Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima, reverentially, the most important day for the followers of Buddhism, commemorates Lord Buddha's enlightenment in 588 B.C and also his attainment of the highest of spiritual goals, 'Nirvana' in Bodh Gaya and 'Parinirvana' (or "final cessation") in Kushinagara. Alternatively called Buddha Jayanti, this day consecrates the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha who was born in Lumbini, Nepal. As the name itself suggests, Buddha Purnima is observed on a bright full moon in the Vaisakha month (April/May), a time especially suited for introspection, charity and puja. This year, Buddha Purnima in India will be celebrated on May 14, 2014.

Historically, the importance of Buddha Purnima goes back to the era of Chinese scholarship where the day is mentioned in the works of the Chinese scholar, Fa-Hien. Buddha Purnima is known by different names in different countries. As per the native tongue of different countries, Nepal observes 'Swanyapunhi', Singapore upholds Lord Buddha's teachings on 'Vesak Day', Indonesia celebrates 'Hari Waisak', while Thailand commemorates this day as 'Visakha Bucha Day'. Buddha Jayanti is celebrated across south-east Asian countries that have a recognizable Buddhist population. Countries that observe Buddha Purnima include Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tibet, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Korea, China, Cambodia, and Japan.

वैशाख पूर्णिमा को बुद्ध पूर्णिमा भी कहते हैं। यह गौतम बुद्ध की जयंती है और उनका निर्वाण दिवस भी। इसी दिन भगवान बुद्ध को बुद्धत्व की प्राप्ति हुई थी। भगवान बुद्ध का जन्म, ज्ञान प्राप्ति और महापरिनिर्वाण ये तीनों एक ही दिन अर्थात वैशाख पूर्णिमा के दिन ही हुए थे। हिन्दू धर्मावलंबियों के लिए बुद्ध विष्णु के नौवें अवतार हैं। अतः हिन्दुओं के लिए भी यह दिन पवित्र माना जाता है।

इसी कारण बिहार स्थित बोधगया नामक स्थान हिन्दू व बौद्ध धर्मावलंबियों के पवित्र तीर्थ स्थान हैं। गृहत्याग के पश्चात सिद्धार्थ सात वर्षों तक वन में भटकते रहे। यहाँ उन्होंने कठोर तप किया और अंततः वैशाख पूर्णिमा के दिन बोधगया में बोधि वृक्ष के नीचे उन्हें बुद्धत्व ज्ञान की प्राप्ति हुई। तभी से यह दिन बुद्ध पूर्णिमा के रूप में जाना जाता है। बुद्ध पूर्णिमा के अवसर पर बुद्ध की महापरिनिर्वाणस्थली कुशीनगर में स्थित महापरिनिर्वाण मंदिर पर एक माह का मेला लगता है। इस मंदिर का महत्व बुद्ध के महापरिनिर्वाण से है।

श्रीलंका व अन्य दक्षिण-पूर्व एशियाई देशों में इस दिन को 'वेसाक' उत्सव के रूप में मनाते हैं जो 'वैशाख' शब्द का अपभ्रंश है। विश्व भर से बौद्ध धर्म के अनुयायी बोधगया आते हैं और प्रार्थनाएँ करते हैं।

Adi Keshava Ghat

In Ghadavala inscription (c. C.E. 1100) this ghat was referred as Vedesvara Ghat. This is assumed to be the oldest and the original (Adi) site of Lord Visnu (Keshava). The temple complex of Adi Keshava has a pleasant pastoral setting on he bank above the confluence of the Varuna and the Ganga rivers. Among the oldest puranic listings of sacred sites in the city, this is one of them. This sacred spot is fully eulogized in the MP (185-68), the VP (3.34-50), the KKh (84.109; see also 51.44-82). This was the most favorite holy site of the Gahadavala kings, as evident from the Gahadavala inscription that" a great number of regal ritual occasions in Varanasi included the worship of Adi Kesava or a dip in the Ganga at the Varana confluence: (Niyogi 1959: app. B as in Eck 1982:233). The ghat was made pucca in 1790 by a Divan of Scindhia State.

Shri Panch Agni Akhada Ghat

Shri Panch Agni Akhada Ghat is named after Shri Panch Agni Akhada Formed in 1136 AD.Has headquarters at Varanasi and branches at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain, Tryambakeshwar, Bareilly, Ahmedabad, Junagarh, etc. Also called as 'Brahmacharis' Akhada.

Prominent Mahants: Mahant Ambikanandji.

Sant Ravidas Ghat

Sant Ravidas Ghat is another important Ghat of Varanasi. Sant Ravidas Ghat is named after the great Sant of 15th Century Sant Ravidas. 

Sant Ravidas Temple

Sant Ravidas Temple is located at Raj ghat, Varanasi, near River Ganges at a distance of about 5 km from Varanasi railway station. It is dedicated to Sant Ravidas & his statue is installed in its sanctum. 

Ram Ramapati Bank

In the eight decades of its existence, over 100,000 people have opened accounts here. Ram Ramapati Bank in this popular pilgrim city is a bank all right, but it doesn't deal in money.

All that an account holder has to do is scribble Lord Ram's name 125,000 times on paper and keep it as a 'deposit' with the bank, in the hope that his or her prayers will be answered. Its 'clientele' is spread over the US, Canada, the West Indies and, of course, across India.

"After the sacred scribble is deposited by a particular account holder, we carry out a series of rituals that are aimed to bring prosperity and good luck to his life," Sumit Mehrotra, grandson of the Ram Ramapati Bank's founder, told IANS on telephone.

Like a bank which gives a loan, this institution claims to loan 'god's name' till the time an account holder writes Lord Ram's name the required number of times and returns the paper. Then the loan is considered repaid. Thereafter, the bank on its own conducts rituals for the account holder's prosperity.

All the papers are kept in the bank's compartments. The family members work in other professions and contribute their own money to keep the bank running. "Mostly people open their accounts in Ram Ramapati Bank to get their prayers answered. From opening the account to organising rituals for the account holder's prosperity, the bank does not ask for a single penny from its customers," he added.

The bank even provides free-of-cost paper bundles and a pen to its account holder for writing Lord Ram's name. Sanctioning of the loan in Ram Ramapati Bank too comes with unique terms and conditions.

"The foremost condition is that the account holder has to deposit all the sacred scribble within eight months and 10 days from the date of sanctioning of the loan," said Mehrotra. "There are other conditions such as the scribbling had to be done after taking a bath. Account holders are also required to shun non-vegetarian food, onion and garlic during the entire period of writing Lord Ram's name," he added.

The bank was established 84 years ago by Das Channu Lal after his spiritual guru told him to devote his life to Lord Ram. People from different walks of life are account holders of the bank. "From doctors, engineers to housewives - all have opened account in the bank for one reason or the other," said Mehrotra, who also owns a coaching institute in Varanasi.