Medin Poya, when Buddha visited His relatives

By Ananda KANNANGARA

The Medin Full Moon Poya is very important in the Buddhist calendar due to a number of significant events that occurred during the Buddha's time. After attaining Enlightenment at the age of 35, the Buddha's intention was to spread His doctrine. His ultimate goal was to change the lifestyle of people.

The Buddha visiting His relatives at Kimbulvathpura

The Buddha was born, not for a particular community, but for all people, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. He treated all alike. He was a great teacher.

He preached his first sermon at Isipathana to the five ascetics, Kondanna, Vappa, Baddiya, Mahanama and Assaji. They became His first disciples. They were sent in different directions to propagate the Dhamma.

The Enlightened One is also called 'Thathagatha' because of His invaluable services to humanity. Even during his younger days as Prince Siddhartha, he helped others. His father King Suddhodana realised the lifestyle of Prince Siddhartha and gave him all the comforts and opportunities to enjoy life. The void created by the sudden demise of Queen Mahamaya was filled by his stepmother, Queen Mahaprajapathi Gothami.

After a lapse of six years, King Suddhodana came to know that Prince Siddhartha had attained Enlightenment and was preaching His doctrine at Rajagahanuwara and Veluwanarama.

On a Full Moon Poya day King Suddhodana sent an emissary with 1,000 representatives to invite the Blessed One to Kimbulvathpura. To his disappointment, the envoy did not return. He had entered the Buddhist Order and had not conveyed the message.

King's message

Dismayed by the turn of events, the king sent Kaludai, a playmate of Prince Siddhartha, to invite the Buddha. Kaludai conveyed the message to the Buddha and persuaded him to visit Kimbulvathupura.

The Vassana season was over. The environment was beautiful. Trees were full of flowers and were laden with ripe fruits. Ponds were full of lotus flowers. The fish were swimming in lakes. The Blessed One accepted the invitation, brought by His longstanding friend Kaludai.

It was on the Medin Full Moon Poya day that Sakyamuni Gautama visited Kimbulvathpura from Rajagahanuwara at the request of His father. Kimbulvathpura was not an unfamiliar place to the Blessed One as it was the kingdom of His father.

The two cities, Rajagahanuwara and Kimbulvathpura in India are still venerated by Buddhists all over the world as the most important places; the Buddha walked with 20,000 bhikkhus to see His relatives from one city to the other. The king and the relatives of Prince Siddhartha made all arrangements for the Buddha to stay at Nigrodarama. The high-minded senior Sakyans however did not respect or venerate Him. They allowed the juniors to worship the Buddha. The Blessed One then performed the 'Yamamahapelahara' or the ‘Twin Miracle '.

The Enlightened One issued a stream of fire from one side of His body and a stream of water from the other side at the same time. The Buddha also issued such streams together from the eyes and nostrils in front of others. Those who witnessed the awe-inspiring miracle worshipped the Buddha. The Enlightened One then preached the Vessanthara Jathaka to King Suddhodana and his relatives.

Begging for alms

However, the Buddha and the other bhikkhus were not invited for alms. Therefore, they went from house to house with their alms bowls. King Suddhodana was perturbed by this sight as no member of the royal family begged on the streets.

The Enlightened One told His father that begging on the streets was a custom of bhikkhus and it was no insult to the king.

The Buddha also told him that he (King Suddhodana) belonged to the royal clan, but the Buddha belonged to the Buddha lineage. He addressed His beloved father thus:

“Dhamma chare sucharitam
Na tam duccaritam care
Dhammacari sukham seti
Asmin loke paramita”

Pix: Vipula Amerasinghe

(Live with the Dhamma, following it well, leave aside evil courses. Who dwells in the Dhamma will always be happy in this birth and the next.)

Upon hearing this, King Suddhodana attained the first stream of Enlightenment. The king took the alms bowl from the Buddha and took them to the palace and offered them alms. After the meal, the Blessed one preached Anumevenibana.

The king listened to the sermon and attained the state of Sakurdagami. Queen Mahaprajapathi Gothami too attained the first stage of sainthhood. Princess Yasodara, however, remained in her apartment, thinking that the Buddha would pay her a visit.

The Buddha handed over His bowl to King Suddhodana and entered Princess Yasodara's apartment with His two chief disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana. On seeing the Buddha, Yasodara clasped His ankles and placed her head on the Buddha's feet and worshipped Him.

The Buddha preached the Sadukara Jathaka to show how much love she had towards him, not only in his present birth, but also in previous births. After the demise of King Suddhodana, Yasodara and Mahaprajapathi Gothami attained arahanthood.

On the seventh day at Kimbulvathpura, Prince Siddhartha's son, Rahula followed the Blessed One to the temple, seeking his inheritance.

He too was ordained. King Suddhodana requested the Buddha not to ordain any child without the permission of the parents or guardian. The Buddha agreed to the suggestion and enacted a rule accordingly.