Significance of Navampura Pasalosvaka Poya

Premasara Epasinghe

The Navam Pura Pasalosvaka Poya this year falls on Friday, January 29. In the English calendar, the first month is known as January and in the Sinhala calendar this is known as Duruthu or month of Duruthu. Since, Duruthu Pura Pasalosvaka fell on December 31, 2009, we call this Poya, which the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and abroad celebrates as Navam Full Moon Poya Day.

As this is the first Pura Pasalosvaka of this year 2010, especially, for Sri Lankan Buddhists it is a significant event. The temples the epic centres of the Buddhist activities, will be full to capacity. Many lay Buddhists are involved on religious activities such as seela, samadhi, bhavana, listen to Dhamma sermons and discussions, engaged in religious activities.

According to the Buddhist tradition and literature the first two utmost significant incidents that took place on Navam Purapasalosvaka Full Moon Poya Day were a) appointment of Buddha’s two chief disciples - Sariputta and Moggallana. b) The first ever Buddhist Council congregation was held on this important Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day.

The appointment of Sariputta and Moggallana as the two main disciples - “Aggrassavaka” took place on this significant day of Navam Poya.

Sariputta was appointed to the prestigious position of “Dharmasenadipathi” and Moggallana as “Dharmapurohita” respectively. Some monks were discussing as to why some of the senior monks were overlooked in making these key appointments. The exalted one-Gautama Buddha with His divine eye saw what the disciples or Buddhist monks were contemplating upon and explained to them the appropriateness of those two appointments.

In order to clear the doubts of the monks and to elucidate or to make clear, Buddha explained the fact, that seniority was not the only criteria or qualification that had been taken to consideration in those two key appointments. To clear all doubts of the monks, the Blessed One, related the interesting story woven round Sariputta and Moggallana during the time of Anomadassi

The Arahat Sariputta was born during the period of Anomadassi Buddha. He was known as Sarada. He was a man who had about seventy four thousand followers. He inherited a massive wealth after the death of his parents. Sarada, as a “good samaritan” distributed his wealth among the poor, needy people.

Through meditation, he developed his mental faculities, and gained “Attasamapatti” - the eight attainments. Sarada’s, intimate friend was a person by the name of Siriwardane. With His divine eye Buddha Anomadassi, met Sarada with his Chief disciples namely Nisagaa and Anoma. Buddha Anomadassi, preached about the merits of offering seats and flowers to Him. At the end of the sermon or Dharmadesana, except Sarada, all others attained Arahatship. Sarada’s ambition was to be become one of the chief disciples of incumbent Gautama Buddha.

Anomadassi Buddha gave Sarada the assurance or “Varam” to be the one of the Chief disciples of the future Gautama Buddha.

In the meantime, his close friend Siriwardane too offered alms to Anomadassi Buddha for seven days, and aspired for the other position of Chief disciple - Aggrassawaka.

During the period of Gautama Buddha there were two villages known as Kolitha and Upatissa, in Rajagaha. There were two young men, who were very close intimate friends. They were known as Upatissa, and Kolitha. Upatissa, was the son of Brahmini Sari. Upatissa was later known as Sariputta or Sariputra and Kolitha was known as Moggallana or Mugalan.

These two close friends one day attended a festival held on a basin. A gigantic sports festival called the festival of Giraggasamajja. While witnessing the festival, they realised, that lives were impermanent and how transient were all sensual pleasures. Two of them first went to Sanjaya, at Ascetic to discover the path of Emancipation of Vimukthi, which they could not achieve.

One day, Kolitha’s friend Upatissa met an Arahat - Assaji, one of the first five disciples of Gautama Buddha.

Through Assaji Thera, these close associates met Gautama Buddha and the Blessed One, by mere utterance of the following words - “Ehi Bhikkhu Bhaweya” and then entered the Sasanaya. Within a week Moggallana, attained Arahatship. Later Sariputta attained Arahatship on listening to Vedana Pariggaha Sutta, expounded by the Enlightened One.

In the Buddha Sasana history, it was on the Navam Full Moon Poya Day the first ever Buddhist Sangayanawa or Buddhist congregation was held, under Maha Kassapa Thera. Physically, Maha Kassapa resembled very much like the Gautama Buddha.

As a very senior monk, after passing away of the Blessed One, Mahakassapa had the distinction of presiding over this important congregation. According to Zen school Buddhism, Mahakassapa was considered as the first Patriarch.

Vinaya Discipline

In the modern world, management play an important rule.

Administration of business concern or public undertaking can be defined as management. Bhikku Order too maintained management principles two thousand five hundred years ago. This was known as Vinaya or Discipline.

It was well established with the first Buddhist Council which was held on Navam Purapaslosvaka Day at Veluwanaramaya, Rajagaha.

There are two important discourses in Buddhism. They are “Ovada Prathimoksha” which means to give advice. Through this, you develop self-discipline. It was on Navam Poya Day, Buddha delivered a sermon on “Ovada Prathimoksha” to Sariputta and Moggallana.

Many lay Buddhists observe the Eight Precepts (Atasil) on Navam Poya Day.

On this day (today) temples will be filled to the capacity. It is heartening to note, that today many youths actively participate in Buddhist activities.