Duruthu Poya falls on Tuesday

Triple events-a landmark this year

By Panchamee Hewavissenti

January, the starting month of the year has its implication of being the beginning month of the year itself. As for Hindus it has a spacious impact because one of their national festivals, Thai Pongal falls in January. The month doesn't remain depreciated for Buddhists either. Duruthu Full Moon Poya falls during the same month, the commencing poya of the year.

The travelling route of the moon has a great importance when determining the auspicious poya day . This year New Moon day and first quarter fell on the 6 and 15 Tuesdays respectively. After the moon has gone through the due travel it will complete its route which consists of twenty eight days on the 22 Tuesday. It is a special incident happened in this year that new moon, first quarter and the Duruthu full moon poya falls on Tuesdays.

When the Duruthu moon shines in the sky with a great holy radiant, devotees will be observing sil, in clean white attire in temples. Temples will be lit up with spiritual illumination on the Poya day. The environment of the temple will be changed as per other usual days with many religious decorations to commemorate the importance of the Duruthu Poya day. Buddhist flags will be flown all over the temples giving a religious vista. Government announces a public holiday on the Duruthu Poya day in order to let people get away with their busy ventures and to be engaged in various kinds of meritorious activities to keep them uplifted with the spiritual blessedness. It is a privilege for Buddhists to have Duruthuu Poya at the beginning of the year since they can keep the year enlivend with spiritual purification throughout.

When people observe Sil on poya days as a part of their religious observations some people are bestowed to meditate at temples which is a really beneficial method in acquiring tranquillity for the fatigued souls. Meditation has numerous benefits if one can achieve the state of calmness in the mind. It aids memory and to concentrate better.

When observing sil one has to sit at a particular place throughout the day and listen to several discourses and religious sermons delivered by Buddhist priests. The whole day will be spent on righteousness which will enhance goodness in a person. Not everyone is able to observe sil on the poya day due to various reasons. It is not a major concern because, one can engage in many virtuous activities by staying at home. One can do one's worship at home. Since many television and radio channels focus on Dhamma discourses especially on poya days, people can listen to them. A person can also provide the needy with materialistic things, which Buddha described as Dhana (alms) in order to acquire the real essence of Poya.

People will get up early in the morning clean themselves in order to get ready to go to temples to observe sil. There is a myth which has been rooted in the society that only the age old people realise the high calibre of the teachings of Buddha and the importance of virtues such as observing sil, meditating, alms giving etc which are very often neglected and disregarded by young people. The importance of Duruthu Poya being the first Poya of the year will allow not only the aged people but also the juveniles equally to involve in religious activities. It is therefore an important fact to ponder over the importance of the year's first full moon poya day. It allows those who believe in Buddhism to rejuvenate themselves and get ready for the year ahead. In other words the spiritual refreshment will give a person a good start for the year.

Duruthu Poya has its own importance for the followers of Buddha because of many reasons. The month of Duruthu has various magnitudes, whereas Duruthu Poya day is important for Sri Lankans due to three main incidents occurred on that special day.

1. Curbing Thun Be Jatila

Buddha encountered three mythologist called Uruwel Kashyapa, Gaya Kashyapa, Nadee Kashyapa and their thousand followers on his way to the city of Rajagaha in response of a special request from the King Bimbisara. Buddha preached his newly acquainted Dhamma to Thun Be Jatila and they attained the state of " Sovan", a elevated state of mind attained only by realising the Dhamma. They were considered the first group of disciples of Buddha. This incident occurred on a Duruthu full moon Poya day.

2. Curbing "Yaksa" tribe

The second notable incident associated with Duruthu Poya is pertinent to Sri Lankans. Buddha arrived in Sri Lanka nine months after he attained his Enlightenment. Though there are no exact pre historical evidence to prove Buddha's arrival, it is recorded in historical chronical such as Chulawamsa, Deepawamsa and Mahawamsa. There had been tribe of people called Yaksa living in Mahiyangana situated in Badulla district, Uva Province. They were very ferocious in appearance and rock solid in qualities, difficult to deal with. When for the first time Buddha arrived in Mahiyangana, the so called tribe of people were reluctant to welcome Buddha into their abodes. They tried hard to chase the foreigner away but was of no use. Buddha demonstrated his phenomenal power, floating in the air (Yamamaha Pelahara) making them astonished. They were startled on seeing a rare behaviour of a foreigner in front of their very eyes.

Buddha was at last able to frighten and overpower them. Then the Buddha was offered a little space to lay his mat (Pathkadaya). In order to make that violent people more controlled Buddha manifested a fire around his mat. They moved away from the Buddha out of fear and then he manifested a land called Giri, to put the Yaksa people on that island and expelled them from Mahiyangana. It is reported in ancient chronicle Mahawamsa thus "Girideepan Wiyagathwa".

The second important incident associated with the Duruthu Poya is the arrival of another tribe of people to Mahiyangana called Deva. Although the Sinhala meaning of Deva is God, the latter category did not possess divine power of Gods. They were also human beings living in ancient Sri Lanka, but had more charismatic qualities in them and were more devoted than the ordinary people.

After Yaksas have been chased away, Devas came in place of them. On seeing the glorious qualities of Devas, Buddha preached his Dhamma and they attained the state of "Sovan". One of the leaders of the Deva tribe was " Sumana Saman" who is now being deitified and worshipped by many Sri Lankan Buddhists. Deity Sumana Saman is believed to be the patron of Samantha Kuta (Adam's Peak).

On Buddha's return to India, Sumana Saman had ask something in remembrance of Buddha to worship for them. Buddha rubbed his holy head and removed a few strands of hair and placed on the hand of Sumana Saman. He had shielded the hair relic where Buddha had been sitting and built a pagoda in a small scale.

Monk Sarabu, one of the disciples of Buddha who took a small portion from Buddha's neck from the pyre on Buddha's cremation had also preserved the " Griva Dathu" at the same place where the hair relic was conserved and developed the pagoda further. The Mahiyangana Sthupa which stands today was developed and assembled by Uddha Chulabhaya one of the brothers of king Dewanampiyatissa and king Dutugemunu.

Apart from above major incidents occurred on Duruthu Poya day, there are many distinguished incidents associate with the month of Duruthu. Among those was buddha's visit to king Bimbisara's palace upon fulfilling king's request of visiting his palace after attaining the Enlightenment. After partaking his meals which was offered to Buddha at king's palace Buddha delivered "Thilokuddha Sutta" in order to invoke blessings to king's dead relatives.

Weluwanaramaya which is believed to be the first monastery in the history of Buddhism that was donated in the blessed month of Duruthu.

Though Buddha was born and had his religious generation built there he believed that the Dhamma he preached would be well conserved and practised in Sri Lanka better than any other country. The expectation of Buddha is fulfilled since the majority of people in Sri Lanka practice Buddhism with devotion.

To prove Buddha's prime expectation that his teachings would be remained and venerated in Sri Lanka, Buddhists have many evidences recorded in their historical chronicles. Lord Shakra, who is believed to be the chief of gods, paid a visit when Buddha was in his death bed. On the verge of Buddha's death, he had expressed his choicest hope and had made a request from Lord Shakra to safeguard Sri lanka and its people. That was the very day that prince Wijaya and his team consists of seven hundred followers embarked on Thambapanni.

Pathittisathi Devinda

Lankaya Mama Sasanam

Thasma Saparivarantham

Rakkan Lakkancha Sasanam

The concised meaning of the above verse mentioned in "Maha Parinibbana Sutta" is the Buddha's request from Shakra Devendra to safeguard Therawadi Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka where it would be well reserved. Pali word Sapariwarantham means the prince Wijaya and his team consists of seven hundred followers.

Sri Lanka bears the pride of having the Buddha Sasana preserved in the country over many centuries. If everyone can follow or in the least case can ponder the teachings of Buddha, many conflicts can be ceased such as long suffered war. Buddha taught the law of cause and effect. Buddha said the cause of conflict is nothing but the craving. Thus, if one can eliminate craving he can avoid the conflict. Explanation is simple as that. But when people are tempted to gain power they all forget noble teaching.

Every Sri Lankan's prime need is to see an end to the a cursed war which kills many lives almost every day. We hope at least by next year, our soldiers in the battlefield will be able to return home. Will that be the wishful prayer on this Duruthu Poya day of every buddhists hearts? Let's beseech honourable peace to come before the next Duruthu Poya day to commemorate Buddha's first arrival in Sri Lanka together with our brother soldiers in the battlefield.

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