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Māgha Pūjā

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43-586: Māgha Pūjā (also written as Makha Bucha Day ) is a Buddhist festival celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka and on the full moon day of Tabaung in Myanmar. It is the second most important Buddhist festival after Vesak ; it celebrates a gathering that was held between the Buddha and 1,250 of his first disciples , which, according to tradition, preceded

86-554: A candlelight procession and circumambulation around the main ubosot called a wian thian ( wian meaning to circle around; thian meaning candle). Furthermore, people will make merit by going to temples and by joining in with activities. Other popular ways to spend one's time in the week of Māgha Pūjā, as found in a 2019 poll by the Suan Dusit University  [ th ] among 5,335 respondents of different ages: At times, special events are also held, such as

129-684: A ceremony in 1851. He reasoned that the Māgha Pūjā "... was an important gathering, a miracle in Buddhism. Wise and knowledgeable people have therefore used this opportunity to honour the Buddha and the 1,250 arahants , which is a foundation of faith and a sense of urgency ". He first held it in Temple of the Emerald Buddha , in the palace only. In the evening, 31 monks from the temples Wat Bowonniwet Vihara and Wat Ratchapradit would recite

172-585: A popular event among Buddhist converts in the West, who consider it a day of exchanging gifts. Buddhist festival This is a list of holidays and festivals celebrated within the Buddhist tradition. Japanese , Burmese , Tibetan , Indian , Nepalese , Bhutanese , Chakma , Marma and Barua festivals often show the influence of Buddhist culture . Pagoda festivals in Myanmar are one example. In Tibet, India and Bhutan these festivals may include

215-485: A procession ( Sinhala language : perahera ) with approximately 5,000 people and many elephants is held, called Gangarama Navam . This tradition started in Sri Lanka in the 1980s, and lasts for two days. Monks walk in the procession as well, chanting paritta texts. Dancers from multiple religious traditions perform during the walk. Chinese communities celebrate a similar festival. In addition, Māgha Pūjā has become

258-474: A recital of the entire Buddhist scriptures and ceremonies for avowing oneself as a Buddhist lay person. The Dhammakaya Temple is particularly known for its visually grand celebration. In Northern Thailand , Māgha Pūjā was only introduced in the 1960s, by a monk called Paññananda Bhikkhu  [ th ] . It is generally given less attention than in Central Thailand, due to the influence of

301-473: A stupa. As per recent research, the relic stupa is potentially one of the earliest archaeologically known stupas. Kutagarasala Vihara is the monastery where Buddha most frequently stayed while visiting Vaiśālī. It is located 3 kilometres from the relic Stupa, and on its ground can be found the Ānanda Stupa , with an Asokan pillar in very good condition (perhaps the only complete Asokan pillar left standing), and an ancient pond. A few hundred metres from

344-639: A stupa. Ānanda , the personal attendant of the Buddha, attained Nirvana in the midst of the Ganges outside Vaiśālī. By the time Xuanzang visited Vaiśālī in the early 7th century, it was on the decline: he wrote of it that "the capital is ruined" and "it may be called a village or town" (as opposed to a city). Vaishali is well known for its close association with the Buddha. After leaving Kapilavastu for renunciation, Prince Siddhartha came to Vaishali first and undertook his initial spiritual training from Uddaka Rāmaputta (Rāmaputra Udraka) and Āḷāra Kālāma . After

387-807: Is Stupa 1 or the Relic Stupa. Here the Licchavis reverentially encased one of the eight portions of the Master's relics, which they received after the Mahaparinirvana. After his last discourse the Buddha set out for Kushinagar , but the Licchavis kept following him. The Buddha gave them his alms bowl but they still refused to return. He then created an illusion of a river in spate which compelled them to go back. This site can be identified with Deora in modern Kesariya village, where Ashoka later built

430-466: Is a public holiday in some of these countries. It is an occasion when Buddhists go to the temple to perform merit-making activities, such as alms giving , meditation and listening to teachings. It has been proposed in Thailand as a more spiritual alternative to the celebration of Valentine's Day . Māgha is derived from the name of the third month in the traditional Indian lunar calendar , on which

473-491: Is also renowned as the land of Amrapali , the great Indian courtesan , who appears in many folktales , as well as in Buddhist literature . Amrapali became a disciple of Buddha . Manudev was a famous king of the illustrious Lichchavi clan of the confederacy, who desired to possess Amrapali after he saw her dance performance in Vaishali. A kilometer away is Abhishek Pushkarini , the coronation tank. The sacred waters of

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516-593: Is held, on which a ceremony is held for offerings to the 28 Buddhas (from Taṇhaṅkara to Gotama Buddha ), followed by a 10-day continuous recital of Buddhist texts. Burmese devotees make merits and meditate during this period, and in Mandalay and the North, sand pagodas are made in honor of the Buddha. Other pagoda festivals are held in this period, including the Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival in

559-478: Is known about the early history of Vaiśālī. The Vishnu Purana records 34 kings of Vaiśālī, the first being Nabhaga , who is believed to have abdicated his throne over a matter of human rights and believed to have declared: "I am now a free tiller of the soil, king over my acre." The last among the 34 was Sumati , who is considered a contemporary of Dasaratha , father of the Hindu god, Lord Rama . Vaiśālī

602-538: The Central Ecclesiastical Council being less in the North. The candle procession has only become associated with Māgha Pūjā in the 1990s. In Northern and Northeastern Thailand, Buddhist relics are usually worshiped during the Māgha period. In 2003, a parliamentary question was raised by Premsak Phiayura  [ th ] , House of Representatives, requesting a Day of Gratitude, to express

645-824: The Magwe Region 's Minbu Township and the Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda Festival, near the Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park in the Sagaing Region . The Botahtaung Pagoda and the Sule Pagoda are also much visited. Furthermore, the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda is very popular, and thousands of candles are lit around the boulder below the pagoda. In Sri Lanka, Māgha Pūjā is also observed. In the evening,

688-517: The Ovādapātimokkha , lit lanterns around the ubosot (ordination hall), and give a sermon about the same Ovādapātimokkha in the Pāli and Thai languages. The King or his representative would join the yearly ceremony. A recitation text used for this occasion is attributed to Rama IV. As part of an enduring effort to centralize and regularize Thai Buddhism, Rama IV's successor Rama V (1853–1910) expanded

731-527: The enlightenment of the Buddha. The traditional story goes that a meeting was held in the afternoon, that had four characteristics, known as the cāturaṅgasannipāta  [ th ] : Because of these four factors, Māgha Pūjā is also known as the Fourfold Assembly Day . On this occasion, the Buddha taught those arahants a summary of Buddhism, called the Ovādapātimokkha . In these, three principles were given: "The non-doing of evil /

774-419: The five Buddhist moral precepts on this day, which includes avoiding intoxicants. Māgha Pūjā is celebrated most extensively in Thailand, but it is a national holiday in most Southeast Asian countries, such as Laos and Myanmar. In Thailand, Māgha Pūjā is designated as a national holiday, on which sale of alcohol has been strictly prohibited since 2015. On the evening of Māgha Pūjā, urban temples in Thailand hold

817-501: The rules of discipline , and knowing moderation in eating, and secluded lodgings, and exertion in respect of higher thought, this is the teaching of the awakened ones." According to the traditional Pāli commentaries , the Buddha continued to teach this summary for a period of twenty years, after which the custom was replaced by the recitation of the monastic code of discipline by the Saṅgha themselves. On Māgha Pūjā today, Buddhists celebrate

860-664: The Cambodian Ministry of Information proposed a ban of advertising of alcohol on Māgha Pūjā and Vesak . Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Ministry of Cults and Religion have promoted activities on the day, and education for youths about it. However, in August 2019, local media reported the Cambodian government removed Māgha Pūjā from the list of national holidays to increase the country's competitiveness, because

903-582: The Enlightenment the Buddha frequently visited Vaishali. He organized the sangha on the pattern of Vaishalian democracy. It was here that he first allowed females to join the sangha, initiating his maternal aunt Mahaprajapati Gautami into the order. His last Varshavasa (rainy season resort) was here and he announced his approaching Mahaparinirvana (the final departure from the world) just three months in advance. Before leaving for Kusinagara, where he died, he left his alms-bowl (Bhiksha-Patra) here with

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946-469: The Māgha Pūjā day. Ceremonies are held at Preah Reach Trop Mountain , for example, which are joined by 30,000 to 50,000 people, as of 2019; as well as alms offerings on Oudong Hill, which are joined yearly by thousands of people. On the day, devotees make merit, cook meals for elderly people or their parents, and clean up their houses. Since the late 2010s, the day has become more popular among youth, and more pagodas are organizing ceremonies. In May 2019,

989-646: The Relic Stupa is Abhishek Pushkarini , the coronation tank. The sacred waters of the tank anointed the elected representatives of Vaiśālī. Next to the coronation tank stands the Japanese temple and the Viśvā Śānti Stūpa ( World Peace Pagoda ) built by the Japanese Nichiren Buddhist sect Nipponzan-Myōhōji . A small part of the Buddha's relics found in Vaiśālī have been enshrined in the foundation and in

1032-606: The Southeast Asian agricultural year, as it is celebrated after the harvest. Little is known on how traditional Buddhist societies celebrated this event in pre-modern times, but Māgha Pūjā was recognized and celebrated in Lan Na , Lan Xang and Northeastern Thailand . Practices of worship probably varied a lot. The first known instance in modern times was during the reign of the Thai king Rama IV (1804–68) who instituted it as

1075-579: The best-preserved of the Pillars of Ashoka , topped by a single Asiatic lion . Vaishali is also home to possibly the earliest known example of a stupa , the Buddha relic stupa which is said to contain the ashes of the Buddha. The city finds mention in the travel accounts of Chinese explorers, Faxian (4th century CE) and Xuanzang (7th century CE), which were later used in 1861 by British archaeologist Alexander Cunningham to first identify Vaiśālī with

1118-456: The celebration is held. It is also the name of a star , which during this period is close to the full moon. Māgha Pūjā is held on the full moon day. In a leap year, the celebration will be postponed to the full moon day of the fourth lunar month. Māgha Pūjā day marks an event occurring at the Veḷuvana  [ th ] grove, near Rājagaha (present Rajgir ) in northern India, ten months after

1161-493: The creation of an ideal and exemplary community. Māgha Pūjā is also the day that the Buddha is believed to have announced in Vesālī that he would die ( parinibbāna ) in three months, and after the announcement a supernatural earthquake followed. Moreover, In Sri Lanka, it is considered the day that the Buddha appointed his two main disciples, the monks Sāriputta and Moggallāna. Apart from the religious meaning, Māgha Pūjā also reflects

1204-567: The custom of periodic recitation of discipline by monks . On the day, Buddhists celebrate the creation of an ideal and exemplary community, which is why it is sometimes called Saṅgha Day , the Saṅgha referring to the Buddhist community, and for some Buddhist schools this is specifically the monastic community. In Thailand, the Pāli term Māgha-pūraṇamī is also used for the celebration, meaning 'to honor on

1247-505: The eight portions of the Master's relics, which they received after the Mahaparinirvana. After his last discourse the Awakened One set out for Kushinagar , but the Licchavis kept following him. Buddha gave them his alms bowl but they still refused to return. The Master created an illusion of a river in spate which compelled them to go back. This site can be identified with Deora in modern Kesariya village, where Ashoka later built

1290-496: The full moon of the third lunar month'. Finally, some authors referred to the day as the Buddhist All Saints Day . In pre-modern times, Māgha Pūjā has been celebrated by some Southeast Asian communities. But it became widely popular in the modern period, when it was instituted in Thailand by King Rama IV in the mid-19th century. From Thailand, it spread to other South and Southeast Asian countries. Presently, it

1333-469: The full performance of what is wholesome / the total purification of the mind." This is followed by a formulation of Buddhist ideals: " Patience (and) forbearance are the highest austerity . The awakened ones say nibbāna is the highest. One is certainly not a wanderer if one injures others; one is not an ascetic if one harms another." Finally, the last stanza is about the path of religious practice: "Not abusing, not injuring, and restraint under

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1376-402: The importance of gratitude in Thai history and culture. Uraiwan Thianthong  [ th ] , the then Minister of Culture , felt this was unnecessary, since "there are quite a lot of occasions" in the Thai calendar to express gratitude. However, in 2006, the government of Thailand made an announcement that Māgha Pūjā should from then on be celebrated as a "national day of gratitude". This

1419-622: The number of holidays had become too high. In Myanmar, Māgha Pūjā ( Burmese : တပေါင်းလပြည့်နေ့ ) is observed on the full moon day of Tabaung , the final month of the Burmese calendar . Furthermore, tradition has it that a king of Ukkalapa completed the building of the Shwedagon Pagoda and enshrined the hair of the Buddha in it on this day. Fifteen days before this full moon day, the Shwedagon Pagoda Festival

1462-471: The people of Vaishali. The Śvetāmbaras state that the final Tirthankara , Lord Mahavira , was born and raised in Kshatriyakund district, Vaiśālī to King Siddhartha . and Queen Trishala . According to Jain text Uttarapurāṇa , King Chetaka ruled as a Republican President in Vaishali and was a famous and complaisant king. He is mentioned as a staunch follower of Jainism . According to

1505-487: The practice and organized it as a national celebration in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In 1913, he officially established it as a public holiday, as he started to organize the ceremonies in other places than the palace. By 1937, the ceremony was widely held and observed in Thailand, but by 1957, it had fallen out of usage. Supreme Patriarch -to-be Plod Kittisobhano  [ th ] helped to revive it. From Thailand,

1548-499: The practice spread to neighboring countries which have a majority of Theravāda Buddhists. Māgha Pūjā is a day that laypeople make merit . This is usually done with a motivation to improve oneself in the cycle of existence . Monastics and lay devotees will hold processions, light candles, attending preaching and making offerings of food, as well as meditating and Buddhist chants . Also, devotees will sometimes release animals from captivity . Moreover, devotees uphold and reflect on

1591-681: The present village of Basarh in Vaishali District , Bihar . Vaishali derives its name from King Vishal of the Mahabharata age. Even before the advent of Buddhism and Jainism , Vaiśālī was the capital of the republican Licchavi state . In that period, Vaiśālī was an ancient metropolis and the capital city of the republic of the Vaiśālī state, which covered most of the Himalayan Gangetic region of present-day Bihar state, India. However, very little

1634-675: The tank anointed the elected representatives of Vaiśālī. Next to it stands the Japanese temple and the Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) built by the Nipponzan Myohoji sect of Japan. A small part of the Buddha's relics found in Vaiśālī have been enshrined in the foundation and in the chhatra of the Stupa. Near the coronation tank is Stupa 1 or the Relic Stupa. Here the Lichchavis reverentially encased one of

1677-399: The text, Chetaka had ten sons and seven daughters. His sister Priyakarini (also known as Trishala ) was married to Siddhartha . His daughter Chellana married Shrenik (also known as Bimbisara ). As per Indologist Hermann Jacobi , Vardhaman Mahavira's mother Trishala was sister of King Chetaka . Vaiśālī was also the residence of Kandaramasuka and Pātikaputta. Near the coronation tank

1720-472: The traditional cham dance . Lunar New Year festivals of Buddhist countries in east, south and southeast Asia also include some aspects of Buddhist culture, but they are considered cultural festivals as opposed to religious ones. Vesali Vaishali , Vesali or Vaiśālī was a city in present-day Bihar , India, and is now an archaeological site. It is a part of the Tirhut Division . It

1763-476: Was important in Buddhism, and 75 percent did not know it had been branded as a day of gratitude. However, the Dusit poll showed that 75 percent of the respondents was able to tell that Māgha Pūjā was the day the Buddha taught the Ovādapātimokkha to his disciples, and 66 percent knew that it was the day that 1,250 of the Buddha's disciples came together spontaneously. In Cambodia, various celebrations are held during

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1806-526: Was intended as an alternative to Valentine's Day , in which Thai youth often aim to lose their virginity. Māgha Pūjā was therefore presented as a day of spiritual love and gratitude instead. To what extent Thai people are well informed about Māgha Pūjā is in dispute: in 2017, the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) held a poll among 1,250 subjects of diverse backgrounds and found that 58 percent of Thai did not know why Māgha Pūjā

1849-538: Was the capital city of the Vajjika League of Vrijji mahajanapada , considered one of the first examples of a republic around the 6th century BCE. Gautama Buddha preached his last sermon before his death in c.  483 BCE , then in 383 BCE the Second Buddhist council was convened here by King Kalasoka, making it an important place in both Jain and Buddhist religions. It contains one of

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