Behind the Full Moon; Significance of Esala Full Moon Poya day.

Esala Full Moon Poya day

According to the Buddhist calendar, Esala Poya is in the month of Esala (July). 

Many important events took place on an Esala Poya day.

The Bodhisattva was conceived in the womb of his mother Queen Mahamaya and on the same day, Prince Siddhartha gave up on his lay life, and went in search of enlightenment.

After meeting an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and a monk he realized that everyone who is born into this world will eventually age become sick and die. Also, the birth of Prince Siddhartha and princess Yashodara’s only son prince Rahula occurred on this day.

Other events that took place on this day include Buddha’s preaching of his first sermon; the dhammachakkappavattana sutta, to the five ascetics, which took place at the deer park at Isipathana in India. They were with him at some point in his journey to find the truth. The Lord Buddha visited the Tauvtisa dev lova, (Thusitha Heaven) and for the first time preached the Abhidhamma to the Mathru Divya Rajaya; his mother who was reincarnated as a deva and the other gods on an Esala poya day and the performance of his twin miracle (Yamaka-pathiharaya) also occurred on this day.

For Sri Lankan Buddhists, it’s very important because several important events occurred on the day of Esala Poya.

On an Esala Poya day Prince Aritta, nephew of King Devanampiyatissa was ordained as a bhikku by Arahath Mahinda, laying of the foundation for the Ruwanweliseya and the beginning of the vas kalaya (rainy season retreat) for bhikkus also occurs on Esala poya. An event that is undoubtedly significant to all Buddhists happened on this day. Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha brought the Sacred Tooth Relic to Sri Lanka on an Esala poya day. And it was also on an Esala Poya day in 1753 when the Theravada Buddhist Reformation of the Maha Sangha took place at the Malwatta temple in Kandy.

The Kandy Esala Perahera also occurs close to this day. A grand celebration that lasts nearly 10 days, it’s celebrated to honor the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four ‘guardian’ gods; Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Goddess Pattini. However this year due to the COVID 19 Virus the perahara will not be open to the public but will be held nonetheless in order to maintain the tradition.

Sri Lankan Buddhists also visit the temple and pay homage to Lord Buddha by offering flowers to honor his teachings on the ideal way of life for all living beings.

Written by Rtr. Samadhi Hemachandra