Janet's Journal

Today is the first Poya Full Moon day of this calendar year. The skies are cloudless and the ‘rabbit in the moon’ is clearly visible (see separate post).

A Poya Day is a Buddhist full moon holiday, Uposatha. There are twelve or thirteen Poya Days in the lunar calendar, the extra one has Adhi preceding its name. Buddhists believe that certain important events of the Buddha’s life, and early Buddhist history, took place on these 12 sacred days.

As Sri Lanka is officially a Buddhist country Government offices, schools and most businesses are closed. The sale of meat and alcohol is also banned.

Thousands of people, many dressed in white, will go to a temple to place offerings, meditate and reflect on the five precepts of Buddhism.  Some temples are festooned with coloured lights on Poya days.

Each Poya Day marks a different historical event in Buddhism.  The dates for 2021 are:

28 January – Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day. The Buddha visits Sri Lanka for the first time. He restores peace amongst the Yaksa tribe in Mahiyangana. During this visit the Buddha bestows sacred hair relics to God Sumana Saman.

26 February – Navam Full Moon Poya Day. It is on this special Poya that Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Moggallana were named as the Buddha’s Chief Disciples. The Buddha also proclaimed a code of ethics for Buddhist monks.

28 March – Madin Full Moon Poya Day. The Buddha travels to Kimbulwath Nuwara to visit his father and relatives, for the first time after leaving the palace in search of truth.

26 April – Bak Full Moon Poya Day. The Bhudda’s second visit to Sri Lanka. The purpose was to bring peace to the kingdom of Nagadeepa where two kings were battling over a jewelled throne.

26 May – Vesak Full Moon Poya Day. The most important Poya of the year. Vesak commemorates the birth, enlightment and parinibbana of the Buddha. It is also on such a day that the Buddha made his final visit to Sri Lanka, to Kelaniya on an invitation of the Naga ruler Maniakkhika and also placed his sacred footprint on Sri Pada

24 June – Poson Full Moon Poya Day. An important Poya for Sri Lanka. Arahant Mahinda thero, son of Indian emperor Asoka, brings Buddhism to the Island in the 3^rd century BC. He preaches to King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale.

23 July – Esala Full Moon Poya Day. It is the day that Prince Siddhartha renounced the lay life in search of ‘truth’ and the birth of his son Prince Rahula. After enlightenment, the Buddha holds his first sermon to five ascetics.

23 August – Nikini Full Moon Poya Day.  The first Dhamma Sanghayana or convocation, was held with the participation of five hundred arhant monks. The Dalada Perahera is also held during this time in Kandy.

20 September – Binara Full Moon Poya Day. The order of Buddhist nuns (Bhikkuni) was established following the request by Maha Prajapathi Gothami together with 500 women.

20 October – Vap Full Moon Poya Day. The Buddha ended his three month sermon to his mother and other deities. King Devanampiyatissa sends request to emperor Asoka to send a sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi under which the Buddha attained Nirvana

18 November – Ill Full Moon Poya Day.  Buddhist monks conclude the three-month rain retreat of Vas. Maithree Bodhisattva receives vivarana (assurance) of becoming a Buddha.

18 December – Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day. Theri Sanghamitta (sister of Mahinda) arrives in Sri Lanka with the sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, which was planted in Anuradhapura. The Bikkhuni order was established in Sri Lanka.