Unduvap full moon Poya and Bo tree culture
Unduvap Full Moon Poya, the last poya for this year falls on December 26. This is a significant poya for many reasons for Sri Lankan Buddhists. The arrival of Sangamitta Theri at the port of Dambakolapatuna in the north and the handing over of the Sacred Bo sapling from the Sri Maha Bodhi in India to King Devanampiyatissa was on an Unduvap Poya. Being of royal birth and at the age of 18, this was a courageous woman who undertook a hazardous journey with ten other theris (nuns). The Bo sapling was taken to Anuradhapura to be planted at the Mahamevuna Uyana (garden).
Devi or Vedisa Mahadevi was the first wife of Emperor Ashoka and remained in Ujjain, Vedisagiri when Ashoka was recalled to Pataliputra. They had two children Mahendra and Sanghamitta. Their mother was a great believer of the Buddha and her children were brought up learning Buddha’s teaching and values. Both ordained themselves in the Buddha Sasana as a Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni and came to Sri Lanka to establish the Buddha Dhamma and the Meheni sasna (order of nuns) in the country.
After Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera introduced the Dhamma, the bhikkhu sasana was established. Queen Anula too wished to be ordained. As there had to be bhikkhunis in the presence of the bhikkhus to ordain women, it was arranged for the Thera’s sister Sangamitta, to arrive in Sri Lanka. She came with ten other bhikkhunis.
The arrival of Arahant Sangamitta Theri with the southern branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi gave rise to the Bodhi culture where devotees worshipped the tree in reverence remembering Bodhisattva Siddhartha Gautama seated under the tree and striving to attain Supreme Enlightenment. It is mentioned that there are three kinds of worship for Buddhist devotees to honour the Buddha. They are the saririka dhatu, relics of the Buddha, such as the Sacred Tooth Relic in the Sri Dalada Maligawa and other relics enshrined in dagabas, Paribhojika vastu -- items used by the Buddha, the begging bowl relic and the Bodhi tree which gave Him shelter and the Uddesika vasthu, which are the images made of the Buddha – sitting, standing and reclining images. Devotees worship these images with great reverence.
The Buddha, after attaining Supreme Enlightenment under the Bo tree (ficus religiosa), in gratitude for giving Him shelter to understand the true nature of life and reaching Supreme Enlightenment, meditated and contemplated for one week facing and gazing at the Bo tree (animisalochana pooja). This is a moral lesson for Buddhists to show gratitude to those who help one in their time of need. Devotees follow this practice of paying homage to the Bodhi tree, not only the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, but also other Bodhi trees in temples. It is mentioned that in 1929, a misguided man named Jamis Appu had attempted to cut the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, but was apprehended by the worshippers. This Bodhi tree is said to be the oldest planted tree in the world.
The present Sri Maha Bodhi in Buddhagaya is not the original tree, as one of the queens of Emperor Dharmasoka, Queen Thisharakkha, out of jealousy is believed to have destroyed it. She did not want Emperor Ashoka to become a Buddhist and pay more attention to the tree than to her. After many years, a sapling from the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura was planted in Buddhagaya at the place where the original tree was.
Due to foreign invasions, wars and other issues of the nuns not following the vinaya (discipline) rules, the meheni sasna lasted only for about 1000 years.
Another important event that takes place on Unduvap Poya is the beginning of the Sri Pada season when the statue of the deity Sumana Saman is taken in procession to Sri Pada from Sabaragamuwa Saman Devalaya. It is kept in the Viharaya for six months until the Sri Pada season ends on Vesak Poya in May and then returned to the Saman Devalaya.