Today is the noble ‘Bāk’ full moon Poya Day freshened with New Year celebrations.
Astrology says New Year begins when the sun moves from ‘Mina Rāshi’ (the house of Pisces) to ‘Mēsha Rāshi’ (the house of Aries ) from where the sun starts it’s 365 day journey. Cultural anthropological history evidence this apparent motion of the sun has to be considered as a crowning celebration. The mythological backdrop which is based on Hindu literature says, the prince of peace ‘Indradeva’ occupy earth to ensure peace and happiness in this precious month of April which is called ‘Bāk’ is the very first month of the year as per Sinhalese calendar. Consequently the glorious full moon day in the month of April is named as
It is noteworthy to state the importance of ‘Bāk’ full moon day on behalf of Sri Lankan and Buddhists around the world.
▪Lord Buddha’s second visit to Sri Lanka at the 5th year of attaining nibbana
▪The objective of the second visit to Sri Lanka was to make the kings of Sri Lanka understood that non vengeance is more important than vengeance.
At one dawn of a ‘Bāk’ full moon day, while the Blessed One is residing in ‘Jēthāwānārāmāyā’ or ‘Jetha’ grove which is located outside the old city of ‘Sāvatthi’ and was was thinking benevolently
“whom should i help today?” and caught Sri Lanka to his kind eyes.
Sri Lanka was then ruled by ‘Yākkshā’, ‘Rākshā’ , ‘Nāgā’ and ‘Dēva’ tribes. ‘Yākkshā’ tribes were powerful in ‘Mahiyangana’ reign while ‘Dēva’ tribes were ruling in the hill country. ‘Nāgā’ tribes were ruling Northern and Southern parts. Among those, powerful ‘Chulodara’ and ‘Mahodara’ ruled ‘Nagadeepaya’.
▪King Mahodara was owned a gem chair from his mother. One of the sisters’ son of Mahodara too came up with the rights to this gem chair. Having had a great value , uncle and nephew were onto a war against for the possession of a chair embedded with gems.
Understanding the huge devastation of the war, Buddha decided to visit to the battle field of Sri Lanka and to show how important was peace to be.
▪There was a God on a banyan tree in front of ‘Jēthāwānārāmāyā’ which was said to be belonged to a God called ‘Samiddhi Sumana’. Buddha was accompanied with this God ‘Sumana’ to ‘Nagadeepaya’. Buddha addressed the kings very kindly. The two kings were very much pleased with his kindness and unarmed. They listened to Buddha and understood the value of peace and harmony. As a result they offered this precious chair to Buddha. He made it to a relic of ‘Pāribhoigika’.The Blessed One preached explaining the destructive results of war and constructive results of ‘mētta’ which means loving kindness exampled through ‘Chāndānā Jāāthaka’ and ‘kaskoluka Jāāthaka’.
Kings of ‘Nāgā’ embraced Buddhism and requested for a religious remembrance to worship. He gifted the precious chair back to them which is considered as a relic now.
King ‘Chulodārā’ together with king ‘Māhodara’ built a stupa called ‘Rājāyāthānā’ where Buddha preached dhamma and the place was then known as ‘Nāgāpāttā’.
King ‘Māniākkikā’ from ‘Kalāniya’, who was the uncle of ‘Māhodārā’, was in ‘Nāgadeepāyā’ at that time in support of the war. Having a great peaceful interest towards Buddhism, King ‘Māniākkikā’ invited Buddha to visit ‘Kelaniya’ in future. .
With the rays of moon,…..
With the celebrations of New year ….
On ‘Bāk’ full moon poya day
Join …
Buddhist brotherhood…
to feel light
from the bliss of moon ‘s rays
A wish from
BUDDHIST BROTHERHOOD
