Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.t2.47

v2.c12.s1.t2.47

In the Northern Song Dynasty, the 8th day of the 12th lunar month was the festival of monks, but common people participated in celebrations. There were two activities held in large temples in Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Dynasty, including Bathing Buddha Fair and eating Laba porridge. It’s commonly said that Buddha became enlightened on the 8th day of the 12th lunar month. Bathing the Buddha and eating porridge on the Enlightenment Day had good grounds. According to Buddhist scriptures, Sakyamuni had practised austerity for six years after he adopted monastic life and he thought that austerity could help him to be enlightened finally, so he made the decision to terminate austerity. He came to Niranjana River to bathe in it and washed the dirt accumulated in past six years. After the bath, he became tired because of austerity. At that moment, the shepherdess Sujata offered him milk porridge. After drinking it, Sakyamuni restored his physical strength, and he came to sit under a bodhi tree. After 49 days of meditating, he became enlightened after the appearance of the morning star. He bathed and ate porridge before his enlightenment which was the origin for Kaifeng to hold Bathing Buddha Fair and eating Laba porridge in Northern Dynasty. Bathe Buddha was held twice-a-year by large temples in the capital on Buddha’s Birthday and Enlightenment Day in Northern Dynasty.