Birth of Tathagata Buddha Shakyamuni today 22 May

Today is the 7th of the fourth Tibetan Lunar calendar of Saga Dawa month which marks the birth date of Tathagata Buddha Shakyamuni. Tathāgata (Sanskrit: [t̪əˈt̪ʰɑːɡət̪ə]) is a Pali and Sanskrit word; Gautama Buddha uses it when referring to himself in the Pāli Canon. The term is often thought to mean either “one who has thus gone” (tathā-gata) or “one who has thus come” (tathā-āgata). This is interpreted as signifying that the Tathāgata is beyond all coming and going – beyond all transitory phenomena. The exact date of Buddha’s Birthday is based on the lunar-solar calendars. The date for the celebration of Buddha’s Birthday varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar, but usually falls in April or May. In Tibet, it falls on the 7th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar (in May).