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Unduwap Full moon Poya Day : Radiant factors of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

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13 December 2016 12:04 am - 0     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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oday is Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day. This is the last Poya Day for the outgoing year in the Gregorian Calendar year of 2016.  
Unduwap Poya signifies several radiant factors that have a bearing on the Buddhist devotees.  
In brief, during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa, it was on an Unduwap Poya Day that Maha Arahant Sangamitta Meheninwahanse, set foot on Sri Lankan soil carrying the most sacred sapling of the Jayasri Maha Bodhi from Jambudveepa.  
With the objective of ordination of Bhikkhunis (Priestesses) in Sri Lanka, she arrived with a company of eleven Arahant Bhikkhunies and were escorted by a Royal Emissary of Great Emperor Dharmasoka.  Besides the enshrining of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at the ‘Mahamevna’ Park Anuradhapura and establishment of ‘Mehenisasna’ in Sri Lanka, according to ancient chronicles and as archeologically evident an inscribed stone pillar was also erected in 307 BC, by King Devanampiyatissa, on the advice of Arahant Maha Mahendra, demarcating the site for building the Swarnamali Maha Seya, two generations afterwards about 140 BC.  
At the time all religious events were officiated by Arahant Maha Mahendra, under the patronage of King Devanampiyatissa. The King not only sought his advice but also followed the instructions of the Maha Arahant.  
Once when the King accompanied the Arahant on a religious event the earth around had shattered suddenly. When king queried, the Arahant had explained to him that the spot where they stood at that moment had been sanctified by all four Buddha’s Kakusanda, Konagama, Kashyapa and Gautama over the centuries.  The Maha Arahant had then declared that a “Great Stupa”, would come up here and that a large number of the Buddha’s relics would be enshrined within it.   
When the King hastily volunteered to build the Maha Seya, the Arahant had further advised that it would not happen then, but would be implemented by his grandson King Dutugamunu later on.  
However the King had then erected an inscribed stone pillar at the site with request for his grandson and had also left a written gold plate in the Royal Treasury giving instructions in 307 BC. King Dutugamunu dutifully under took the mission in 140 BC and built the Swarnamali Maha Seya fulfilling the wishes of his late grandfather.  


Emperor Asoka’s Dharmmaduta Service  

The Great Emperor Dharmasoka, having embraced the doctrine of loving kindness and non-violent principles of the Buddha, emerged to be the champion of worldwide Buddhist missionary campaign.  He wholeheartedly endorsed was his only son, the Crown Prince Mahendra and his only daughter Princes Sanghamitta to enter the order of Maha Sangha. As a token of goodwill and friendship to King Devanampiyatissa, his counterpart in Sri Lanka, Emperor deployed none other than Arahant Maha Mahendra (Mihindu), to deliver the priceless gift, the ‘Buddha, Dhamma’, on a Poson Full Moon Day, 2323 years ago (308 BC).  Arahant Maha Mahendra accompanied by four Arahants Ittiya, Utthiya, Sambala, Bhaddhasala, Sumana Samanera and Bhanduka Upasaka, first appeared at Mihintale to deliver the first sermon to King Devanampiyatissa.  
The introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, tremendously influenced to bring about a remarkable change in the civilization in the country as the King, and the population at large, took refuge in the Noble Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha).   
Bhikkhus, temples and religious activities came into the lime light. There was agitation and clamour from the women too, right down from Queen Anula Devi, to enter the Order of Bhikkhunis.   
When the King sought the advice of Arahant Mahendra Thera, the Arahant readily advised him to send a royal delegation to Emperor Dharmashoka, carrying his request to send Arahant Sangamitta, along with a sapling from the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and to establish ‘Bhikkhuni Order”, in Sri Lanka.  
Pleased with the advice King Devanampiyatissa appointed a royal emissary comprising Prince Aritta, to convey Arahant Mahendra’s message to the Emperor of Maha Bharata, with royal compliments and gifts.  On receipt of the message, Emperor Dharmasoka, became delighted and took utmost interest to fulfill the request made by Arahant Maha Mahendra and the King of Sri Lanka.  
Dharmasoka immediately summoned a meeting of learned Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis, under the patronage of Arahant Maha Moggaliputtatissa, to discuss the issue. Whence the Arahant Moggliputtatissa Thera, had announced that it was in conformity with the last five wishes of the Buddha at the time of Maha Parinibbhana. The Tathagata Gautama, had determined that his noble doctrine be practised and preserved in Sri Lanka for 5000 years. According to Mahawansa God Sri Vishnu has been entrusted to protect the Sasana.  
Moggaliputtatissa Maha Arahant had also indicated to King that there would be several miracles once the mission is set forth. Accordingly, when the Emperor removes the sacred Bo sapling from the Jayasri Maha Bodhi the Bo sapling would automatically settle itself within the golden bowl and soon appear in the sky radiating ‘Buddha Rashmi’. It would then disappear in the clouds for seven days until the dawn of its time to sail to Sri Lanka.  


Arahant Maha Sangamitta  

Thereupon the Emperor devotedly adopted all measurers to ceremonially handover the sacred Bo sapling and to establish a Bhikkhuni Sasana in Sri Lanka.  
Princes Bodhigupta and Summitta, the two brothers of Queen Vedeeya, were appointed to deputize the Emperor and to be in charge of the great Dharmaduta Mission.   Accordingly two of them were adorned in royal regalia and crowned in order to grant equal status with the Emperor himself. A special team of supporting staff to escort Arahant Maha Sangamitta and eleven other Arahant Bhikkhunis were also attached.  
In order to perform regular rites and rituals to the sacred Bo sapling, the permanent staff appointed included three virgin maids from the Royal, Aristocratic and Brahmin castes.   
They were to engage in regular watering purposes of the sacred Bo sapling. For the purpose, they were provided with golden, silver and right twined white conches respectively. In all the ‘dharmaduta team’, comprised members from seven castes.  
The sacred Bo sapling of the Jayasri Maha Bodhi thus obtained was ceremonially conducted in procession along the decorated roads to the riverside from where it was to be sailed to the sea shore on a specially made float.  


King Devanampiyatissa Receives Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi  

Ending a seven day voyage the blessed ship carrying the sacred Bo sapling, reached the Sri Lankan shores at Dambakolapatuna, a port in between Jaffna and Mannar.  
To usher and worship the sacred Bo sapling King Devanampiyatissa, had walked in to the sea up to his shoulder deep. The royal emissary was warmly received and taken to a special canopy constructed on a sea platform where for three consecutive days offerings were made to pay obeisance and rejoice the event.  
Prior arrangements had been made by cleaning and decorating all roads via Malwatu Oya, Thiwankagrama up to Mahameuna Park, Anuradhapura.   
Firstly the colourful pageant, the royal emissaries and the sacred Jayasri Maha Bo sapling, were carried in a royal carriage to Tissa Viharaya.   
By the end of the day the procession reached Tiwanka Bamunugrama (Tantirimale), to spend the night. The next morning the journey was resumed amidst dancing and music through a grand pageant. Finally the procession entered the city of Anuradhapura through its North Gate and reached Mahameuna Park by the South Gate.  
Mahamevna – Historical Landmark  
Under the patronage of King Devanampiyatissa, Moggaliputtatissa Maha Arahant officiated all religious events. As devotees gathered in tens of thousands to pay their respects and obeisance, the sacred Jayasri Maha Bo sapling appeared in the sky above Mahameuna Park, radiating Buddharashmi.   
Mahamevna, where the sacred Jayasri Maha Bodhi stands today, had also been the spot where the emblematic trees of former Buddhas grew, eg Kakusanda Buddha’s Mahari tree, Konagama Buddha’s Attikka tree (Ficus Glomerata), and Kashyapa Buddha’s Nigroda tree (Banyan) presently Gautama Buddha’s Bo tree (Ficus religiosa).  
After super natural exhibitions Arahant Maha Mahinda took the Maha Bodhi to his hands and handed it over to the King, who replanted it in a golden bowl.  
From the sapling eight more saplings had sprung up and later another 32 saplings that had come were planted throughout Sri Lanka. The first eight saplings were planted at Dambultota,Tantirimale, Thuparama, Kasungiriya, Patamakachiyaya, Sandagiri Vehera, Kataragama and Sandugama are still sacred objects of worship.  


The Sacred City  

The ancient city Anuradhapura, where the sacred Bodhi was enshrined was founded in 500 BC. It was the capital of Sri Lanka for almost 1,200 years under ninety Kings.    Owing to its historical global reputation, it was even recorded in Ptolemy’s World Map, as Anuragammum.  
(Robert Knox (1679), Major Forbes in 1840 Eleven Years in Ceylon and Ferguson, John (1887) Ceylon in the Jubilee year, give valuable details.)   
Meanwhile, our chronicles indicate that the city derived its name from Prince Anuradha, a brother of Queen Bhaddha – Kachayana, who visited her and took permanent residence here. The duo were said to be grandchildren of King Suddhodana’s brother named Amitodana.  


Oldest Tree in the World  

Major Forbes says:  
“All the ruins at Anuradhapura, even the lofty monuments, which contain the relics of the Buddha, are either entirely covered with jungle, or partly obscured by forests. 
“The only place clear of jungle was in front of the Maha-wihare (freat temple), where a shady tree occupied the centre of a square, and a stone pillar, fourteen feet high, stood beside the figure of a bull cut in granite, and revolving on a pivot. In the entrance from this square into the Maha-wihare are a few steps admirably carved with laborious devices, and still in perfect preservation. Ascending these, and passing through a mean building of modern construction, you enter an enclosure 345 feet in length by 216 in breadth, which surrounds the court of the Bo-tree, designated by Buddhists as Jaya Sri Maha Bodinwahawai (the great, famous, and triumphant fig-tree).  
“Within the walls are perceived the remains of several small temples; and the centre is occupied by the sacred tree, and the building in which it is contained or supported. This tree is the principal object of veneration to the numerous pilgrims who annually visit Anuradhapura: They believe what their teachers assert, and their histories record, that it is a branch of the tree under which Gautama sat the day he became a Buddha, and that it was sent from Patalipoora by King Dharmasoka, who gave it in charge to his daughter Sanghamitta; this priestess had been preceded by her brother, Mihindoo, who, B.C. 307, was successful in re-establishing in Ceylon the purity of the Buddhist religion with the enshrining of the sacred Bo sapling.”   
Thus Anuradhapura became more sacred and a place of solemn worship, during King Devanampiyatissa. Further to the sacred Bodhi sapling then the nation was blessed with the collar bone and the ‘arms bowl’ of the Tathagata Gautama, with many more Buddha’s relics. All these were worthy gifts whihc we inherited from the great Emperor Dharmasoka. 


Jayo Munindassa Subodhi Mule
Ahosi Marassa Parajayohi
Udgosayum Deva Ghana Pasanna
Eathena Saccane Jayassu Maiham


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