Duruthu Poya Gauthama Buddha’s first visit to Lanka Subjugation of Jatila Brothers and the pledge to

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By Gamini Jayasinghe

Duruthu Full Moon Poya day falls on the first month of the calendar year i.e. January and hence the celebration of Duruthu poya is the first event in the Sri Lankan Buddhist calendar. It was on a day like today, nine months after the Enlightenment, that Gautama Buddha, the Eminent One, the Exalted One set foot on our land- Sri Lanka for the first time. This took place on the first Duruthu full moon poya day after His Enlightenment.

First sixty Arahants of Gautama Buddha Sasana

Gautama Buddha’s first discourse was Dhammacakkapavattana sutta which was delivered on Esala Full Moon poya day. Five Brahmin ascetics Annata Kondanna and four others, who understood the Four Noble Truths and the Eight –fold Path, attained Arahantship. On the first Ill full moon poya day after Enlightenment, the Exalted One dispatched the first sixty Arahants including the five ascetic monks- Pasvaga Mahanu- in various directions to propagate the sublime Dharma and He Himself went to Uruwela Danawwa to be of service to Jatila brothers and their followers. After subjugating them and putting them on the correct path, the Buddha visited Sri Lanka. Thus before proceeding to Sri Lanka the Buddha showed the way to Nibbana to the very arrogant and aggressively asserted or presumptuous Uruvela Kassapa and his five hundred followers, Nadi Kassapa and his three hundred followers and Gaya Kassapa with another two hundred followers.

" After subjugating them and putting them on the correct path, the Buddha visited Sri Lanka. Thus before proceeding to Sri Lanka the Buddha showed the way to Nibbana to the very arrogant and aggressively asserted or presumptuous Uruvela Kassapa and his five hundred followers, Nadi Kassapa and his three hundred followers and Gaya Kassapa with another two hundred followers"

Significant incidents taken place on Duruthu Full Moon Poya day

The Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka and presenting the God Sumana with the Hair are regarded as the most significant incidents taken place on Duruthu Full Moon Poya day. The Duruthu Perahera of Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya also parades the streets to coincide with the Poya.
The visit of Gauthama Buddha to Sri Lanka is the most important incident in the history of Sri Lanka after the Rama / Rawana war which is believed to have taken place more than three thousand and one hundred years ago.

Settlement of the dispute between Yakkhas and Nagas

 At the time when the Enlightened One visited Sri Lanka for the first time the inhabitants of this country were Yakkhas who were humans and descendants of King Rawana and his brother, Vibhishana.
Yakkhas and Nagas were in constant confrontation. There is still a belief that the Buddha’s visit to Sri Lanka was spurred by an invitation by the God Sumana Saman to mediate and settle the dispute. It was on this invitation that the Enlightened One set foot on Mahiyangana Mahanaga Grove. At that time the Yakkhas had gathered there for a meeting.

Buddha Rashmi

The Buddha stood there radiating rays of light from His body more pleasant, clear, calm and gentle than the moon light. The aggregate of six colours forming a halo around the Buddha in separate circles viz. blue, yellow, red, white, crimson and the colour formed by their combination.

Yakkhas turned submissive

Yakkhas were not prepared to listen to the Buddha as they thought that He was an invader on their hereditary land. Yakkha soldiers were up in arms. It was time for the Buddha to subjugate them  and the Buddha terrified them by setting forth a terrible drought, rain thunder and a gale. Yakkhas were terrified and realized that Buddha was a supernatural being and turned submissive. They obeyed the Buddha and begged for His pardon. The Buddha laid His piece of cloth –Pathkada- on the ground and after sitting on it He called the Yakkha and Naga leaders and admonished both parties. Legend has it that the Yakkhas who dispersed had gone to Giri Divayina not being able to understand the words of the Buddha.  Mahiyangana Stupa which is also known as Miyuguna seya was built at the site of the Mahanaga grove in Minipe where the Buddha had subjugated the Yakkhas.

Devas and Nagas take refuge in the Triple Gem

According to legend, Devas and Nagas assembled at the Maha Naga grove in large numbers and took refuge in the Triple Gem. Among them was God Sumana Saman. It is said that God Sumana Saman was a member of the Deva tribe from the central hills of Sri Lanka. This god attained “Sowan “or the first of the four paths or stages leading to Nirvana. God Saman begged for a relic for worshipping and the Buddha gave him a lock of His Hair Relic. God Saman received the Hair Relic in a gold casket and enshrined it in Mahiyangana chethiya which he built at the place where the Exalted One stayed. This is the first stupa in Sri Lanka and one of the shrines built during the time of the Buddha. After forty five years “Greeva Dhathu” the Collar bone relic of the Buddha was enshrined in this stupa by Arahant Sarabha.  This Dagaba had been renovated from time to time by various kings such as Dutugemunu, Dhatusena, Sirisangabo and Agbo.

" On Duruthu Full moon poya day the Omnificent One visited Lanka for the first time and made this land a suitable place for Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera to establish Buddhism. We, the present population of this country are fortunate to have pure Buddhism in our country. "

Buddha’s visit to Magadha kingdom

During the month of Duruthu the Omniscient One proceeded to the Magadha Kingdom accompanied by Jatila Arahants. This visit was made in keeping with an invitation extended by Magadha King Bimbisara to the Buddha before His Enlightenment. Arahant Uruwela Kassapa, Aarahant Nadi Kassapa, Arahant Gaya Kassapa and their followers accompanied the Buddha. Having seen the Buddha with Arahant Kassapa king Bimbisara hesitated to believe that Uruwela Kassapa was a disciple of the Buddha. Realizing the king’s misconception Arahant Uruwela Kassapa performed a miracle to indicate that all the Jatila Arahants including himself were disciples of the Buddha. King Bimbisara and his people were very happy and devotedly embraced Buddhism. Buddha preached the Dharma and all of them took refuge in the Triple Gem. King Bimbisara offered Veluwanaramaya to the Buddha. Buddha made a proclamation allowing Bhikkhus to accept monasteries.

King Bimbisara’s dream

King Bimbisara had a dream in which he saw that his deceased relatives were suffering having been born as goblins. Buddha preached Dharma to offer merit to those goblins.

On Duruthu Full moon poya day the Omnificent One visited Lanka for the first time and made this land a suitable place for Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera to establish Buddhism. We, the present population of this country are fortunate to have pure Buddhism in our country.