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.
|