"Theravada Buddhist tradition has adhered to the assumption that the historical Buddha passed away during the night of the full moon in the lunar month of Visakha (which falls sometime in May to June). But the timing contradicts information given in the sutta, which states clearly that the Buddha died soon after the rainy-season retreat, most likely during the autumn or mid-winter, that is, November to January.
A description of the miracle of the unseasonal blooming of leaves and flowers on the sala trees, when the Buddha was laid down between them, indicates the time frame given in the sutta.
Autumn and winter, however, are seasons that are not favourable for the growth of mushrooms, which some scholars believe to be the source of the poison that the Buddha ate during his last meal." -- The Timing of How the Buddha Died
In light of this quote, I'm going to promote Christmas time as when the Buddha died.
Most likely, the Theravada Buddhists moved the Wesak (holy day for Buddha's Mahaparinirvana) to the night of the full moon in Visakha to coincide with the less warmer spring tending of crops planted during the cooler winter after the rainy season (after January).
Though, Saturnalia has nothing to do with the time the Buddha died. >:)
Original post: December 22, 2012 at 3:24 AM
2 comments:
Places posting the "Buddha died around Christmastime" meme
craigslist: https://forums.craigslist.org/?act=showThread&forumID=93&thread=86180&ID=225349750
Christmastime has nothing to do with Christ, and everything to do with BigBusiness.
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