ESSENCE OF PURANAS SERIES
Chapter 11: Worship of Gautama Buddha as also of Brahmanas on Vaishakha Purnima
Condensed English Translation by Sri V.D.N. Rao
Vishnudevo Jagannaatho Brahman praaptey Kalou yugey,
Ashtaavamsattamey bhaavi Buddhi naama Jagadguruh/
Pushya yuktey Nishaanaathey Vaishaakhey Maasi Kaashyapa/
(Kashyapa! Bhagavan Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe, would be born in the Twenty Eighth Kali Yuga as Buddha the Universal Instructor on Purnima in Vaishakha Month in Pushya Nakshatra).The procedure of worship was described as follows: On the Tritiya of ShuklaVaishakha itself, devotees should take baths, observe fast by eating ‘Yava’ and perform Japam, Homam, Shraaddh, and Daanam; follow the same procedure on the following day too. On the day next, an Idol of Gautama Budhha should be given a bath with the waters of a Sacred River along with ‘Sarvoushadhas, ‘Sarva Ratnas’, and ‘Sarva Gandhas’-a variety of medicinal herbs, gems and perfume materials as per ‘Sakya’ procedure; food offerings to the Idol as Naivedya be made as per the prescribed manner; ‘Sakya Viharaas’ should be cleaned up; the ‘Chetyaas’ or the Temple Areas be spruced up and decorated with paintings; a long festival be celebrated with music, song and dance; Buddhist Mendicants should be respected with new dresses called ‘Chivadas’, books, food items and gifts.
Dinatrayam cha kartavyam Naivedyam Vidhivad Dwija!
Pushpa Vastraadi Pujaa cha daamam deenajanasyacha/
Pourna--maaseem thu sampraapya Vaikhaasasya Dwijottama,
Madhuyuktaisthilaih kaaryam tadaa Brahmanapujanam/
Tilaih snaanam tilaihi homam Tilaih shraaddham tathaiva cha,
Maatraadaanam tu kartavyam depa daanam suraalaey/
(This would be a Three Day Responsibility of Naivedya, Puja to Buddha, flowers, clothes, and charity, especially to the Poor as well as Brahmana Puja, tila snaanam, tila homam, tila shraaddham, and Deepa daanam). This Procedure might be continued till the end of the Vaishakha Month. On Vaishakha Purnami again, Brahmana Puja was scheduled: Vaishakhyaam Pournama –astaantu Brahmanaan Sapta Panchavaa, Kshoudra yuktesthalaih krishnairarchayedan thavaitaraih/ Preeyataam Dharmaraageti yadaa manasi vartathey, Yaavajjeevam krutam paapam tatkshanaadeva nashyati/ (On the Vaishakha Purnami, seven or five Brahmanas be engaged for worship with black or other ‘tilas’ and honey; at the very thought of Yama Dharma Raja, the life-long acquisition of sins would get dissolved).
Ashtaavamsattamey bhaavi Buddhi naama Jagadguruh/
Pushya yuktey Nishaanaathey Vaishaakhey Maasi Kaashyapa/
(Kashyapa! Bhagavan Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe, would be born in the Twenty Eighth Kali Yuga as Buddha the Universal Instructor on Purnima in Vaishakha Month in Pushya Nakshatra).The procedure of worship was described as follows: On the Tritiya of ShuklaVaishakha itself, devotees should take baths, observe fast by eating ‘Yava’ and perform Japam, Homam, Shraaddh, and Daanam; follow the same procedure on the following day too. On the day next, an Idol of Gautama Budhha should be given a bath with the waters of a Sacred River along with ‘Sarvoushadhas, ‘Sarva Ratnas’, and ‘Sarva Gandhas’-a variety of medicinal herbs, gems and perfume materials as per ‘Sakya’ procedure; food offerings to the Idol as Naivedya be made as per the prescribed manner; ‘Sakya Viharaas’ should be cleaned up; the ‘Chetyaas’ or the Temple Areas be spruced up and decorated with paintings; a long festival be celebrated with music, song and dance; Buddhist Mendicants should be respected with new dresses called ‘Chivadas’, books, food items and gifts.
Dinatrayam cha kartavyam Naivedyam Vidhivad Dwija!
Pushpa Vastraadi Pujaa cha daamam deenajanasyacha/
Pourna--maaseem thu sampraapya Vaikhaasasya Dwijottama,
Madhuyuktaisthilaih kaaryam tadaa Brahmanapujanam/
Tilaih snaanam tilaihi homam Tilaih shraaddham tathaiva cha,
Maatraadaanam tu kartavyam depa daanam suraalaey/
(This would be a Three Day Responsibility of Naivedya, Puja to Buddha, flowers, clothes, and charity, especially to the Poor as well as Brahmana Puja, tila snaanam, tila homam, tila shraaddham, and Deepa daanam). This Procedure might be continued till the end of the Vaishakha Month. On Vaishakha Purnami again, Brahmana Puja was scheduled: Vaishakhyaam Pournama –astaantu Brahmanaan Sapta Panchavaa, Kshoudra yuktesthalaih krishnairarchayedan thavaitaraih/ Preeyataam Dharmaraageti yadaa manasi vartathey, Yaavajjeevam krutam paapam tatkshanaadeva nashyati/ (On the Vaishakha Purnami, seven or five Brahmanas be engaged for worship with black or other ‘tilas’ and honey; at the very thought of Yama Dharma Raja, the life-long acquisition of sins would get dissolved).