It was on the Medin Full Moon Day, the Blessed one, along with a retinue of about 20,000 disciples’ trecked from Veluwanaramaya, Rajagriha, to Kimbulwathpura to meet his father, king Suddodhana, relatives and friends of the Sakhya Clan (a tribe dwelling in Northern India, in which Gotama or Sakyamuni Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha).
It can be said that the main theme of Medin Poya, deals with the Buddha’s journey from Rajagriha to Kimbulwathpura, seven years after this Abhiniskaramanaya to meet the relatives.
It was on this occasion, King Suddhodhana, Worshipped his beloved son Siddhartha Gautama Buddha for the third time. There- after all the other Princes, Princesses, Nobles worshiped the Buddha. The Buddha expounded the Vessanthara Jathakaya to the multitude.
This poya signifies the love and brotherhood and it was also on a Medin poya day that prince Rahula entered the Buddha Sasana.
Today is Duruthu Poya Day, which is the observance of the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka.
Before proceeding to Sri Lanka, on an earlier Duruthu Poya Day the Buddha put the very arrogant Kassapa brothers on the correct path. The Kassapa brothers, Uruwela Kassapa, Gaya Kassapa and Nadi Kassapa were presumptuous Jatilas with matted hair who spent ascetic lives at Uruwela with one thousand followers.
On the Il full moon Poya Day after enlightenment, the Buddha dispatched sixty Arahants including the five ascetics (Paswagamahana) in various directions to propagate the dharma while he himself went to Uruwela Danawwa to be of service to the Jatila brothers and their followers.
Uduwap Poya day is considered by Sri Lankan Buddhists to be of special significance because emperor Dharmasoka’s daughter, Theri Sanghamitta brought with her and her retinue a Bo-Sapling to Anuradhapura, from Buddha Gaya.
It was on this day that the Bo-Sapling was ceremoniously planted at the Mahamegha Udyanaya and also the Sri Lanka Bhikkuni Sasana was established when Queen Anula (reigned 47 BC – 42 BC) became a Bhikkuni.
Another noteworthy event that took place on the day was that Prince Arittha, the King’s nephew entered the Order of monks along with 500 other men. They all became Arahats. This was the beginning of the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka.
Sunday the 12th of December is Gangodawila Soma thero’s 7th passing away anniversary.
Let’s pay tribute to him by remembering all the good things he taught us, the help he gave, the good example he set and by protecting our five precepts at all times as he advised.
From time immemorial, Vap is known as the period of sowing. The major cultivation season is known as ‘Maha’ which begins with the inter monsoonal rain around the month of October.
The rainy season commenced three months ago. It is known as ‘Vassana Kalo’ and it comes to an end with the Vap Poya and Katina season ushers in the Buddhist Calendar with the month of Vap, which is popularly known as “Cheevara Masaya”.
With the advent of “Cheevara Masaya-Katina” begins.
This marks the offering of the Katina Cheevara or new robes to Buddhist monks, who observed ‘Vas’-Rainy Retreat beginning from Esala to Vap. The presenting of Katina Cheevara is considered a meritorious deed for the Buddhist. Therefore, Vap Poya is very significant and important. The lay devotees, in procession, carry the Katina Cheevaraya to the temple.
The Buddha refused, saying, “No, Gotami, do not wish for women to enter homeless life in this doctrine and discipline that has been taught by the Tathagata. Maha-Pajapati Gotami made the same request on two other occasions, but the Buddha gave a negative answer each time, and Maha-Pajapati Gotami was very disappointed.
At the end of their journey, they gathered together weeping outside the gate of the place where the Buddha was residing. Seeing Maha-Pajapati Gotami and her group, Ayasmanta Ananda made a new request on their behalf. This time Read the rest of this entry »
Nikini full moon day falling due one month after the commencement of “Wassana Kala“the rainy season: is of special significance for Buddhists due to a number of incidents that took place on this day.
Attainment of Arahatship by the Buddha’s chief attendant, Ananda Maha Thera, commencement of the first Dhamma Sangayana, convocation to settle the Buddhist canon and “Pasu Vas” or the commencement of the “Vas” period by those who had not started the period of sojourn on the Esala full moon day are some of them. For Sri Lankans this day is further more significant because of the world famous Kandy Esala Perahera which normally ends on this day.
The rainy season in Dambadiva-India begins during the month of Esala (July – August). It is extremely cold in the snowy peaks of Himalayas and in the valleys where ascetics meditate under the shade of trees.
Due to cold weather and heavy rain it is not convenient for them to sit under trees and meditate. Even birds build sheltered nests to live in during this season with birdies. Some of them even migrate to other countries where there is less rain. Buddhist monks also sojourn with house holders during this season Read the rest of this entry »
Festival celebrated in Sri Lanka on the full moon of June. The Poson Poya, which is specially noteworthy to the Sri Lankan Buddhists as the day on which Emperor Asoka’s son, the arahant Mahinda, officially introduced Buddhism to the island in the 3rd century B.C.
In addition to the normal ritualistic observances undertaken on a poya day, on Poson day devotees flock to Anuradhapura, the ancient capital city of the country, for it was there that arahant Mahinda converted the then ruler, King Devanampiya Tissa, and his court to Buddhism, thereby setting in motion a series of events that finally made Sri Lanka the home of Theravada Buddhism.
Even today, on Poson Poya, Anuradhapura becomes the center of Buddhist activity. Mihintale, the spot where the momentous encounter between the Elder and the King took place, accordingly receives the reverential attention of the devotees.
The two rituals of pilgrimage and the observance of the Eight Precepts are combined here. Processions commemorative of the event, referred to as Mihindu Peraheras, are held in various parts of the country.
On a full moon day in the month of May (Visakha) 2600 years ago was born a Prince named Siddhattha.
His birth took place at Lumbini (modern Rumindei in Nepal), where his mother Mahahmaya, the chief queen-consort of King Suddhodana of Kapilavatthu, rested with her royal retinue, on her way to her parental home in Devadaha. Read the rest of this entry »
It was on the Medin Full Moon Day, the Blessed one, along with a retinue of about 20,000 disciples’ trecked from Veluwanaramaya, Rajagriha, to Kimbulwathpura to meet his father, king Suddodhana, relatives and friends of the Sakhya Clan (a tribe dwelling in Northern India, in which Gotama or Sakyamuni Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha).
Posted by DZONE 
Today is Duruthu Poya Day, which is the observance of the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka.
Uduwap Poya day is considered by Sri Lankan Buddhists to be of special significance because emperor Dharmasoka’s daughter, Theri 
Sunday the 12th of December is Gangodawila Soma thero’s 7th passing away anniversary. 
From time immemorial, Vap is known as the period of sowing. The major cultivation season is known as ‘Maha’ which begins with the inter monsoonal rain around the month of October.
Binara Pasalosvaka 
Nikini full moon day falling due one month after the commencement of “Wassana Kala“the rainy season: is of special significance for Buddhists due to a number of incidents that took place on this day.
Festival celebrated in Sri Lanka on the full moon of June. The Poson Poya, which is specially noteworthy to the Sri Lankan Buddhists as the day on which Emperor Asoka’s son, the arahant Mahinda, officially introduced Buddhism to the island in the 3rd century B.C.
On a full moon day in the month of May (Visakha) 2600 years ago was born a Prince named Siddhattha.
