizes the worship of the sacred footprints of the Buddha, left on the banks of the Namada River in India. The festival is one of the brightest in Thailand. In the evening, specially made wreaths of flowers topped with lighted candles float on the water. Also, fiery lanterns soaring upwards are released into the sky. Among the people, this festival is also associated as a holiday for lovers - many, throwing krathongs (wreaths) on the water, make wishes on their beloved and demand that the Buddha send mutual love and fidelity.

River Na. It would be possible to call this holiday in Russian the festival of the first furrow. It marks the beginning of the agricultural year. Harnessed by a pair of snow-white bulls with gold-colored horns, led by Brahmins, plow the first strips of rice fields. The holiday symbolizes the role of the seven-year-old Buddha in a similar ceremony conducted by his dad. The ceremony is of a festive nature, takes place with a large confluence of people, monks from nearby monasteries. The fields are blessed by monks and members of the royal family in anticipation of fertility.

Ulamban. This festival is more characteristic of countries with the Mahayana tradition, but is also celebrated in Burma and Thailand. It is believed that on this day the gates of hell are open and demons have the power to go out and descend to earth to tempt the righteous. Believers walk to cemeteries, commemorate their own dead, leaving food, flowers and lighted candles and incense.

In addition to these holidays, believers who are committed to the forest tradition and Dhammayutika (a direction founded by King Mongkut - Rama IV during his monastic years) celebrate their special days, which are not inescapable holidays of the entire Thai Sangha. The so-called "local" holidays are also celebrated, dedicated to the holy arahant monks, relics, certain monasteries or local sacred artifacts.

The ritual and ceremonial practice of Buddhists of different directions has some differences, however, in the basis of their own rituals, they include the edification of monks, the reading of mantras, meditation, and the worship of Buddha sculptures. Personal conversations with monks of believers are a bit like Christian confessions. The end of the monastic rites for believers is the pouring of water (at first, while the monk is reading the mantra, water is squeezed out of the 1st vessel into another in a narrow stream, then the monk utters the mantra over this water, and then the believer must pour it under a tree). There are a huge number of special ritual ceremonies dedicated to special events.

Between traditions Mahayana and Theravada for a long time there were sharp contradictions concerning the "purity" of the doctrine. But in the modern Buddhist world, both traditions coexist quite peacefully. Moreover, Buddhism does not reject as "false" the teachings of other global religions, perceiving certain universal truths and preaching them.

Theravada Buddhism contains many symbolic beliefs in signs, talismans, signs of fortune. There is a system of signs developed over the centuries, in most cases based on the belief that people born on certain days of the week should adhere to "their" signs and signs of fortune in life. This system of symbols is called Pracham van. According to this system, each day of the week has its own specific color, planet, symbolic or real animal, deity. The 8 main Buddha postures also apply to any of a specific day of the week. For Wednesday, there are 2 images of Buddha poses (day and night). Accordingly, everyone born on a certain day of the week (and those born on Wednesday - also on certain time days) should separately worship and ask for actual fortune from a certain image of the Buddha posture.

Used materials:

topasia.ru - description of Buddhist holidays and traditions

sunhome.ru - article about Buddhism and its main directions

krugosvet.ru - reference material on the topic "Buddha and Buddhism"