भूमिका भारतीय संस्कृति में व्रत और त्योहारों की एक समृद्ध परंपरा रही है, जिनका उद्देश्य केवल धार्मिक अनुष्ठान नहीं बल्कि मानसिक, शारीरिक और सामाजिक शुद्धि भी होता है। इसी परंपरा में एक महत्वपूर्ण स्थान रखता है — एकादशी व्रत । ‘एकादशी’ संस्कृत भाषा का शब्द है, जिसका अर्थ होता है — "ग्यारहवां"। हिन्दू पंचांग के अनुसार, हर पक्ष (शुक्ल और कृष्ण) का ग्यारहवां दिन एकादशी कहलाता है। इस प्रकार एक वर्ष में लगभग 24 एकादशी आती हैं और अधिमास होने पर यह संख्या 26 तक पहुँच सकती है। एकादशी का धार्मिक महत्व एकादशी को भगवान विष्णु का प्रिय दिन माना गया है। यह दिन विष्णु भक्तों के लिए अत्यंत पवित्र होता है। स्कंद पुराण, पद्म पुराण, भागवत पुराण, गरुड़ पुराण जैसे ग्रंथों में एकादशी व्रत की महिमा का विस्तार से वर्णन किया गया है। कहा गया है कि एकादशी का व्रत करने से व्यक्ति के समस्त पाप नष्ट हो जाते हैं और उसे मोक्ष की प्राप्ति होती है। एकादशी का मूल उद्देश्य है – इंद्रियों पर नियंत्रण, मन की स्थिरता, और ईश्वर के प्रति पूर्ण समर्पण । इस दिन व्यक्ति अन्न का त्याग करता है, जिससे तन और मन दोनो...
Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, was a spiritual leader who lived in ancient India between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. He is the founder of Buddhism, one of the major religions in the world.
Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini, a town located in present-day Nepal, in the year 563 BCE. His father, King Suddhodana, was the leader of the Shakya clan, and his mother was Queen Maya. According to legend, when Maya was pregnant with Siddhartha, she had a dream that a white elephant with six tusks entered her womb. The dream was interpreted as a sign that her child would be a great leader or spiritual teacher.
As a young prince, Siddhartha lived a life of luxury and privilege within the walls of his father's palace. However, he soon became disillusioned with the empty pleasures of his life and began to seek a deeper meaning and purpose. At the age of 29, he left the palace and set out on a spiritual journey to find the truth about life and the nature of suffering.
For six years, Siddhartha lived as an ascetic, practicing extreme self-denial and meditation. He wandered through the forests and mountains of northern India, seeking guidance from various teachers and sages. However, he still did not find the answers he was looking for.
One day, Siddhartha sat down under a Bodhi tree in the town of Bodh Gaya and vowed not to move until he had attained enlightenment. After meditating for several days, he experienced a profound realization and achieved enlightenment. He became a Buddha, which means "awakened one."
As a Buddha, Siddhartha spent the rest of his life teaching others about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. He traveled throughout India, speaking to people from all walks of life and spreading his message of compassion, nonviolence, and wisdom.
Siddhartha Gautama passed away at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, India. His teachings and philosophy continue to inspire millions of people around the world and have had a profound impact on human history and culture.
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