Vesak Poya:

Thrice Blessed Day for Buddhists

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Vesak Full Moon Poya is a very important in the Buddhist calendar. It marks the Birth of prince Siddhartha, the Enlightenment and the Parinibbana of the Buddha. Vesak is also called the 'Thrice Blessed Day ‘.

Prince Siddhartha was born into a royal family in Nepal, India. He belonged to the most respectable Sakya clan. His father, King Suddhodana made arrangements for Prince Siddhartha to lead a luxurious life. But, the Prince did not want to lead a luxurious life. Even from His younger days He wanted to help others, especially the poor. Ultimately, He left the palace one night leaving all his wealth, his wife Queen Yasodara and son Rahula. His aim was to achieve supreme Buddhahood.

On a Vesak full moon day Queen Mahamaya was on her way to Devdaha with a retinue of followers. She went to Lumbini Park at Kapilavasthu, in Nepal. The park was filled with Sal trees in full bloom. The Queen gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama on the Full Moon Poya Day in 624 BC.

Birth

According to legend the new-born child had walked on seven lotus flowers which emerged suddenly before him.

He said, “I am the chief of the world, eldest am I in the world, foremost am I in the world. This is my last birth. There is now no more coming to be.”

King Suddhodhana's teacher, Asitha of Kaladewala who visited the palace on the same day said the prince was to be the saviour of the universe and the teacher of everyone in all the three worlds. Then he worshipped the little Prince.

The king who watched the behaviour of his teacher realised that his son was superior to Asitha and he too worshipped the prince.

The king was anxious to see his son becoming the universal king as envisaged by the learned Brahmin at the naming ceremony. The King's endeavour was to prevent the Bodhisattva from leaving the worldly life to attain Buddhahood in keeping with the words of saint Kondanna who raised one finger and said that the prince was sure to attain the Buddhahood.

Realities of life

The king took prompt action to keep the prince away from coming into direct contact with the stark realities of life. 'Sathara Pera Nimithi’ - an old man, a sick man, a corpse and a monk . But, at the age of 29, the prince renounced the worldly life leaving his wealth and the royal family including his wife, Princess Yasodara and the new-born son, Rahula .

He strived for six years and made a firm determination to attain his goal, the Buddhahood after realising the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-Fold Path, the Prince attained supreme Enlightenment under a Bo tree at the age of thirty-five.

The Vesak Poya is celebrated by Buddhists all over the world. The Poya is widely celebrated by those in the Asian Region, including Sri Lanka. People celebrate the Thrice Blessed Day by offering flowers, oil lamps, incense, food and juice to the needy in the name of the Buddha. People also attend various religious ceremonies conducted at temples.

After reaching supreme Buddhahood He went from place to place preaching Dhamma. The Buddha had miraculous powers to heal the sick.

The Buddha was born for the sake of mankind.