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Wonderful year ahead

Blessed Nawam Poya day...

Wish you all happy new year

" පින්බර නිකිණි පොහොය දිනයක් වේවා! "

The most significant event pertaining to Nikini Full Moon Poya day was the first Dhamma Sangayana (convocation) which was held in the Sattapanni Cave in Rajagahanuwara many centuries ago. Three months had passed since the Parinirvana (Nirvana after death) of the Buddha, and the senior disciples of the Blessed One felt a need to enforce certain principles and rules with regard to the behavior of the Maha Sangha.

It was noticed that a certain monk was behaving in a manner unseemly to the Maha Sangha, therefore this convocation was held and presided over by Mahakassapa Thero. This event also marked the attainment of Arahanthship by the Buddha’s chief disciple, Ananda Thero. He had been the Buddha’s chief attendant and was considered second only to the Blessed One in prudence, intelligence and wisdom, yet he had not attained Arahantship, since this could happen only after the Parinirvana of the Buddha. The Dhamma Sangayana commenced with 499 bhikkhus, with Ananda Thero, who became an Arahant on the eve of the event, taking the total congregation to 500.

" පින්බර ඇසළ පොහොය දිනයක් වේවා! "
Adhi Esala Poya, also known as Adhi Esala Full Moon Poya, is an important religious observance in the Buddhist calendar. Poya refers to the full moon day, which occurs once every lunar month, and it is considered a significant day for Buddhists to engage in religious activities and reflect on the teachings of Lord Buddha.
The importance of Adhi Esala Poya is associated with several significant events in Buddhist history:
1. First Sermon of Lord Buddha: Adhi Esala Poya commemorates the day when Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, known as Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, to his first five disciples at the Deer Park in Sarnath, India. This event is also known as the "Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma" (Dhamma Cakka Pavattana).
2. The Establishment of the Sangha: On the same day as the first sermon, the Buddha ordained his first five disciples, establishing the monastic order or Sangha. This marked the beginning of the Buddhist monastic community, which has played a crucial role in preserving and propagating the Buddha's teachings over the centuries.
3. Esala Perahera: In Sri Lanka, Adhi Esala Poya is particularly significant as it marks the beginning of the Esala Perahera, a grand and colorful religious festival held in the city of Kandy. The Esala Perahera lasts for several nights and involves a magnificent procession with traditional dancers, drummers, beautifully decorated elephants, and a sacred relic casket paraded through the streets. The festival attracts both local and international spectators and is considered one of the most spectacular cultural events in Sri Lanka.
On Adhi Esala Poya, Buddhists engage in various religious activities, including visiting temples, participating in meditation and Dhamma discussions, and making offerings to the monks and the Buddha's image. Devotees also observe the Eight Precepts, which are an extended version of the Five Precepts, involving additional moral and ethical guidelines for that day.
For Buddhists, Adhi Esala Poya is an opportunity to reflect on the Buddha's teachings, practice compassion and generosity, and strive towards spiritual growth and liberation from suffering (nibbana). It is a day of significance, joy, and spiritual renewal for millions of Buddhists around the world, especially in countries where Buddhism is a prominent religion.

"දහම් සිසිලෙන් ලොව නැහැවෙන පින්බර
ඇසළ මංගල්‍යක් වේවා !"

The Importance of Esala Poya,

It was on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day the Buddha arrived at the deer park of Isipathana to preach Dhamma to Ven. Kondangna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji, the five ascetics.

The Buddha delivered His first discourse Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta to them. At the end, the eldest Kondangna Thera attained the first stage of sainthood.

Esala Full Moon Poya is very important in the Buddhist calendar. According to Buddhist history, many significant events had taken place on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day. Among them, the conception of Prince Siddartha in Queen Mahamaya’s womb occurred on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day.

Buddhist literature reveals that a thousand years ago Queen Mahamaya, in one of her previous lives had the same unusual dream on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day.

It was on this day that King Suddhodana, Prince Siddartha’s father was conveyed the happy news by Queen Mahamaya, the mother of Prince Siddartha.

The Queen had woken up early in the morning and informed the King about this. The King had a deep thought of the dream and knew that a great person was conceived in Queen Mahamaya’s womb.

According to the dream, four guardian deities of the world carried the Queen in a beautiful couch to the snow clad foothills of the Himalayan Mountain Range, where a white baby elephant that had a white lotus flower in its trunk walked thrice round the couch of the sleeping Queen Mahamaya. Thereafter, the baby elephant entered into her womb from the right side of the abdomen. The dream came to an end and the Queen was suddenly awakened.

The next morning Queen Mahamaya revealed everything about the previous night’s dream to King Suddhodana.

The King realised that the dream indicated a good news, the conception of a very great person to the world. It was the Esala Full Moon Poya Day, Queen Mahamaya was conceived Bodisattva.

The King and the Queen did not have a child for 20 years. Therefore, the happy news was a joyful event not only for the King and the Queen, but the maids and other workers employed in the King’s palace. The Prince was born on the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

History reveals that the month of Vesak was introduced to the Buddhist calendar during the Vishaka Era. Prince Siddartha was also born in a month belonged to the Vishaka Era. It was the fifth month according to the Roman calendar.

The three significant incidents in the life of the Buddha, the Birth, enlightenment and the passing away took place on the same Full Moon Poya Day during the Vishaka era. Therefore, Buddhists call it as the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

Prince Siddartha’s mother, Queen Mahamaya passed away after seven days of his birth. The Prince was thereafter looked after by his step-mother Queen Maha Prajapathi Gothami, the sister of Queen Mahamaya. After the death, Queen Mahamaya was born in the Thavthisa heaven.

The Prince lived a luxurious life. He realised that the life was impermanent and full of suffering. Therefore, he was always determined to find a path or a way to solve the problems of universal sufferings. At the age of 29, the prince decided to leave the palace, leaving all comforts to find the way out of universal suffering. The great Renunciation also took place on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day, 2,600 years ago.

It was on the Esala Poy Day, seven weeks after the attainment of Buddhahood, the Buddha delivered His first discourse, the Dhammachakkapavattna Sutta (the wheel of truth) to the five Ascetics, Kondanna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji at Isipathanaya in Benares (Baranasi).

The sermon consisted of the central teachings of the Buddha – the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. At the end of the Sutta the eldest Kondangna Thera attained sotapatti, the first stage of sainthood.

The Buddha says, “What, O Bhikkus, is that middle path the Thathagatha has discovered which promotes sight, knowledge, peace, higher wisdom, Enlightenment and Nibbana? It is this Noble Eightfold Path”.

Hearing the discourse, the other four ascetics later attained the status of Arahat. The five ascetics were the first disciples of the Buddha. He spent three months with these pancha vagga bhikkhus in Isipatanaramaya.

The book The Discovery of India, written by former Indian Prime Minister Sri Jawaharlal Nehru mentions how he sees the Buddha preaching his first sermon” at Saranath near Baranasi.

He said, “Some of his recorded words would come like a distant echo through two thousand five hundred years ago.”

The observance of Vas by the Maha Sangha during the rainy season was introduced by the Buddha when he was with the five bhikkhus. The commencement of the rainy season began from the month of Esala.

Vas signifies the cessation from going about begging alms (Pindapatha) during the rainy season for the bhikkhus residing in a definite place, either in a sanctuary of their respective vihares or in a particular abode. Buddhist laity provided the bhikkhus with food, robes and other necessities during the rainy season.

In return for this gesture, the bhikkus were told by the Buddha to engage in the practice of ‘Vidharshana Bhavana’ meditation and make the laity partake of the merit.

Furthermore, Esala also signifies a number of important events in the life of the Buddha.

It was on Esala Full Moon Poya Day, the Buddha visited Thusitha Heaven by using his miraculous power to preach the Abhidhamma to his mother the Matru Divyaraja and other gods.

The convocation of the first Buddhist Council (First Dharma Sangayana) was held on the Esala Poya Day under the patronage of King Ajasaththa, three months after the Parinibbana of the Buddha at the Satipattana cave on the vehera rock near Rajagaha. It was headed by the Ven Maha Kassapa with the participation of 500 Arahats.

It was on the same Esala Full Moon Poya Day, that Prince Rahula, the only child of Prince Sdiddartha and Princess Yasodara was born. The day Prince Siddartha saw the whole world including His wife and child suffering not knowing the way out of it. The Prince left home in prime of his youth. Buddhists still believe that his Great Renunciation was the boldest step that a man has ever taken.

An additional factor that enhances the value of this poya to Sri Lanka is the first local ordination of a Sri Lankan, when Prince Arittha, the nephew of the king, entered the Order at Anuradhapura, under Arahant Mahinda, following the introduction of Buddhism. On this day there also took place the laying of the foundation for the celebrated dagoba, the Mahastupa or the Ruwanvelisaya and also its enshrinement of relics by King Dutugemunu. It is owing to the combination of all these events that the Sinhala Buddhists fittingly observe this day ceremonially by holding Esala festivals throughout the island, giving pride of place to the internationally famous Kandy Esala Perahera.

Esala poya assumes prominence for yet another ritual of the Sri Lankan Buddhists. This is the annual rains retreat of the monks, 'Vas', which commences on the day following the Esala full moon."දහම් සිසිලෙන් ලොව නැහැවෙන පින්බර
ඇසළ මංගල්‍යක් වේවා !"

The Importance of Esala Poya,

It was on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day the Buddha arrived at the deer park of Isipathana to preach Dhamma to Ven. Kondangna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji, the five ascetics.

The Buddha delivered His first discourse Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta to them. At the end, the eldest Kondangna Thera attained the first stage of sainthood.

Esala Full Moon Poya is very important in the Buddhist calendar. According to Buddhist history, many significant events had taken place on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day. Among them, the conception of Prince Siddartha in Queen Mahamaya’s womb occurred on the Esala Full Moon Poya Day.

Buddhist literature reveals that a thousand years ago Queen Mahamaya, in one of her previous lives had the same unusual dream on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day.

It was on this day that King Suddhodana, Prince Siddartha’s father was conveyed the happy news by Queen Mahamaya, the mother of Prince Siddartha.

The Queen had woken up early in the morning and informed the King about this. The King had a deep thought of the dream and knew that a great person was conceived in Queen Mahamaya’s womb.

According to the dream, four guardian deities of the world carried the Queen in a beautiful couch to the snow clad foothills of the Himalayan Mountain Range, where a white baby elephant that had a white lotus flower in its trunk walked thrice round the couch of the sleeping Queen Mahamaya. Thereafter, the baby elephant entered into her womb from the right side of the abdomen. The dream came to an end and the Queen was suddenly awakened.

The next morning Queen Mahamaya revealed everything about the previous night’s dream to King Suddhodana.

The King realised that the dream indicated a good news, the conception of a very great person to the world. It was the Esala Full Moon Poya Day, Queen Mahamaya was conceived Bodisattva.

The King and the Queen did not have a child for 20 years. Therefore, the happy news was a joyful event not only for the King and the Queen, but the maids and other workers employed in the King’s palace. The Prince was born on the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

History reveals that the month of Vesak was introduced to the Buddhist calendar during the Vishaka Era. Prince Siddartha was also born in a month belonged to the Vishaka Era. It was the fifth month according to the Roman calendar.

The three significant incidents in the life of the Buddha, the Birth, enlightenment and the passing away took place on the same Full Moon Poya Day during the Vishaka era. Therefore, Buddhists call it as the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

Prince Siddartha’s mother, Queen Mahamaya passed away after seven days of his birth. The Prince was thereafter looked after by his step-mother Queen Maha Prajapathi Gothami, the sister of Queen Mahamaya. After the death, Queen Mahamaya was born in the Thavthisa heaven.

The Prince lived a luxurious life. He realised that the life was impermanent and full of suffering. Therefore, he was always determined to find a path or a way to solve the problems of universal sufferings. At the age of 29, the prince decided to leave the palace, leaving all comforts to find the way out of universal suffering. The great Renunciation also took place on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day, 2,600 years ago.

It was on the Esala Poy Day, seven weeks after the attainment of Buddhahood, the Buddha delivered His first discourse, the Dhammachakkapavattna Sutta (the wheel of truth) to the five Ascetics, Kondanna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji at Isipathanaya in Benares (Baranasi).

The sermon consisted of the central teachings of the Buddha – the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. At the end of the Sutta the eldest Kondangna Thera attained sotapatti, the first stage of sainthood.

The Buddha says, “What, O Bhikkus, is that middle path the Thathagatha has discovered which promotes sight, knowledge, peace, higher wisdom, Enlightenment and Nibbana? It is this Noble Eightfold Path”.

Hearing the discourse, the other four ascetics later attained the status of Arahat. The five ascetics were the first disciples of the Buddha. He spent three months with these pancha vagga bhikkhus in Isipatanaramaya.

The book The Discovery of India, written by former Indian Prime Minister Sri Jawaharlal Nehru mentions how he sees the Buddha preaching his first sermon” at Saranath near Baranasi.

He said, “Some of his recorded words would come like a distant echo through two thousand five hundred years ago.”

The observance of Vas by the Maha Sangha during the rainy season was introduced by the Buddha when he was with the five bhikkhus. The commencement of the rainy season began from the month of Esala.

Vas signifies the cessation from going about begging alms (Pindapatha) during the rainy season for the bhikkhus residing in a definite place, either in a sanctuary of their respective vihares or in a particular abode. Buddhist laity provided the bhikkhus with food, robes and other necessities during the rainy season.

In return for this gesture, the bhikkus were told by the Buddha to engage in the practice of ‘Vidharshana Bhavana’ meditation and make the laity partake of the merit.

Furthermore, Esala also signifies a number of important events in the life of the Buddha.

It was on Esala Full Moon Poya Day, the Buddha visited Thusitha Heaven by using his miraculous power to preach the Abhidhamma to his mother the Matru Divyaraja and other gods.

The convocation of the first Buddhist Council (First Dharma Sangayana) was held on the Esala Poya Day under the patronage of King Ajasaththa, three months after the Parinibbana of the Buddha at the Satipattana cave on the vehera rock near Rajagaha. It was headed by the Ven Maha Kassapa with the participation of 500 Arahats.

It was on the same Esala Full Moon Poya Day, that Prince Rahula, the only child of Prince Sdiddartha and Princess Yasodara was born. The day Prince Siddartha saw the whole world including His wife and child suffering not knowing the way out of it. The Prince left home in prime of his youth. Buddhists still believe that his Great Renunciation was the boldest step that a man has ever taken.

An additional factor that enhances the value of this poya to Sri Lanka is the first local ordination of a Sri Lankan, when Prince Arittha, the nephew of the king, entered the Order at Anuradhapura, under Arahant Mahinda, following the introduction of Buddhism. On this day there also took place the laying of the foundation for the celebrated dagoba, the Mahastupa or the Ruwanvelisaya and also its enshrinement of relics by King Dutugemunu. It is owing to the combination of all these events that the Sinhala Buddhists fittingly observe this day ceremonially by holding Esala festivals throughout the island, giving pride of place to the internationally famous Kandy Esala Perahera.

Esala poya assumes prominence for yet another ritual of the Sri Lankan Buddhists. This is the annual rains retreat of the monks, 'Vas', which commences on the day following the Esala full moon.

මෝහාන්දකාර දුරු වී
දහම් සිසිලෙන් ලොව නැහැවෙන
සුපසන් පොසොන් මංගල්‍යක් වේවා !

From.
Sumudu BPO (Pvt) Ltd.

"Poson full-moon poya day is celebrated the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC, a festival of great historical and religious significance celebrated island-wide by Buddhists.
Poson, held on the full moon day of June, commemorates the occasion over 2,000 years ago when Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism.
The main center of celebration is Mihintale, the ancient monastic complex where the royal missionary monk Mahinda perched the first sermon to the ruling king and at Anuradhapura the ancient capital, to which large crowd of pilgrims converge. "

සුභ වෙසක් සතියක් වේවා....