Thoughts of Esela Full Moon Day

by Gamini G. Punchihewa

The revered months for religious festivals culminating in pageantary Peraheras commence from the Full Moon Day of the Esela Poya that dawns on 29.7.2007.

Among them the first such famed Kataragama Devale Esela pageantry Perahera dawns in the month of July, extending as far as August-September, when the other seasonal Peraheras make their glorious emergence.

August ushers the world renowned Kandy Dalada Perahera, followed by the Devundara Maha Vishnu Devale Perahera in August and finally in September graces the next well-known Esela Saman Devale Perahera in Ratnapura nestling in the Sabaragamuwa Province.

Its most paramount significance on this hallowed Esela Full Moon Day in the month of July, when Siddhartha Gautama after His Supreme Enlightenment of Attainment, preached His first sermon to the five well-known asetic monks, namely Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Wappa, Mahanama and Assaji. This celebrated religious event took place at Isipatana in the Deer Park at Benares.

It was also on a Full Moon of Esela Poya in July that Queen Maha Maya (mother of Siddhartha Gautama) had conceived him in her womb. At the same time, it could be reminisced from the Jataka Stories, that Siddhartha Gautama's wife Yasodara was blessed with a son (Rahula) also on the Esela Full Moon Day.

In the Jataka stories it is also referred to that even before the birth of Siddhartha Gautama such Esela Festivals were held around Kapilawastu - the kingdom of Siddhartha Gautama's father's. Siddhartha Gautama renounced his worldly pleasures in seeking the Truth also had happened on a Full Moon Day Esela Poya.

After Lord Buddha's Pari-Nibbana of three months had elapsed, the First Convention (Dharma Sangayana) was held under the auspices of Buddha's 3rd Disciple - Arahat Maha Kassyapa, attended by 500 Bhikkus under the auspices of king Ajasaththa in Rajagahanuwara at the Vehera Pabbatha Dharma Mandana.

In epic times of ancient Lanka another eventful Buddhistic religious event took place in the reign of king Kirthisri Mehavanna of the 6th century A.D., when the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha was brought to Lanka by prince Danta and princess Hemamala from Kalinga which too occurred during the Esela Full Moon Day period.

This hallowed event culminated in the first exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic which also paved the way for the holding of the first ever Dalada Perahera in Anuradhapura on the Esela Full Moon Day.

In ancient times, when Buddhism embellished itself in all sanctity and glory, the Buddhist hermit monks lived cloistered in Lenas (cave hermitages). As these Buddhist recluses were confined to the cave hermitages, during the rainy season they could not fulfil the mission of begging for alms taking with them their alms bowl.

Hence that period was named as the Vas (Retreat). The first ever such Vas period of the Buddha held on the Esela Full Moon Season came to be named as Pura Pasalosvaka Ava Pelaviya.