[By Janaka Alahapperuma]
Today is Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day. The 118th in the series of the Amadam Sisilasa Dhamma Sermons organized every Poya Day at Temple Trees was held today. The Dhamma Sermon was delivered by the Venerable Thalalle Chandakitthi Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Narada Bauddha Dharmayathanaya in Colombo-07. The Dhamma Desana was focused on the significant religious events occurred on this special Poya Day including the establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sasana (The Order of Nuns) by Arahath Therini Sanghamitta. President Rajapaksa, who returned to the country this morning after the participation of Nelson Mandela’s funeral in South Africa and the conclusion of a very successful four day official visit to Kenya, took part at the Amadam Sisilasa Dhamma Sermon. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and large number of devotees were also present on the occasion.
Many religious programmes including observation of Sil, alms giving, Bodhi Pooja, Sanghamitta perahara and other pinkam activities are being conducted at temples island-wide to mark the Unduwap Full Moon day. The annual Sripada season also started this morning after placing the statue of God Sumana Saman and the casket and other divine objects that were brought from Galpoththawala Raja Maha Viharaya in Pelmadulla at the Sripadaya. More than hundred thousand devotees visited Sripada today and many observed Sil there. Many religious programmes were held under the guidance of the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Pada Viharaya, Venerable Bengamuwe Dhammadinna Nayaka Thera.
Meanwhile the Ruhunu Unduwap Maha Perahera organized by the Veherahena Purwarama Viharaya in Matara will parade the streets this evening.
Unduwap Poya Day marks several significant happenings in the history of the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka. The arrival of Arahath Therini Sanghamitta in Sri Lanka together with a Southern sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree in Buddha Gaya is the most significant religious event occurred in this month. It also led to the establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sasana in Sri Lanka and the planting of the Bodhi sapling in Maha Meuna Uyana in Anuradhapura amidst much ceremony. It was also on a day like today that 500 women including the Anula Devi were ordained with the commencement of the Bhikkhuni Sasana in the island.
Arahath Therini Sanghamitta was the daughter of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka of India and the sister of Arahath Mahinda who introduced Buddhism officially to Sri Lanka.
Pix By : Nalin Hewapathirana
