Vaishakh Pournima: The day of spiritual awakening for spiritual masters
| Date :07-May-2020 |
By Rajendra Diwe :
Vaishakh Pournima or full moon day in the month of Vaishakh is considered as one of the auspicious day for a seeker to get spiritual transformation. According to Hindu Panchangs, the month Vaishakh is the second month as per the Hindu calendar. The scripture Skanda purana described the glory and significance of this second month. Rishi Narada praised Vaishakh month and said, “Vaishakh was created by Lord Brahma and is superior to other 11 months of Hindu calendar. Vaishakh Month is considered to be the ideal month to perform charity, homas, fasts etc. Hindu Panchang mentions the significance of Magh, Vaishakh and Kartik months. Vaishakh month is one of the most auspicious months and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. One should worship Lord Vishnu in this month with full faith and dedication.” Vaishakha Pournima is the second Purnima in the year according to Hindu lunar calendar and it comes just after Narasimha Jayanti.
People worship Lord Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu, and observe Satyanarayana fasting on Pournima day. Bouddha Pournima Vaishakh Pournima is celebrated as Bouddha Pournima across the entire world. This day is known as Buddha Day or Wesak or Vesak. Venerable Mahinda, Spiritual Director and Founder, Aloka Foundation in his discourse on ‘The Significance of Vesak - Buddha Day,’ states, “The significance of Vesak lies with the Buddha and his universal peace message to mankind. As we recall the Buddha and his Enlightenment, we are immediately reminded of the unique and most profound knowledge and insight which arose in him on the night of his Enlightenment. This coincided with three important events which took place, corresponding to the three watches or periods of the night.” “During the first watch of the night, when his mind was calm, clear and purified, light arose in him, knowledge and insight arose. He saw his previous lives.
As he went on with his practice, during the second watch of the night, he saw how beings die and are reborn, depending on their Karma, how they disappear and reappear from one form to another, from one plane of existence to another. Then during the final watch of the night, he saw the arising and cessation of all phenomena, mental and physical. This led him to perceive the arising and cessation of suffering and all forms of unsatisfactoriness paving the way for the eradication of all taints of cravings. With the complete cessation of craving, his mind was completely liberated. He attained to Full Enlightenment. The realisation dawned in him together with all psychic powers,” Venerable Mahinda says. This wisdom and light that flashed and radiated under the historic Bodhi Tree at Buddha Gaya in the district of Bihar, more than 2500 years ago, is of great significance to human destiny.
It illuminated way by which mankind could cross, from a world of superstition, or hatred and fear, to a new world of light, of true love and happiness. Full Moon of Taurus for spiritual masters Many spiritual masters across the world and members of number of spiritual organisations like Theosophical Society have termed Vaishakh Pournima as ‘Full Moon of Taurus’ The Full Moon of Taurus coincides with the anniversary of the Lord Buddha’s birth, his attainment of enlightenment, and his physical death. The Wesak Festival is a result of bridge-building between humanity and the Divine. According to Holy spiritual Master Djwhal Khul, “No cost is too great to pay in order to be of use to the (Spiritual) Hierarchy at the time of the Wesak Festival; no price is too high in order to gain the spiritual illumination which can be possible.” Alice A Bailey, who wrote 24 books on spiritual practice in his book ‘The Externalisation of the Hierarchy’ wrote, “The annual cycle of the Spiritual Festivals offers opportunity for people of all faiths to cooperate. Together, the three full moon festivals of Aries, Taurus and Gemini form a united spiritual approach by humanity to divinity.
“Once a year, at the Vaisakha or Wesak Festival, the Lord Buddha, sanctioned by the Lord of the World, carries to the assembled humanity a dual stream of force, that emanating from the Silent Watcher, supplemented by the more focused energy of the Lord of the World. This dual energy He pours out in blessing over the people gathered at the ceremony in the Himalayas, and from them in turn it flows out to all peoples and tongues and races,” Bailey stated.