Latest news with #GautamaBuddha
India.com
17-05-2025
- India.com
Discover The 5 Best Places To Visit In Hyderabad With Friends
Hyderabad, the vibrant capital of Telangana, is not only steeped in rich history and culture but also buzzing with modern attractions, making it a perfect destination for a memorable trip with friends. From historical monuments and calm lakes to busy bazaars and tasty food, Hyderabad offers a range of experiences that can suit everyone's preference. Here are some top-rated places you should visit when you come to Hyderabad with your group of friends. 1. Charminar A visit to one of Hyderabad's most iconic sites, Charminar, is mandatory. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built this magnificent building in 1591, and it stands in the middle of all trade activities in the city. The view from its roof is unmissable, as is its architectural splendor. The place around Charminar is famous for lively markets where you can buy things to take back home, like Hyderabadi pearls, which are world-renowned. 2. Ramoji Film City Ramoji Film City, the biggest film studio complex globally, cannot be overlooked by film fans or anyone who loves adventure. This place has numerous shows that entertain visitors a lot, thrilling rides apart from beautifully landscaped gardens, giving one the opportunity to spend an entire day there. The experience of getting inside these studios is fascinating as well, since you will see behind-the-scenes scenes during playback sessions. 3. Hussain Sagar Lake Situated in central Hyderabad, Hussain Sagar Lake boasts a monolithic statue of the Gautama Buddha on an island in the a boat ride towards this remote site surrounded by placid lake area comes alive at dusk with street food vendors and other recreational activities, turning it into an ideal place for relaxation. 4. Golconda Fort Golconda fort ruins remind people about how skilled the Qutb Shahi dynasty was in terms of architectural design. The fort is known for its acoustics, light and sound show during the evenings, and panoramic view of the city from above, which make it a must-see. Hiking up to the fort at sunset gives you an out-of-this-world feeling. 5. Salar Jung Museum For history lovers and art enthusiasts, the Salar Jung Museum is a paradise! The museum has one of the biggest private collections of antiques ever assembled by one person. It displays artifacts from different periods and regions, such as Persian carpets, Japanese lacquerware, various clocks, sculptures, and paintings. Final Thoughts Hyderabad, which has both historical and modern attractions, has many things that friends can do to make their trip enjoyable and memorable. From ancient ruins to serene lakes for boating or trying out local delicacies, there is something for everyone in this city! So pack your bags because it is time to go on an adventure that will leave you with cherished memories and countless stories to tell!
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
A thousand Buddhas
We have all heard how there is no one single Ramayana, there are many — 300 at least. But no one tells us there is not just one Buddha; that there are dozens, maybe thousands, perhaps even millions, as per the earliest Buddhist scriptures. Also, there are hundreds of versions of his tale, in Pali and Sanskrit and Chinese and Japanese. No one clarifies that the historical Buddha we are so familiar with is a 19th century European invention. India had forgotten Buddha by the time the British arrived. So, effectively, the British rediscovered him in the 19th century. The discovery of Pali manuscripts from Sri Lanka and Buddhist sites in the Gangetic plains was the greatest triumph of the Asiatic Society and Archaeological Survey of India. The British scholars were convinced that this cultural amnesia about Buddha was a deliberate cover-up, a Brahmin conspiracy. They used the Buddha to put clueless Hindu intellectuals on the defensive. And it worked. A European creation? In the vast literary corpus of Buddhism were found stories of Gautama Buddha travelling to Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand in his lifetime. There were fantastic tales of him fighting Mara, the demon of desire, and realistic ones of his death following a bout of dysentery after eating pork or mushrooms. European historians took it upon themselves to decide which of these stories were true. Thus, a historical Buddha was imagined. He died, depending on which text was consulted, a century, two centuries, maybe eight centuries before Ashoka's coronation. Japanese scholars of the early 20th century listed over 40 theories about Buddha's birth date. The site of his birth and death were identified based on traditional pilgrim routes, not evidence. The Orientalists argued that the Pali texts were older, more conservative, more historical, while Sanskrit texts were later corruptions. But that is not backed up by evidence. The earliest Buddhist manuscripts were recently discovered in Gandhara, dated to 100 BC. Many of them are in Sanskrit. They speak of many Buddhas, following a repetitive pattern that is also found in contemporary Jain mythology, and even in Valmiki's Ramayana. They also do not speak of the 'four noble truths'. These are simply mentioned amongst other truths. No one knows which language Buddha spoke in. Pali was a language used by Sri Lankan Buddhist monks around 500 AD, to distinguish themselves from rival Mahayana schools. Of masculinity and Krishna lore The earliest biographies of the Buddha (Buddhacharita, Lalitavistara Sūtra, Mahāvastu) were compiled only by 200 AD, roughly when the Ramayana and Mahabharata were also compiled. By this time, images of Buddha's conception, his birth, enlightenment and death had started appearing on the railings surrounding stupas in Sanchi, Bharhut, Mathura and Gandhara. He had started being shown in human form, with Vedic gods such as Indra and Brahma bowing to him. None of the early biographies refer to the ultimate episode, the death or parinirvana. This came from Mahaparinibbana-sutta, dated to 500 AD. In the early biographies, Buddha's wife is not named and is simply mentioned as Rahula's mother. There are indications that a wife and a son were introduced only to establish Buddha's masculinity. In the Chinese Ocean Sutra, there are many magical tales of how courtesans who doubt Buddha's manliness are taught a lesson by him, appearing as a client. There are stories where the prince of the Sakya clan has two wives, and sometimes even three. Yashodhara is won in a competition; Mrigaja praises his beauty; Gopa falls in love with him. Yashodhara embodies pure love while Gopa embodies carnal love, in late Tantrik Buddhist texts, perhaps influenced by Krishna lore. In Pali versions, Buddha's son Rahula is born on the day of his departure. In Sanskrit versions, the child is conceived on that night. There are stories stating that the pregnant Yashodhara gave birth to Rahula on the day Buddha attained enlightenment. She was accused of infidelity and had to prove her purity, much like Sita. That we translate Gautama's transformation into Buddha as 'enlightenment' rather than 'heightened awareness' reveals how intimately the construction of Buddha's history is linked to European Orientalists of 19th century, who saw in him the Aryan sage they were looking for — outside the Christian world, and also outside Hindu idolatry. They presented Buddhism as a Protestant movement, a rejection of Vedic ritualism. They were constructing Indian history using the framework of European Christian history. They established Buddha as historical in contrast to the mythic Ram and Krishna of the Hindus. That wound festers even today, since many scholars and activists still assume these European inventions as facts. No one wants their religious leader to be just a myth — a creation of faith, a construction of the faithful. But it almost always is. Devdutt Pattanaik is the author of 50 books on mythology, art and culture.
Hindustan Times
12-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Miss World 2025 contestants visit Buddhavanam on Buddha Purnima
Hyderabad, The contestants of the Miss World 2025 from 22 countries visited Buddhavanam, a Buddhist theme park on the banks of the Krishna river in neighbouring Nalgonda district, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima on Monday. The contestants participated in meditation and other spiritual programmes. Noted archaeologist E Sivanagi Reddy explained the significance of Buddhavanam to them. The participants of the global event were delighted to see the sculptures depicting the life of Gautama Buddha at the park. Buddhavanam, located beside the famous Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, is a one-of-its-kind Buddhist heritage theme park spread across 279 acres. It has been developed to showcase glimpses of the Buddha's glorious life, featuring Buddha Charitha Vanam , Jataka Park, Dhyana Vanam, Stupa Vanam, Maha Stupa, and an in-house Buddhist Heritage Museum. Before arriving at Buddhavanam, the contestants also took part in a photo shoot at Vijay Vihar, located close to the dam. Nagarjuna Sagar derives its name from Nagarjuna Konda or Sriparvata-Vijayapuri, which served as the capital of the Ikshvaku dynasty that ruled parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. Nagarjuna Konda was a prominent centre of Mahayana Buddhism. The contestants hailed from countries including India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, China, Thailand, and Armenia. The Miss World contestants are scheduled to participate in a heritage walk at Charminar and attend a welcome dinner at the Nizam-era Chowmahalla Palace on May 13. The administration, including the police, has made elaborate security and logistical arrangements for the heritage walk. The Miss World 2025 contest began with a glittering ceremony in Hyderabad on May 10 and will continue until May 31. The Telangana government has drawn up an action plan to enhance the state's global image and attract investments by leveraging the Miss World event. The participants will visit prominent tourist attractions across the state. Their itinerary includes heritage sites from the Nizam era in Hyderabad and the UNESCO-listed Ramappa temple in Warangal.
India Today
12-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Bank holiday today: Are banks open or closed on May 12 for Buddha Purnima 2025?
Today, May 12, being a Monday, is celebrated as Buddha Purnima, one of the key festivals for Buddhists. It is observed to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Gautama Buddha. In commemoration of the day, banks across several Indian states are closed today according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday Purnima is a gazetted holiday in India. That is, most government offices, schools, and banks in the states participating in the festival are closed. The festival is observed with prayer meetings, meditation, processions, and offerings at Buddhist temples. Being a public holiday in much of India, banking services are also are asked to schedule their trips to the banks or significant transactions accordingly, as all public and private sector banks in the states celebrating the holiday will not provide over-the-counter facilities today. Banks in various states will close on Monday, May 12, 2025, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, and this would cause a three-day bank holiday across these states because it follows after the second Saturday and Sunday. Banks will then reopen on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, after the closure during the extended WHERE BANKS ARE CLOSED TODAY:Banks are shut today in the following 15 states and union territories:Arunachal PradeshChhattisgarhGujaratJharkhandMadhya PradeshMaharashtraManipurMizoramOdishaSikkimTamil NaduTripuraUttarakhandWest BengalDelhiThis list is based on the official RBI bank holiday calendar and local government notifications. Digital banking services such as net banking, mobile apps, and ATMs will continue to work as usual. Only physical bank branches will remain closed in the listed states. Must Watch
New Straits Times
12-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Devotees observe Wesak Day with prayers at Brickfields temple
KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of Buddhist devotees gathered at the 130-year-old Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields to celebrate Wesak Day ahead of tonight's procession. Wesak Day commemorates the three significant facets of Buddhism: the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha. It is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar, on which devotees light lotus-shaped oil lamps, each flicker symbolising the inner light of wisdom. The day began with chanting of prayers, lighting of lamps, sprinkling of blessed water and prayer offering by devotees. Monks led by Chief High Priest Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana conducted a blessing ceremony for devotees in a hall within the temple and tied yellow strings on the devotees' wrists as they sought blessing, bowing down in front of the monks seated in clear sight of the Buddha statue. Among the devotees was Sarasvathy Muniandy, 44, a nurse from Klang, who has been making the journey to the Maha Vihara Temple every Wesak Day since her teenage years. "There's a peace here that I can't find anywhere else," she said, her hands still scented from the lotus flower offering she had just placed at the altar. "Even though I'm not a Buddhist, I come because this place welcomes everyone. On Wesak Day, I feel renewed like I'm pressing a reset in my heart." Loo Wei Han, 27, from Ipoh, stood watching as oil lamps were lit one by one by a stream of silent devotees. "This is my first time celebrating Wesak Day here in Kuala Lumpur. I came alone, just to experience what I've seen online. "The sense of unity, the calmness, it's overwhelming. You look around and everyone is here for something bigger than themselves." For Sharon, 64, the celebration was deeply personal. A lifelong volunteer, she comes from a family that has served the temple for generations. Her great-grandparents were among its earliest contributors. "We've been here every season, not just for Wesak Day," she said. She fondly recalled the temple's modest beginnings and how the main Buddha statue was brought from Burma (now Myanmar), its bells from Sri Lanka, and the temple's grounds, once sandy and bare, which have since evolved into a sacred space of heritage and worship. The celebrations at the temple were both solemn and joyful. Meditation sessions, a blood donation drive and dharma talks took place in shaded halls. Outside, volunteers handed out thousands of vegetarian meals in biodegradable boxes, part of the temple's annual tradition of dana, the Buddhist practice of giving. Later in the evening, the annual grand float procession is set to take place from the temple's grounds on a 12km journey to the city. It will be a key highlight during a grand procession with 25 to 30 intricately decorated floats parading through the heart of Kuala Lumpur, skipping Jalan Bukit Bintang this year due to traffic changes. The event typically draws 30,000 to 50,000 spectators.
