Esala Poya, a catalyst for spiritual renaissance

by Premasara EPASINGHE

There are 12 Full Moon Poya days in a year, of all Poya days, Esala Full Moon Day is very significant because many events relative to the life of the Buddha and His sublime teaching took place, on this day, compared to other Full Moon Poya Days.

The Blessed One, after attainment of Buddhahood arrived at Saranath and decided to preach His - Philosophy and Doctrine. "To whom shall I first explain the doctrine", the Buddha asked himself. First, the Enlightened One thought of Alara Kalama whom He adored as learned, wise, intelligent and of little impurity. He was dead.

Then, the Buddha thought of UddakaRamaputta. He too was dead. Finally He thought of His five old companions Vappa, Baddhiya, Mahanama, Assaji and Kondanna, who were with Him, before HE attained the Supreme Bliss of Buddhahood. They were dwelling at Saranath in the Deer Park, of Isipatana. The Buddha went in search of them. It was a warm welcome for an unwelcome guest. After the exchange of pleasentaries, the five Pariyyajakas, inquired from the Enlightened one, whether Siddhartha, still believed in asceticism. The Buddha replied in negative and said that He had attained Buddhahood.

The Buddha, then delivered His first sermon - Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta, the Great Discourse of the wheel of Dhamma to the Panchavassiya Bhikkus Vappa, Baddhiya, Mahanama, Assaji and Kondanna. This event took place on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day. In this inspiring sermon, the Buddha explained that there were two extremes, a "Life of Pleasure" and a "Life of self-mortification" - Kamasukelli - kana yoga and Attakilamatanu yoga. The Buddha in his discourse explained, that He was a believer of the Middle Path Majjima Patipada and not the two extremes.

The Blessed One called upon them to follow the middle path which is the path of purity, the path of virtue and path of Righteousness.

Alleviate suffering

The centre of His Dhamma, is man and man to man the relationship. The recognition of the existence of suffering and the way to alleviate suffering is the foundation of His Dhamma, by which one can attain Nibbana.

The Buddha in His discourse to the Panchavassiya Bhikkus, embodied the essence of the Buddha Dhamma which is enshrined in the Tripitaka or Buddhism canon, which consists of Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma.

There are 18 stanzas or verses in the Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta which was expounded on an Esala Full Moon Poya day. It is possible to train the mind, that makes people prisoners of life and it is the mind that keeps them going. But, what the mind has done, it can also undo. If it has brought man to thraldom it can also, when rightly directed can liberate him. This is what Samma Ditti can do. Whoever practises Middle Path and the Noble Eight-Fold path, which the Buddha laid down as Samma ditti (Right view), Sammasankappa (Right Thought), Samma Vaca (Right Speech), Samma Kammanto (Right behaviour, Samma Vayama (Right Endeavour), Samma Ajiva Samma Satti (Right Mindfulness). Samma Samadhi (Right concentration) will attain the supreme Bliss of Nibbana the ultimate goal of Buddhists. The Buddha explained to the five disciples, the Path of Virtue called Sila, Dana, Uppekha, Nekkhama, Virya, Kanti, Succa, Adhithana, Karuna and Maitriya.

After the Panchavaggiya realised the truth the Buddha admitted them to His Order by saying EHI BHIKKAVE (come in Bhikkus thus they became the first disciples of the Buddha.

Mind, the forerunner of all states

Buddhism is for the wise in which the mind is the forerunner. In the Dhammachakka Parattana Sutta, the Buddha analysed the human mind as a brilliant Psychologist. In this sermon, the first noble Truth was Dukkha Sacca, second Dukkha Samudhaya Sacca, third Dukkha Nirodha Sacca and the fourth Dukkha Nirodha patipada Sacca.

The first verse of the Dhammapada begins Mano Pubbannama Dhamma - the Mind is the - forerunner of all states.

Last and final birth on earth

The Bodhisatta Sumedha appeared before queen Mahamaya and decided to take his last and final birth on this earth. Queen Mahamaya conceived him. This took place on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day.

Twin miracle

Gautama Buddha performed the twin miracle (yamamahapelahera) at the foot of Gandhamba tree on an Esala Full Moon Day.

Sermon to Mattruudevi

After the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, Queen Mahamaya passed away after seventh day and was born in the heavenly abode of Thusitha. She was known as Mattrudevi. The Gautama Buddha spent the seventh rainy retreat (Vas) in heaven of Thusitha and delivered a sermon on Esala Full Moon Poya day. Mattrudevi eventually attained the bliss of the deathlessness.

First Buddhist congregation - Sangayana

The first Buddhist congregation or Sangayanawa took place under the stewardship of Maha Kassapa Thera, three months after the passing away of the Supreme Maha Purisha - Gautama Buddha. This took place during King Ajasatta's reign on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day.

Rock caves at Missakapabbata

There were some significant events that took place on Esala Full Moon Days in Sri Lanka as well.

It was on an Esala Full Moon Poya day that sixty-eight Rock caves around Kantaka Chaitya, Missaka Pabbata or Mihintale were presented to the Maha Sangha.

This event took place during the reign of king Devanampiyatissa coinciding with the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

The foundation laying ceremony of the Great Stupa - Swarnamali Maha Seya or Ruwanvelimahaseya took place on an Esala Full Moon Poya day.

During the reign of King Kithsiri Mevan, the Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka by Princess Hemamala and Prince Dhanta on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day. This gave birth to the Dalada Perahera.

Today, the annual Kandy Perahera is the biggest Cultural Pageant in Sri Lanka. In the month of Esala, many processions are held at Sri Jayawardanapura, Aluthnuwara, Nawagamuwa, Ratnapura, Devundara and Kataragama as well.

Introduction of Upasampada

The introduction of the Upasampada or Higher Ordination for Bhikkus took place for the first time on an Esala Full Moon Poya Day.

The Siamese Bhikkus Upali, Ariya -Muni from Siam arrived at Pushparamaya, Malwatte, Kandy and launched the first Upasampada ceremony.