Bliss of Katina pooja

by Rupa BANDUWARDENA

Sakyamuni Gautama Buddha, out of compassion for humanity, delivered His message of the Dhamma to one and all. His words of compassion comforted thousands of people who listened to His sermons. Whenever, the Buddha's feet touched the soil of India, Buddhism gained a foothold rapidly.

To propagate the Dhamma, Buddha walked through the streets, with a begging bowl and showed the way to liberation to millions of His ardent devotees, including royalty who had revered Him for life, such as King Bimbisara of Magadha, Pasenadi of Kosala merchant Prince Anatha Pindika.

In early days, the Buddha and His disciples had no fixed abode, but lived in forests, parks or caves. During the rainy season, the inconvenience faced by them compelled the Buddha, to enact the Vassana retreat rules for His disciples. Later when the Veluvana and Jethawana monasteries were built and offered by royalty, the Buddha and His disciples resided more in them.

The Katina pooja in progress

Hence during the Vassana season -July to October it became a Vinaya Rule for the Bhikkhus to stay indoors performing their religious rituals and meditation. The practice of Vassana continues to this day as laid down by the Buddha.

First Vassana

According to the early chronicles, the first Vassana was observed by the Buddha and His five disciples at Isipatana, Migadaya in Benares. The Buddha instructed His disciples to confine themselves to the temple during the Vassana retreat. Subsequently, the Buddha spent many of the Vassana retreats at Jetavanaramaya. When the Buddha preached Abhidamma to Maathru Deva, His mother was in Thauthisa. He spent His seventh Vassana for three months continuously before He arrived at Sankassapura where, many miracles had been performed. The Buddha having heard of it enacted the Vinaya rules for strict compliance by His disciples.

Great service

Later groups of Bhikkhus visited the Buddha to receive Kammathana and other instructions and the Katina pooja became a very powerful and meritorious act. All aspects relating to the Katina pooja were governed by the Vinaya rules.

The Buddha's disciples adhered to them with utmost faith, piety and sanctity. Every Bhikkhu who has received the Higher Ordination or Upasampada should observe Vassana to receive Katina Cheevara from the laity", the Vinaya Pitaka in Mahawagga Pali and is considered the most sacred, wholesome act out of Ata Maha Kusal, which helps ward off, suppress the ill-effects of bad Kamma such as the evil of Sathara Apaya (four hells) as all their sins will be washed away. It endows one with the faculty to determine one's re-birth in a worthy place, and leads one to final emancipation. Such is the merit and bliss of the Katina pooja.

The Buddhists await the dawn of Vassana to provide the Bhikkhus with the four requisites (Sivu Pasaya) Cheevara, Pindapatha, Senasana, Gilanopasthana (robes, alms, shelter and medical care) in gratitude for the service rendered by the Sangha. The laity performs this Noble Act, to gain merit.

Today, the rich and the affluent laity would offer their newly built house or any other to the Bhikkhu to observe Vassana, look after them with great care and perform the Katina pinkama as it is a great meritorious act.

The Katina pooja can only be offered by the laity and accepted by the Sangha, only where Vassana is observed. The Buddhists eagerly await it. The Katina pinkama marks an important milestone in one's life.

Joyful event

One should not merely invite the Bhikkhus to observe Vassana by offering the traditional 'Vesi Salu' with the participation of the Dayaka Sabha, but also undertake to look after them with loving, tender care, making offerings and paying them the respect throughout the Vassana season and visiting the temple as often as possible.

The laity should participate in religious activities conducted in the temple until its culmination in the Katina pooja, with great devotion and sacrifice. During the Vassana period, the laity should lead a disciplined life spending the day meaningfully mostly in the temple. Then they prepare for the final event which is said to bless their abode, the family and their lives in this world and the next. The house is painted, cleared and a special place is prepared for the Katina Cheevaraya with great reverence until it is taken in procession to the temple.

Kapruka

An illuminated vehicle wends its way through the city parading the streets in the vicinity of the temple. Devotees clad in white participate in the procession carrying flags, lotuses and lanterns. In rural areas the devotees await from early morning the arrival of the Katina Perahera to touch and feel the Katina Cheevara by putting 'panduru'. The procession finally reaches the temple at dawn.

In addition to the Katina Cheevaraya other articles required for daily life are offered to the Maha Sangha on this day. It is for this purpose that a gaily decorated, eye-catching creation in the name of Kap Ruka is erected in the 'Dhamma Sala' where the ceremony is conducted. The tree is adorned with various offerings of the devotees who flock to the temple. The numerous items offered to the temple, even a needle is supposed to lead them to gain merit for a better life.

They enjoy contributing to the Katina pooja in whatever way they could afford. Eventually, the offerings become the property of the Sangha which accrues merit on the laity. The Chief Sangha Nayaka along with other Bhikkhus address the devotees who gather at the temple stressing the importance of the Katina Pooja. Even infants are offered to the 'Sasana' by the devotees, at this particular moment - the most precious and treasured gift that one could offer.

The morning and the mid-day Dhana is offered to the Sangha. The Vassana season concludes with the Katinanusasna delivered in the evening. Throughout history, the Buddhists in Sri Lanka have celebrated the festival on a grand scale.

According to the chronicles the early kings had performed the Katina Pooja with much piety, and grandeur. King Maha Parakramabahu is said to have conducted the Katina pooja many times. King Rajadhi Rajasingha too had performed Katina pooja until his death.

It is said that King Parakramabahau VI of Kotte had performed it over 3,000 times during his reign. However, the merit gained from this Noble Act, is believed to be so powerful that it is as unshakable and long lasting as the Mother Earth - which is the path to realise Nibbana.