The day that the Buddha delivered his first sermon...
by Samangie Wettimuny
One night, while in deep slumber, Queen Maya ,the wife of King
Suddhodhana of Kapilavatthu in India (then known as Jambudipa) had an
unusual dream in which she saw the four Deva Rajahs (four guardian
deities of the world) carrying her with the couch to the foothills of
the Himalayas.
There a snow white baby elephant, carrying a white lotus in his trunk
walked thrice round the couch of the sleeping queen and entered into her
womb from the right side of her abdomen.
Many a thousand years ago Queen Maya saw this dream on an Esala Full
Moon Poya day, the buddhist literature reveals. In fact that unusual
dream indicated the conception of Boddhisatta in the womb of Queen Maya.
About ten months later he was born to this world (his last birth) as
Prince Siddartha. This great birth brought immense happiness to the King
and the queen who did not have children for twenty years, more than all
that the prince's birth was a great relief to the entire human race
groping in the dark, not knowing the way out of suffering.
At the age of 29, the prince decided to leave his palace and beloved
ones in order to find the way out of the universal suffering. Again this
Great Renunciation too had taken place on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day,
some 2600 years ago.
Great Renunciation
It was on the same Esala full moon day that Prince Rahula, the only
child of Prince Siddartha and Princess Yasodara was born. He saw the
whole world including his wife and child are suffering not knowing the
way out of it.
Determined to find a way out of it, the Prince left home at the
height of his youth. Buddhists strongly believe that his Great
Renunciation is the boldest step that a man has ever taken.
As the Buddhist history reveals the Buddha had explained Abhidhamma
to Matru Divya Rajaya (his mother) in the Thavuthisa heaven on an Esala
Poya day.
Above all, Esala Full Moon Poya day is of great significance to the
entire Buddhist community as it was on such a day, two months after the
Buddha attained Enlightenment, that he delivered his first sermon,
Dhamma Chakka Pawathna Sutta( the wheel of truth) to the five ascetics-
Kondangna, Bhaddiya, Wappa, Mahanapa and Assaji at Isipathanaya in
Benares (Baranasi).
The sermon consisted of the central teachings of the Buddha- the Four
Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. This set in motion the great
Buddhist tradition of the Sangha , for popularizing the teachings of the
Buddha firstly in India and later through out the world.
In his 'The Discovery of India' , Former Indian Prime Minister ,
Jawaharlal Nehru mentions how he almost sees the Buddha preaching his
first sermon " At Saranath near Baranasi , I'd almost see the Buddha
preaching his first sermon, and some of his recorded words would come
like a distant echo to me through two thousand five hundred years."
Even in Sri Lanka today , Esala Poya marks the beginning of 'Vas'
season when Bhikkus stay in their own temples without going out for
dhana.
As the Buddhist history reveals the first Vas was observed by the
Buddha and his first five disciples- the five ascetics at Isipathana in
Benares.
Apart from this, Esala Full Moon Poya day ranks quite high in the
order of importance to the Sri lankan Buddhists because it was on such a
day that the Buddha Sasana was established in the country during the
reign of King Devanampiyatissa.
Under the instructions of Mahinda Thera who visited Sri Lanka in the
3rd Century B.C (as the missionaries of Asoka Emperor of India), the
King took necessary steps to ordain the children of the country and
teach them Dhamma.
On the Esala Full Moon Poya day, Mahinda Thera preached
Wassupanayikkandaya to the king and the group and on the same day the
nephew of the king, Aritta and fifty five other children were ordained
thus establishing Buddha Sasana in the country.
So keen in reestablishing higher ordination in Sri Lanka, King
Keerthi Sri Rajasingha (1747 to 1780), invited 18 theras from Siam
Deshaya( now Thailand) including Upali Thera to visit Sri Lanka in 1753.
As Mahavamsa reveals these thera's arrived in the country by a Dutch
Ship in the month of May and resided at Malwatu Viharaya in Kandy.
On the Esala Full Moon Poya Day of the same year, the king who went
to the Malvathu Viharaya by foot ( He did that out of veneration) and
invited these theras to establish the Higher Ordination in Sri Lanka.
Thus Sinhalese novice monks (Samaneras), including Weliwita
Saranankara, Thibbotuwawe Siddartha, Kobbakaduwa, Navinna, and
Hulangamuwa obtained higher ordination while Upali thera played the role
of the instructor (Upadya) and Brahmajothi and Maha Punna thera appeared
as teachers. (Archarya). Followed by the establishment of Higher
Ordination in Sri Lanka, Siyam Nikaya too was established and up to this
day it is also called' Shyamopali Maha Nikaya' indicating its origin.
Laying of the foundation for the Ruwanwelisaya and its enshrinement
of relics by King Dutugamunu too had taken place on an Esala poya day as
revealed by Mahavamsa.
In our country, of all the twelve Full Moon days, Esala full Moon
Poya day is given much significance (just as Vesak and Poson Full Moon
Poya Days) not only because it is related to great incidents of the life
of Prince Siddartha (Later the Buddha), but also because quite a few of
great incidents connected to Sri Lanka's Buddha Sasana has occurred on
this great day.
Buddhists in Sri Lanka hence celebrate the Esala Full Moon Poya day
today out of great veneration, with religious festivals and processions
through out the country, yet anticipating to see the most grandeur one
of all or rather the climax-the Kandy Esala Perehara in mid August.
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