The

Significance
of Poya
Even before the birth of Buddhism,
Asian ascetics in the ancient times when there were no
calendars, made it a practice on full moon days
cease worldly pursuits and engage themselves
in religious activities.
The Buddha adopted this practice and from this
the preaching of the Buddhist texts and commentaries
(bana) in monasteries and temples on full moon
Poya days. And when the Venerable Arahat Mahinda
Thero introduced Buddhism to this country in
247 BC he also introduced the Poya tradition.
Following is a brief description of the 12 Poyas in the
Buddhist calendar and their significance.

1. Vesak (full moon Poya day in May)

The Buddhist calendar begins with the month of
Vesak. On Vesak Day, Buddhists world over
commemorate the triple anniversary of Sakyamuni
Siddhartha Gautama The Buddha. Triple
anniversary because The Buddha was born, attained
Supreme Enlightenment at the age of thirty five, and
after a successful ministry of forty five years attained
Parinirvana or passed away on a Vesak (May) full
moon Poya Day. It was also on a Vesak full moon
Poya Day, in the eighth year of his enlightenment,
that The Buddha made his third and final visit to Sri
Lanka. On this full moon Poya begins the 2541 year
of the Buddha.

2. Poson (full moon

Poya day in June)
It commemorates the introduction
of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by
Arahat Maha Mahinda (son of
King Asoka of India) at Mihintale
in the third century B.C. Ven
Mahinda established the
Dispensation of The Buddha (Buddhasasana) in Sri
Lanka

3. Esala (full moon

Poya day in July)
Commemorates the
deliverance of the first
sermon to the five ascetics
and setting in motion the
Wheel of the Dhamma
(Dhammachakka) at Sarnath Benares, India. The
essence of this sermon is the explanation of the Four
Noble Truths: The Noble Truth of Suffering or

dissatisfaction or conflicts (Dukkha), the cause of

suffering, the cessation of suffering and the path
leading to the cessation of suffering. And The Noble
Eight-fold Path:

4. Nikini (full moon Poya

day in August)
During the month of August
the conducting of the first
Dhamma Sangayana
(Convocation) is
commemorated. This was
held three months after the
passing away of The Buddha.
Five hundred Arahat Theros
participated in the convocation which was held over
seven months in the cave at the foot of the
Rajagahanuvara Vebhara Rock

5. Binara (full moon Poya

day in September)
Commemorates The Buddha's
visit to heaven to preach to his
mother and celestial
multitude. Also the
commencing of the Bhikkhuni
(nun's) Order. Pajapati
Gotami approached The Buddha and implored him
to establish the Bhikkhuni Order.
6. Vap (full moon Poya day
in October)
The significant events
commemorated during this
month are: the conclusion of
The Buddha's preaching of
the Abhidhamma for three
months to his mother in the
Heavenly realm (devaloka),
King Devanampiyatissa of Sri
Lanka sending envoys to King Asoka requesting him

to send his daughter Arahat Sanghamitta Theri to Sri

Lanka to establish the Bhikkhuni Sasana (Order of
Nuns).

7. Ill (full moon Poya day in November)

Celebrates the obtaining of Vivarana (the assurance
of becoming a Buddha) by the Bodhisatta Maitriya
and the commissioning of 60 disciples by The Buddha
to disperse his teachings. Also the conclusion of the
three month retreat (vassana).

8. Unduvap (full moon Poya

day in December)
Arrival of the Bo-tree sapling.
This was brought to Sri Lanka
from India by Buddhist Theri
Sanghamitta, and it is this very
tree that is venerated by
Buddhists in Anuradhapura. It is
also the oldest documented tree
in the world. Sanghamitta Theri established the
Bhikkhuni Sasana (the Order of Nuns).

9. Duruthu (full moon

Poya day in January)
In honour of Lord
Buddha's first visit to Sri
Lanka. This visit too
took place in the first
year of The Buddha's

Supreme Enlightenment.

10. Navam (full moon

Poya day in February)
Celebrates the following
events in Buddhist history:
Entrance into the order of
two leading disciples of The
Buddha (Sariputta and
Maha Moggalana), The
Buddha proclaims for the
first time a code of
fundamental ethical precepts
for the monks. The Buddha announces that within
three months His Parinibbana (death) will take
place

11. Medin (full moon Poya

day in March)
Commemorates the visit of
The Buddha to his home to
preach to his father King
Suddhodana and other
relatives and show them the
path to enlightenment and
final deliverance.

12. Bak (full moon

Poya day in April)
It commemorates the
second visit of The
Buddha to Sri Lanka
which took place in the
fifth year of his Supreme
Enlightenment