🪷 Vaishakha Purnima (Buddha Purnima / Narasimha Jayanti) Vrat Katha
The story
Siddhartha, son of King Shuddhodana of Kapilavastu and Maya Devi, was born on Vaishakha Purnima at Lumbini; at 29 he left palace, kingdom and family in search of truth; after six years of austerity, on the night of Vaishakha Purnima under the peepal (Bodhi tree) at Bodh Gaya, Buddhahood; at 80, on Vaishakha Purnima at Kushinagar, the mahaparinirvana — all three on one tithi. The teaching — the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, 'Appa deepo bhava' (be your own lamp).
The Kurma avatar — when Mount Mandara began to sink during the churning of the ocean, Vishnu took the form of a tortoise (Kurma) and bore it on his back — it was Vaishakha Purnima; a symbol of patience and support. The five stories of the Satyanarayan katha (the Brahmin Shatananda, the woodcutter, the merchant Sadhu, Kalavati, King Tungadhwaja) — the fruit of fulfilling the vow of Satyanarayan's worship.
Narasimha — Hiranyakashipu asked 'Where is your Vishnu? In this pillar?' Prahlad said 'Yes, he is everywhere.' The pillar split and Narasimha, half man and half lion, emerged — at dusk (neither day nor night), on the threshold (neither inside nor outside), on his lap (neither earth nor sky), with his nails (neither weapon held nor thrown) — through every condition of the boon — and killed him; he calmed with Prahlad in his lap. Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi, Pradosh Kaal.
Why this katha — the significance
The end of the Vaishakha bath — those who bathed at dawn daily from Chaitra Purnima complete it today; the Skanda Purana calls Vaishakha the Madhava month — on this Purnima the charity of water (pots, water stalls), grain, umbrellas and slippers is the greatest merit in the heat.
Buddha Purnima — compassion, non-violence, the middle path; special in the Buddhist countries (Sri Lanka-Nepal-Thailand-Bhutan) and at Sarnath-Bodh Gaya-Kushinagar in India; a public holiday in India; in the Hindu tradition Buddha is the ninth avatar of Vishnu — hence honoured in both.
Narasimha Jayanti (Chaturdashi, Pradosh) — 'neither day nor night, neither inside nor outside' — Narasimha emerged from a pillar at dusk and killed Hiranyakashipu; a vrat for protection from fear, enemies and illness, especially for the protection of children (the Prahlad spirit); a big day in the south and Maharashtra.
How the katha is heard
- Hear or read the katha after the puja, before the aarti — the whole family sits together.
- The one keeping the vrat should listen with a calm mind; keep a lamp lit and a little akshat-flowers in hand.
- At the end, offer the flowers at the deity's feet and bow; share the prasad with everyone.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Buddha Purnima in {Y}?
The date at the top is this year's Vaishakha Purnima — from panchang calculations; Narasimha Jayanti (a day earlier, Chaturdashi) is in the table too; the Delhi times for Brahma Muhurat (bath) and moonrise are shown as well.
Do Hindus observe Buddha Purnima?
Yes — in the Hindu tradition Vaishakha Purnima is the Kurma avatar, the end of the Vaishakha bath and the best Purnima for Satyanarayan; Buddha is regarded as the ninth avatar of Vishnu — so lamp-offering, non-violence and compassion are shared by both.
When and how is Narasimha Jayanti observed?
On Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi in Pradosh Kaal (after sunset) — a day's fast, Narasimha puja in the evening (red-yellow flowers, Tulsi, panakam-chana), the Prahlad katha; paran the next morning (Purnima); a vrat for protection from fear, illness and enemies and for the safety of children.
On which Purnima is the Satyanarayan katha most auspicious?
Valid on every Purnima; the Purnimas of Vaishakha, Kartik and Magha are best — Vaishakha Purnima is special as the end of the Madhava month; in Pradosh Kaal or at noon, panjiri prasad in the sava (1¼) measure.
What is the Vaishakha bath?
A daily dawn bath in a river/tirtha, Vishnu puja and water charity from Chaitra Purnima to Vaishakha Purnima — the vrat of the Madhava month in the Skanda Purana; also valid at home with Gangajal; it ends today.
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