POYA FEATURES
Significant of Vap Poya
Rupa Banduwardena
Ayan Vassana Kalo. This is rather the climax of the Vassana season
which culminates in the Katina Cheevara Pooja believed to be the highest
merit bestowing religious ceremony performed in the Buddha Sasana coming
down from the days of Thathagatha the perfect one. This is a remarkable
event, an eventful religious performance of utmost faith ranking as the
highest punyakarma that one could perform.
“Anujanami bhikkave Vassane
Vassan upaganthun”
“Anujanami bhikkave Vassan
Uttanan bhikkunan Kathinan Aththartitun”
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The Buddha advised them to stay
indoors, during the Vassana period from July to October |
The above stated in Mahavaggapali - Vinaya Pitaka reveals the
observing of Vas and its culmination. “Every Buddhist monk blessed with
the higher ordination (Upasampada) should observe the Rain Retreat
during the three months commencing from Esala and they are entitled to
the receipt of the Katina Cheevara (robe) from the laity.”
This noble meritorious deed is considered the most sacred wholesome
act out of Ata Maha Kusal while at the same time it is said to suppress
the ill effects of bad Kamma. It is with great anxiety that the
Buddhists await the dawn of this month to provide the monks with the
four essentials in the life of a monk:
cheevara, pindapatha, senasana, gilanopasthana (robes, alms, shelter
and medical care) in gratitude for the great service rendered by way of
Dhamma sermons, pujas and religious rituals.
This is the time that the meritorious heart of the true Buddhist is
bent on Sraddah, love and compassion. Both parties, Bhikkhus as well as
laymen, get involved in threefold religious activities: dana, seela,
bhawana. Hence the Vas season leading to the Katina Puja creates a
special religious awakening among the devotees making a great impact on
their moral lives. This brings about a total disciplined way of life
compelling them to utilise the day meaningfully.
They invite the Maha Sangha to observe Vas with Vas Aradhana pinkama
since that time till it culminates in Katina Puja the laity look after
them to the best of their ability. This is also the period during which
the Bhikkhus would be blessed with higher levels of Dhamma through study
and meditation. They in turn shower the laity with Dhamma as the gift of
Dhamma excels all other gifts. “Sabba Danam Dhamma Danam Jinathi.”
According to early chronicles the first Vassana was observed by the
Buddha and his five disciples at Isipathana, Migadaya in Benares. He
advised His numerous disciples to spread the doctrine to all mankind.
When the monsoon breaks however it was not possible for them to engage
in the sasanic tour.
The Buddha advised them to stay indoors, during the Vassana period
from July to October. The practice of observing Vassana continues to
this day as the fulfilment of a disciplinary requirement as laid down by
the Buddha.
The Vassana season comes to a close with the Katinanusasana sermon
delivered as the final event on the day of the Katina puja. Throughout
history, Buddhists in Sri Lanka has celebrated the festival on a grand
scale knowing very well the religious significance of the sacred event.
Vap Poya is of great significance for yet another reason in Buddhist
history, as the day that the Buddha preached Abhidhamma to His mother
Matru Deva. It was on a Vap Poya that the Buddha had reached Javatimsa
to spend the seventh Vassana which He did for three months continuously
terminating the vas retreat before He arrived at Sankassapura, where
another sacred event, occurred the following month, regarding Bosath
Maithree. History reveals that Bosath Maithree entered the order with a
retinue of 500 on this Vap Full Moon Day.
There are other events for which the Vap full moon day is important
in the annals of religious history in Sri Lanka. One such event is,
paving the way for the arrival of Theri Sanghamitta.
With the introduction of the supreme gift to Sri Lanka, by Arahath
Mahinda countless numbers accepted Buddhism and when king
Devanampiyatissa’s sister in law Anula was anxious to enter the order of
Bhikkuni the king was instructed to request Emperor Asoka to send off
Therini Sanghamitta for the purpose.
It was on a Vap Poya that the king sent envoys to the city of
Pataliputta under the leadership of Minister Maha Aritta a close
relative of the royalty. On his return he entered the order here in this
country with a retinue of 500 and having gained a considerable knowledge
of the Vinaya rules held a Vinaya Sangayana in Thuparama.
This was exactly what King Devanampiyatissa who toiled hard for the
propagation of Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka wished and admired. To a
question put to Ven. Arahath Mahinda “Has Buddhism been established in
Sri Lanka?”
The answer given was that it will not be so until a person born and
bred here holds a Dhamma Sangayana after completing the study of Dhamma
Vinaya rules. Hence, according to early chronicles this was fulfilled by
Minister Maha Aritta. Hence, the establishment of Buddhism on a firm
footing on a Vap full moon day is said to be of great historic and
religious significance in the annals of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
The rainy season and offering of robes to the Maha Sangha
Gamini JAYASINGHE
* The word Vas means the rains; Viseema means the dwelling. Therefore
Vas Viseema means to sojourn during the rainy season.
* Vassana Kala, or the rainy season of three-months starts from the
Esala Full Moon Day
* Vap Pinkama is performed during the period from Vap Full Moon Day
to Ill Full Moon Day. The most important event is the Katina Pinkama, or
offering of robes to the Maha Sangha.
* The Buddha set an example to his followers by observing Vas
himself.
* Amongst the religious activities, the most important event is the
Katina Puja.In the words of the Buddha, this is the noblest religious
activity for Buddhists in which limitless merit is accumulated.
Vassana Kala, or the rainy season of three-months starts from the
Esala Full Moon Day and ends on Vap Full Moon Day. The monks end or give
up Vas on Vap Full Moon Day. This is called Vas Pavaranaya.
From Vap Full Moon Day, Buddhists commence a series of special
religious events. Vap Pinkama is performed during the period from Vap
Full Moon Day to Il Full Moon Day. The most important event is the
Katina Pinkama, or offering of robes to the Maha Sangha.
The Buddha set an example to his followers by observing Vas himself.
The seventh Vas period after attaining Buddhahood is of special
significance because it was during that season that the Buddha dwelled
in the divine world ‘Thausitha’ or ‘Thautisa’. The Buddha decided to
dwell in ‘Thautisa’ during this Vas season to be of assistance to the
mother god.
Queen Mahamaya died seven days after giving birth to prince
Siddhartha and was born as a mighty god in the divine world ‘Thausitha’.
Buddha gave religious instructions to the mother god and other divine
beings. Mother god attained ‘Sowan’ or the first of the four stages or
steps leading to Nirvana.
During this Vas period the Buddha delivered ‘Abhidharma’ or
transcendent doctrine to gods. He accomplished twin or double miracle -
a power said to have been possessed by Buddha to cause a stream of fire
to emanate from one pore of his body and a stream of water from another,
simultaneously.
The Buddha used this power exclusively for the purpose of clearing
the doubts of celestial beings and not to entice them through miracles.
He taught his followers that no one should be charmed or enticed through
miracles but that they should be made to understand the reality. |