Bhikkhuni Order established in month of Unduwap

By Ananda kannangara

Buddhists all over the world celebrate Unduwap Full Moon Poya on a grand scale. It is the final of the 12 Poya days according to the Buddhist calendar. Devotees give the same prominence to Unduwap Full Moon Poya as to Vesak, Poson and Esala Full Moon Poya days.

The Unduwap Full Moon Poya is very important to Buddhists, especially to Sri Lankan Buddhists due to three reasons.

The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura

The arrival of Maha Therani Sangamitta from Jambudeepa to establish the Bhikkhuni Sasana in Sri Lanka at the request of her brother Arahat Mahinda was the major incident that took place on the Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day. Therani Sangamitta was the daughter of Emperor Dharmasoka of India.

The Therani came to Sri Lanka with a Bo sapling, taken from the Sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in India.

The Bhikkhuni Sasana was established in Sri Lanka with the blessings of Therani Sangamitta during the month of Unduwap.

Emperor Asoka had two children, Mahinda and Sangamitta. Their mother was Queen Videesa, who belonged to the Murunda clan. Before the arrival of Sangamitta Therani in Sri Lanka, her brother Arahat Mahinda had arrived in the island on a Poson Full Moon Poya Day with the gift of the Dhamma. The then Lankan ruler, King Devanampiyatissa realised the truth of Buddhism and embraced it with his citizens. Sri Lanka was then known as Thambapanni (Taprobane).

Buddhist history reveals that at the time of Arahat Mahinda’s arrival in the country, King Devanampiyatissa was hunting deer. He had no particular religion at the time. He didn’t even know the difference between sins and merits. Hunting deer was his favourite pastime. The King had great faith in trees, rocks, the sun and the moon and venerated them, believing that they were gods.

When the King met Ven. Mahinda Thera and listened to his Dhamma sermons, he realised the truth of Buddhism. As a result, King Devanampiyatissa and his clan embraced Buddhism. As soon as the King became a Buddhist, he realised the value of human and animal lives. He realised the nature of the world and threw away his bow and arrows to a side.

Historic visit

Arahat Mahinda’s historic visit to the island was followed by his sister, Sangamitta Theri. She visited the island on the Unduwap Poya day with a sapling of the southern bough of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, under which Prince Siddhartha had attained Buddhahood.

Crowds throng Sri Pada during the pilgrimage season

It was Arahat Sangamitta Theri who pioneered the Order of Bhikkhuni (Bhikkuni Sasana) in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the forthcoming Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day which falls on December 27 (Thursday) is a day of great significance to Buddhists all over the world.

Queen Anula became the first to enter the Order of Bhikkunis and she was followed by 500 other attendant women who expressed their willingness to enter the Order of Nuns. Gradually, more women from all parts of the country entered the Bhikkhuni Order. After working hard for the welfare of Bhikkhunis in the country, Arahat Sangamitta passed away at the age of 79.

It was only after her arrival in Sri Lanka that women received the freedom to engage in social activities. Like men, women actively took part in religious activities.

Lankan history also reveals that on the request of King Devanampiyatissa, his nephew Aritta gave his consent to undertake a tour to India to meet Emperor Asoka. This tour helped bring the Bo sapling to Sri Lanka from the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.

As the mission to India was a success, Sangamitta Theri arrived in the country with the Bo sapling. She arrived in Dambakolapatuna, in the North of Sri Lanka, and established the Bhikkhuni Sasana at the request of her brother Arahat Mahinda.

It was also on an Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day that the sapling was received by King Devanampiyatissa with great devotion. Sangamitta Therani came to Sri Lanka with her close relatives including Princes Bodhigupta, Chandragupta and Devagupta.

Custody of Bo sapling

King Devanampiyatissa entrusted the responsibility of the custody of this sacred object to Prince Bodhigupta. The Prince was given a palace near the Sri Maha Bodhi and entrusted with the task of looking after the Bodhi.

The sapling was placed in a golden bowl. When the King arrived in Dambakolapatuna to receive the Bo sapling, Arahat Mahinda who was also there preached the Naga Damana Sutta to the king.

The sapling was planted at the auspicious time in the presence of a large number of people who came from all parts of the country to Mahameghawana park, Anuradhapura. Over a thousand men entered the Order on that historic day.

The city of Anuradhapura thereafter became a sacred place. Even the kings who ruled the country thereafter started constructing dagobas, temples, palaces, bathing wells, houses and lakes for agricultural purposes in the city of Anuradhapura.

The great King Dutugemunu also loved the city and built the Ruwanweliseya. He protected the Bo sapling. A special team was deployed by the king to look after the sapling.

The tree which was planted in the Mahamevuna Uyana in Anuradhapura is the oldest tree recorded to date. Prof. W.I.S. Suraweera and Dr. H.S.S. Nissanka claim that this is the oldest, most historic and most venerated tree all over the world.

According to Buddhist history, eight saplings of the grown Bo tree were planted in areas such as Thawakka, Bamunugama, Kataragama, Chandanagrama, Thuparama, Isurumuni Vihara, Plamusa Maluwa and Sagiri Aramage. Thereafter, 32 saplings from those trees were planted at various places.

The sacred Bo tree at Anuradhapura is considered the oldest tree in the world and has an authentic recorded history. The tree is venerated not only by Buddhists, but also by persons of other religions.

In addition to the historic arrival of Sangamitta Theri in Sri Lanka, Unduwap Full Moon Poya day is also important to Sri Lankan Buddhists as well as non-Buddhists. The historic Sri Pada pilgrimage season commences on Unduwap Full Moon Poya day. Devotees carry the image of God Sumana Saman to the top of the Sri Pada rock in procession from Galpottawala Sri Padastana Vihara at Pelmadulla. The image is taken back to the temple when the pilgrimage season ends on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

It is believed that the Buddha arrived at Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada) on an Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day on an invitation of God Sumana Saman. History reveals that Buddha placed His footprint on the top of Sri Pada rock during His third visit to Sri Lanka .

Unduwap Poya is commemorated by Buddhists by conducting Dhamma sermons, bodhi poojas and Pahan poojas in temples. Many temples in Sri Lanka conduct peraheras during the month of Unduwap and carry the images of Sangamitta Theri in homage. Many village temples conduct Dhamma Desanas and sil campaigns during the Poya.