Legend has it that when Lord Buddha was born, there were extraordinary and auspicious signs to announce His birth. Ancient texts describe the sky as being clear with brilliant sunshine, flowers blooming and birds singing – dragons appeared in the sky spurting two streams of purified water (one cool and one warm), that gently cascaded down to bathe the Baby Buddha. At his birth, seven lotus flowers sprung up beneath His feet. He was said to stand up straight and took took seven steps – pointing one hand to the sky and ground He said “in the heaven above and earth below, I vow to liberate all who suffer in these three realms”. In Buddhism, the seven steps represent seven directions -- north, south, east, west, up, down, and here. The ritual of bathing a small Buddha statue marks this very significant moment of Buddha's birth.
The Origin of Bathing The Buddha Ritual
To commemorate Buddha's birth, Buddhists all over the world would perfrom the Bathing Buddha Ritual.
While bathing the statue of the Buddha with auspicious fragrant water, the Buddhists vow to cultivate themselves in attaining the purity of their three karmas (body, speech, and mind) in the past, present, and future.
The Merits of Bathing Buddha
The merits you derives from performing this bathing of the Buddha image is that you and a great multitude of men and gods will presently receive wealth, happiness, and long life without sickness; your every wish will be fulfilled. Your relatives, friends, and family will all be at ease. You will bid a long farewell to the eight conditions of trouble, forever escape the fount of suffering, and quickly achieve enlightenment.”
The Significance of Bathing Buddha
-Purification of the Body
- No Killing
- No Stealing
- No Sexual Misconduct
- Purification of The Speech
- No Lying
- No Slander
- No Harsh Speech
- No Gossip
- Purification of The Mind
- No Covetousness
- No Hatred
- No Delusion
Proper Way Of Bathing Buddha
-Fill ladle and pour water over small Buddha statue 3 times
-While pouring water, say:
- 1st wash: “May I eliminate all negative thoughts”
- 2nd wash: “May I cultivate good deeds”
- 3rd wash: “May I help save all living beings”
http://thrangumonastery.org/2011/05/buddha-bathing-ceremoney-on-may-15-2011-730pm/?amp
http://buddhism.about.com/od/buddhistholidays/a/vesakpuja.htm
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