Wishing you all a peaceful and blessed Unduvap Poya from Sri Lanka Source : Meshaun Journeys LinkedIn What makes Unduvap Poya so special? It’s the last Poya Day of the year and holds significant importance in Sri Lankan Buddhist culture and history. Unduvap Poya commemorates the arrival of Sangamitta Theri, the daughter of King Asoka of India. Sangamitta Theri brought a sacred sapling from the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, where Buddha attained enlightenment, and planted it at the Mahamevnawa Garden in Anuradhapura. Even today, this sacred site is a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination, visited by people of all faiths. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi holds the distinction of being the oldest human-planted tree in the world, with a documented history spanning thousands of years. How old? This event happened in 288 B.C. So, it’s thousands of years of history and customs. Anuradhapura, home to the sacred Bodhi ...
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See beyond the Well and Contribute to System Change! – By Oscar E V Fernando Majority-A and Minority B-Are they equal before Law-some say this and others that This Void not met? -more blood will be shed! This that or the other we say-Shadow of Majority falls on a Minority Solution? Both sides to approach in grace and Charity[H1] . Not possible says some-look at Buddha Gandhi Christ Mandela and the likes Let go Hatred-Love-Forgive-Turn other cheek-are Traits to abide Possible it is-difficult if history alone you abide History at times opinionated and opinion a view held as probable-beside. See the score behind-in Thirties -State Council a Happy Majority/Minority Mix Closer to Independence they all struggled to fix Independence, won-but then the Struggle to win-Left or Right of Boss began Started then and still goes on now-in a battle of disgrace and shame In struggle for Power-Land-Politics Finance ...
See beyond the Well and Contribute to System Change! – By Oscar E V Fernando Majority-A and Minority B-Are they equal before Law-some say this and others that This Void not met? -more blood will be shed! This that or the other we say-Shadow of Majority falls on a Minority Solution? Both sides to approach in grace and Charity. Not possible says some-look at Buddha Gandhi Christ Mandela and the likes Let go Hatred-Love-Forgive-Turn other cheek-are Traits to abide Possible it is-difficult if history alone you abide History at times opinionated and opinion a view held as probable-beside. See the score behind-in Thirties -State Council a Happy Majority/Minority Mix Closer to Independence they all struggled to fix Independence, won-but then the Struggle to win-Left or Right of Boss began Started then and still goes on now-in a battle of disgrace and shame In struggle for Power-Land-Politics Finance ...
Celebrating Vesak – By Niranjan Selvadurai Vesak holds a profound significance for over 500 million Buddhists scattered around the globe, as a time to celebrate the life, teachings, and spiritual legacy of Gautama Buddha. Falling on the day of the full moon during the month of May, Vesak commemorates the birth, the awakening (Bodhi), and the passing away (Parinirvana) of Siddhartha Gautama who is referred to as the Buddha – “the awakened one.” Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini, current Nepal, around 563 BCE. At the age of 35 he realised his awakening under a Bo tree in Gaya, India. At the age of 80 he passed away in Kusinara, India. This symbolised his final liberation from the cycle of birth and death known as samsara. All three events took place on the Vesak full moon day. After his awakening, the Buddha spent the next 45 years teaching the Dharma ...
Duruthu Poya Day Celebration in Kandy. – By Dr harold Gunatillake On January 25th this year, Sri Lanka celebrated the Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day. This festival falls on the first full moon in January, commemorating Gautama Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka. It is an important religious and historical event in Sri Lanka’s calendar, as it occurred in the ninth month after the Buddha attained Enlightenment. During his visit, the Buddha travelled to Mahiyanganaya in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka, where he gave sermons to two warring tribes to end their conflicts. The tribes listened to his teachings and stopped fighting with each other, and instead began to treat each other with respect. The local God, Sumana Saman, was impressed by the Buddha’s teachings and invited him to leave his sacred footprint on the peak of Samanala Mountain, which is now known as Adam’s Peak. To this day, ...
Reporting from the spot at Kandy – By L.B.Senaratne The Cynosure of the first Kumbala Perahera was “Indi-Raja” flanked by Myan Raja and “Kamdula ” ( from Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihare ) in the ancient ritual of the Kandy Esala Ritual, which had 59 elephants and 15 of them were tuskers from the Sri Dalada Maligawa Tusker stables comencing from the 21st August 2023. It will continue till the 31st August and ends with the water cutting ceremony. The first Perhera which is termed “Kumbal” is the first of the series running for 12 days commencing at 7.10 in the night and running till around 11 p,m The ritual beginings with the sounding of a Cannon Boom from an ancient cannon, when the other Perahera’s from the Devales ( abode of three Gods, Sri Maha Vishnu, Natha, Kataragama and Goddess Pathini alligns itself to follow the Sri Dalda Maligawa Perhera which ...
“Girihandu Seya” – first Buddhist stupa? – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Girihandu Seya (“Seya” meaning stupa or dagoba) also known as “Nithupathpana Vihara” is an ancient Buddhist Temple in *Thiriyaya in *Trincomalee. Girihandu Seya is considered as the first Buddhist Stupa in Sri Lanka, believed to have been constructed by two seafaring merchants *Tapassu and *Bhalluka. Names of the two merchant bothers are recorded on a rock inscription in the temple premises. According to the inscription, Girihandu Seya was constructed by the guilds of merchants named “Trapassuka” and “Vallika”, Their names were written as “Tapassu” and “Bhalluka” in Sinhala chronicles. Situated on a small hillock near the sea coast, approximately 47 kilometers (29 miles) towards north of Trincomalee, the stupa of the Temple has been enlarged during the 8th century A.D. The Vatadage (literally meaning circular relic house or shrine) covers the stupa with concentric circles of stone pillars, almost similar ...
Avukana Buddha – A Magnificent Testament of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist Heritage – By Malsha – eLanka In the heart of Sri Lanka lies the awe-inspiring statue of Avukana Buddha, one of the country’s most revered Buddhist pilgrimage sites and a popular destination for tourists. Standing tall in the picturesque village of Avukana, near Kekirawa, the statue overlooks the ancient Kala Wewa reservoir, surrounded by a serene forested area. This strategic location was chosen to evoke a sense of grandeur and inspiration for all who visit. The Avukana Buddha is a remarkable sight, representing the standing Buddha with his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing, known as the Abhaya Mudra, symbolizing reassurance. Adorned with a beautifully carved Mandorla, a circular halo featuring intricate lotus petals and other motifs, the statue portrays a peaceful and smiling face with astonishing attention to detail. The most astonishing aspect of this statue is ...
Detach fantasy from Dhamma for survival of Buddhism – By K K S Perera Nathasha: Annoying though; Thought-Provoking Source : dailymirror It’s difficult to disentangle religious hard truths from myth, or truth from lies.We have a tendency to “shoot the messenger,” –don’t be angry with the person who makes disrespectful expressions intended to offend or hurt you; instead look for the obscured message in it. Let the authorities conduct investigations to detect any violations of the law, and also expose any hidden agenda by interested parties in Nathasha’s‘Modabhimanaya’ [Fool’s Pride]. The terminology used in Nathasha’s script is irritating no doubt, but the unintended implicit ‘message,’“Detach Dhamma from Fiction,” is thought- provoking, and therefore it needs to be addressed with a positive mind. Unless we revise or delete outdated ‘divine manifestations’ that would prompt future Nathashas from staging comedic gigs, soon all of us would appear as ‘Fools with Pride’ There are ...
Significance of Wesak – thrice-blessed day – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Wesak (also spelt Vesak) marks the Birth, the *Enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. All these three significant events took place on a Full Moon *Poya Day in May. According to *Theravada tradition, the three most significant events in the life of the Buddha occurred on Wesak full moon Poya Day; birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha as a layman) in Lumbini in Nepal where Queen Mahamaya gave birth to him under the shelter of a Sal Tree (Shorea robusta) around 566 BCE. The second significant event was Siddhartha Gautama’s Enlightenment (supreme attainment as the Buddha). The third significant event was the Buddha’s Parinibbana (or *parinirvana) approximately 2500 years ago at *Kusinara. Buddha means the enlightened or awakened one. Buddhists do not believe in a single god who created the world. Wesak Day is celebrated by Buddhists, globally. ...
