Lha Bab Düchen (Wyl. lha babs dus chen), the 'Festival of Buddha's Descent from Heaven'
(November 3rd is the day for this celebration this year)
Lha Bab Düchen (Wyl. lha babs dus chen), the 'Festival of the Descent from Heaven'
— One of the four major Buddhist holidays. It occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth Tibetan month. Buddha’s mother Mayadevi was reborn in Indra’s heaven To repay her kindness and to liberate her, and also to benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teachings in the realm of the gods.
When he was about to return to this world, Indra and Brahma manifested three stairs of 80,000 yojanas each reaching this world in Sankisa. As the Buddha walked down the central one, they accompanied him to his left and right carrying umbrellas to honour him. He descended to earth in Sankisa, which is located in modern Uttar Pradesh, and which is counted among the eight holy places.
During this day, positive or negative actions are multiplied 10 million times. Happy Lhabab Duchen one of the 4 great Buddhist festivals commemorating four events in the life of the Buddha, according to Tibetan traditions. Lhabab Düchen occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth month on a Tibetan calendar.
This is a Buddhist festival celebrated to observe the descent of Buddha from heaven back to earth. Buddha had left for heaven at the age of 41, having ascended to The Heaven of Thirty-Three (Trayastrimsa) in order to give teachings to benefit the gods in the desire realms and to repay the kindness of his mother by liberating her from Samsara.
He was exhorted by his follower and representative Maudgalyayana to return, and after a long debate managed to return. This is considered to be one of the eight great deeds of the Buddha.
He returned to earth by a special triple ladder prepared by Viswakarma, the god of machines. On Lhabab Duchen, the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied ten million times. It is part of Tibetan Buddhist tradition to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day.
Lama Tsultrim Allione
