Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life – and is a model for Buddhists on Mother’s Day

Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life – and is a model for Buddhists on Mother’s Day

Prince Siddhartha with his foster mother Mahaprajapati. A 1910 painting by Maligawage Sarlis. Photo by MediaJet, 2009 via Wikimedia CommonsMother’s Day offers an opportunity to reflect on what motherhood means in different religions and cultures. As a scholar of Buddhism and gender, I know how complicated Buddhist attitudes toward mothers can be. The historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, taught that family ties were obstacles to enlightenment. …

Buddha Purnima 2025 Wishes in Gujarati; Quotes, Messages, Images, Greetings, Banners, and Captions

In Hinduism, Buddha Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of Vaishakh Shukla Paksha. According to the beliefs of Gautam Buddha’s birth on this day, Buddha attained enlightenment on such a day. According to mythological beliefs, Mahatma Buddha is considered to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that he attained enlightenment at the age of 35 and became “Buddha” or “Awakened One”. It is believed that worshiping Lord Vishn…

Mahaprajapati Gautami: A Powerhouse Figure For Buddhists On Mother's Day

Mother’s Day offers an opportunity to reflect on what motherhood means in different religions and cultures. As a scholar of Buddhism and gender, I know how complicated Buddhist attitudes toward mothers can be. The historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, taught that family ties were obstacles to enlightenment. According to the Buddha, attachment to family causes suffering because family relationships eventually end and cannot offer lasting content…