The significance of Navam Full Moon Poya Day
Promulgamation of pre-liberation or the collection of precepts of Vinaya or discipline, bringing together all the monks by the Enlightened One for the first ever Buddhist congregation, appointment of Arahants Sariputta and Moggalyana as chief disciples and the determination of the term of life of the Enlightened One by Gautama Buddha are important events which had taken place on Navam Full Moon Poya Day. For us in Sri Lanka ‘and especially for those who live in the vicinity of the capital’ this is a period of celebration because of the prestigious Navam Perahera conducted by the Gangaramaya Raja Mahaviharaya.
Kolithaandupatissawhocouldnotenjoythe Giraggasamajjafestival
During the time of Gautama Buddha there were two villages known as Kolitha and Upatissa near the city of Rajagaha. There were two young men in two families in these villages. They were intimate friends and were known by the names of these villages. Upatissa who was the son of Brahmini “Sari” was also known as Sariputta and Kolitha’s other name was Moggallyana.
One day when both of them were enjoying a hill-top festival called “Giragga Samajja” they realised how vain, how transient were all sensual pleasures and they decided to leave the sensual world and seek the path of release. They left home and went at first to ascetics such as Sanjaya and before long they acquired the entire knowledge such ascetics could impart but they could not discover the path to total emancipation. They returned to the village and entered into an agreement that whosoever first discovers the path to emancipation should teach the other.
Upatissaguidedbyvenerableassaji
One day Upatissa came across Arahant Assaji, one of the first five disciples of Gautama Buddha. Arahant Assaji was going from door to door begging for food. Having observed the saintly deportment of this dignified person Upatissa thought he was surely one of those who had attained Arahantship or one who was treading the path leading to Arahantship. At the end of the begging tour Upatissa approached Arahant Assaji, fulfilled the preliminary duties of a pupil by offering him his own stool and water from his pot and after the meals made inquiries.
Arahant Assaji told Upatissa that he was still a novice and was not able to expound the Dharma to him at length. Upatissa who was anxious to learn begged him to say little or much. Thereupon, Arahant Assaji uttered a four line stanza skillfully summing up the profound philosophy of the Enlightened One – the law of cause and effect. On hearing the first two lines he attained Sowan. In accordance with the agreement Upatissa immediately went to Kolitha and on hearing the whole stanza from Upatissa Kolitha too attained Sowan. As advised by Venerable Assaji both of them accompanied by two hundred and fifty fol
lowers went to Rajagaha, Dewramvehera. In compliance with their request the Enlightened One admitted them into the Or- der. They got new names Sariputta and Moggalyana.
Attainmentofarahantshipbyvenerablemoggalyana
A week before the Navam Full Moon Poya Day Ven. Moggalyana attained Arahantship by meditating at the village of Kallawala.
Vedanapariggahasutta
On hearing the Vedana Pariggaha Sutta preached to the wandering ascetic Dighawaka Ven. Sariputta attained Arahantship on the first Navam Full Moon Poya Day after the Enlightenment when the first congregation was held. In the evening on the same day Buddha conferred the first two exalted positions of the disciples in the Sangha on the Ven. Sariputta and Moggalyana. Prestigious positions of Dharma Senadhipathi and Dhamma Purohitha in the Buddhist priesthood or the society of priests too were conferred on Arahants Sariputta and Moggalyana respectively.
Prathamabhisambodhiperiod
The first twenty years after the enlightenment of Sidhartha Gauthama is called the “Prathamabi Sambodhi” period. During this period those with less desire were ordained. They observed Vedic rules of ascetics and there was no need to enforce rules and religious precepts to maintain their conduct and behaviour. However, in the course of time the Sangha community increased in number and benefits available for them were more than before. They were well read and learned and hence it was deemed necessary to guide them in the correct path for the maintenance of their conduct in the future although so far there had been no problems. To fulfill this need the Buddha on Navam Full Moon Poya Day, twenty years after the Enlightenment enacted and enforced a precept on the propriety of conduct, modesty, reversible obeisance and submissiveness, religious obedience and fulfillment of duties of the priesthood.
Firsteverbuddhistcongregation
On the eve of the first Navam Full Moon Poya Day after the Enlightenment of Gauthama Buddha there were more than one thousand two hundred and fifty disciples in the Order of the Maha Sangha. The Enlightened One envisaged the need for the use of the principles of management for maintaining the moral conduct and discipline of His followers. Although there had been no problems until then, the far-sighted Enlightened One would have anticipated incidents of breach of conduct and morality when the community of Sangha grew in number and variety. Ovada
Pratimokshaya
In the words of the Buddha, patience, forbearance or impressiveness, the noble and eminent religious austerities are the qualities of ascetics. He advised His followers to refrain from demerits and to acquire merit through religious activities. This precept is called “Ovada Pratimokkshaya.
Delegationofpowersbytheenlightenedone
The Buddha had observed the inconvenience caused to His prospective disciples who had to come all their way to Veluvanaramaya where the Enlightened One was dwelling whenever they wanted His advice and when they wanted to get their points clarified. At the first congregation Gauthama Buddha introduced the principles of delegation of powers and functions and requested the members of the Maha Sangha to ordain the aspirants of asceticism then and there without requiring them to come all the way to see the Buddha. This enabled them to enter the priesthood when and where they wished and come to Buddha when they needed clarifications and further advice.
Appointment of Arahants Sariputra and Moggalyanaaschiefdisciples
It was on this day that ascetic Sariputra entered upon the Rahat path, the last and highest path to Nirvana. On the same day Buddha appointed him as His chief disciple “Dakkhina Savu.” Arahant Moggalyana who had attained “Arahantship a fortnight earlier was appointed as the other chief disciple, “Wamath Savu”.
Ancientstoryrelatingto“niyathavivaranaya”– thepositiveexplanationorassuranceofbecomingchiefdisciples
During the time of Anomadassi Buddha, Arahant Sariputra was born as Sarada and Arahant Moggalyana as Siriwardhana. They were intimate friends. After the death of his parents, the young man Sarada distributed the wealth he had inherited from his parents among the poor and the needy and became an ascetic. He had engaged in meditation and had developed his mental power sufficient to gain “Attasamapatti” –the eight attainments. The young man Sarada had seventy four thousand followers. Anomadassi Buddha with his divine eye saw that He could be of assistance to Sarada and went to him followed by His chief disciples, Arahants Nisaga and Anoma and one hundred thousand other Arahants. Ascetic Sarada prepared seats for Anomadassi Buddha, His chief disciples Arahants Nisaga and Anoma and the other Aarahants. He held a basket of flowers for seven days as Buddha and Arahants entered “Nirodha Samapatti” – the eight religious practices for attaining Nirvana.
Merits of offering seats to the Enlightened One
Anomadassi Buddha preached about the merits of offering seats of flowers to Buddha and His monks and all but ascetic Sarada attained Arahantship. Ascetic Naradha’s aspiration was to be the chief disciple. Anomadassi Buddha gave him “Varan” or assurance to be the chief disciple – Agrasrawaka of Gautama Buddha. His friend, Siriwardhane offered alms to Anomadassi Buddha during a period of one week and aspired for the other position of Agrashrawaka.
Determinationofthetermoflifeoftheenlightenedone
Gautama Buddha reached His eightieth year. One day He addressed the venerable Ananda and said “Ananda, whosoever has fully developed the four paths of accomplishment - “Iddipada” could if he desires remain in the same birth for a Kappa and a little more. The Thathagatha has thoroughly practiced and developed the four Iddipadas - Will (Chanda), Effort (Viriya), Thought (Citta) and Investigation (Vimansa).”
However, the Ven. Ananda could not comprehend the meaning of this statement and he did not invite the Buddha to remain during the Kappa. For the second and third time the Buddha made the same statement. Still the Ven.e Ananda was silent.
When the Ven. Ananda left Him, Mara approached the Buddha and invited Him to pass away. The Buddha accepted the invitation of Mara and on the Navam Full Moon Poya Day that year determined the term of His life and after three months from that date He attained Parinibbana at Kusinara on the Vesak Full Moonpoyaday.