Dharma Chakra Day

Dharma Chakra Day | UPSC

HEADLINES:

PM addresses on the occasion of Dharma Chakra Day

WHY IN NEWS:

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today delivered a video address on the occasion of inauguration of Dharma Chakra Day.

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 1 : Festivals : Buddhism

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS note the significance of Dharma Chakra Day .

For MAINS open Tamil Nadu state text book and go through the chapter Buddhism .

CONTEXT:

The International Buddhist Confederation , under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is celebrating Asadha Poornima on July 4, 2020, as Dharma Chakra Day.

DHARMA CHAKRA DAY

COMMEMORATION : This day commemorates Gautam Buddha’s First Sermon to his first five ascetic disciples at the Deer Park, Rsipatana in the present day Sarnath near Varanasi, UP.
SACRED DAY : It is the second most sacred day for Buddhists after the Buddha Poornima or Vesak.

The day is also celebrated by Buddhists all over the world as the day of Dharma Chakra Parvattana or “Turning of the Wheel of Dharma”.

GURU PURNIMA : Prime Minister conveyed his greetings on Ashadha Poornima, also known as Guru Purnima, and also paid homage to Lord Buddha.
SEASONAL RETREAT : The Rainy Season retreat (Varsha Vassa) for the Monks and Nuns also starts with this day lasting for three lunar months from July to October.

Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment and death on the same day.

MEDITATION : During which they remain in a single place, generally in their temples (Viharas/ Chaityas) dedicated to intensive meditation.

This teaching of Dhamma Cakka- PavattanaSutta (Pali) or Dharma chakra Pravartana Sutra (Sanskrit) is also known as the First Turning of Wheels of Dharma and comprised of the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path.

IASbhai WINDUP:

Buddhism geo-politics is in full swing around Asia Pacific region.

India should concentrate more on :

Buddhist pilgrimage centres.
Constructing Buddhism corridors .
Enhance people to people contact etc.

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Dharma Chakra Day | UPSC

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