Vap Poya on Tuesday:

Conclusion of the rain retreat

By Ananda KANNANGARA

Next to the Vesak, Poson and Esala Full Moon poya days, the Vap Full Moon poya could be considered the most important poya, since a large number of Buddhists celebrate it on a grand scale due to various incidents which had occurred on this day during the Buddhist era. This year's Vap poya which falls on October 11 marks the end of the Vas season (rain retreat). This is the month for offering new robes (Ceevara) to bhikkhus who observed Vas on the rain retreat starting from the month of Esala.

The Vas season ends on this day Sariputta Maha Thera was appointed Chief Disciple of the Buddha on a Vap Poya

Vap poya and Katina season are ushered in the Buddhist calender with the month of Vap, which is popularly known as “Ceevara Masaya”. The Katina begins with the advent of Ceevara Masaya.

This marks the offering of the Katina Ceevara or new robes to Bhikkhus, who observed Vas from Esala to Vap. The presenting of Katina robes to bhikkhus is considered a meritorious deed by Buddhists.

Members of temple dayaka sabhas and devotees in villages get together at their temples about two months prior to the Katina pinkama and discuss ways to conduct the pinkama. They collect funds to organise the pinkama on a grand scale. Children also play a lead role in conducting the pinkama. The Katina procession begins around 4.30 a.m. from the house of a dayaka sabha member.

It parades the village roads and enters the temple around 6.00 a.m. Thereafter, the bhikkhus in the temple are offered alms.

The Katina ceevara is given only for bhikkhus who observed Vas in their temples. During the Vas period bhikkhus stay indoors and perform religious rites and concentrate on meditation and delivering sermons to laymen.

More merit

Those who participate in Katina pinkamas and Katina peraheras are believed to gain more merit which helps them lead a happy life in the future.

The Katina perahera is a colourful cultural pageant. Drummers, dancers, elephants and whip crackers participate in the perahera.

Offering new ceevara to bhikkhus is also considered a part of Ata Maha Kusal (eight powerful meritorious acts). Therefore, it is with great piety that Buddhists await this great occasion.

The eight powerful meritorious acts are offering a Katina robe (eight requisites of a Bhikkhu), 'senasana' - a place of residence for Bhikkhus, alms to bhikkhus, writing or compiling Buddhist books to disseminate the Buddha's teachings, offering land to bhikkhus, constructing Buddha statues and providing toilets and other basic facilities for the use of bhikkhus.

A Katina perahera

A Katina perahera

The Buddha himself has mentioned in His suttas about the great merit of offering a Katina robe. Accordingly, the effect of offering a single Katina is 16 times greater than the combined effect of the other offerings.

Vap poya also marks the conclusion of the Buddha's preaching of the Abhidhamma to His mother (Queen Mahamaya) Mathru Divya Raja in Thauthisa heaven at Sankassapura. The following month the Buddha gave perfect confirmation about future Buddhahood to a wealthy land owner in Sankassapura.

Celestial beings

The Buddha did not visit the Thusitha heaven. Therefore, all celestial beings descended to give a divine audience to the Buddha.

King Devanampiyatissa sent Prince Aritta and a delegation to Emperor Asoka of India and requested him to send his daughter Sangamitta Theri to Sri Lanka to establish the Bhikkhuni Sasana. Accordingly, Sangamitta Theri arrived in the country in Unduwap with a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi.

The sacred bo tree under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment is still venerated by Buddhists all over the world.

It is said that King Parakramabahu in Polonnaruwa and the rulers of Dambadeniya period performed the Katina festival on a grand scale during the Vap season.

The appointment of Sariputta Maha Thera as the Chief Disciple of the Buddha also took place on Vap Poya.