Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day
Unduvap Poya is the last Full Moon Poya day of the year and commemorates the arrival of Sangamitta Theri in Sri Lanka during the month of Unduwap with a Bo sapling from the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India, under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India. It was planted in 288 BC and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.
Today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world.
Significance of Unduvap Poya
This historic event occurred about two thousand five hundred years ago. Sangamitta Theri was the sister of Arahat Mahinda Maha Thera who brought the teachings of the Buddha – the Dhamma to Sri Lanka.
After one “vas” season Devanampiyatissa the King of Sri Lanka ordered his nephew chief minister Aritta to go to India to meet King Dharmashoka and bring to Sri Lanka the Bo-sapling from the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.
Minister Aritta agreed to undertake his voyage provided he was permitted to enter the order on his return. Accordingly, the minister set sail from Dambakolapatuna sea port and returned to Sri Lanka with the Bo-sapling accompanied by Sangamitta Theri and the retinue.
Prince Aritta brings a sapling of the Jayashrimaha Bodhi Tree placed on a Golden Bowl to Sri Lanka on Unduvap Poya Day.
Sangamitta Theri was accompanied on this voyage of utmost importance by several members of the royal family who had entered the Sasanaya. The contingent landed in Dambakolapatuna port in Jaffna on an Unduvap Poya day during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa.
Sangamitta Theri was the daughter of Emperor Asoka and the sister of Arahant Mahinda who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka on Poson Poya day. They were the two children of king Dharmashoka born to queen Videesa’ a “Murunda” clan wife of the king who lived in a place close to Sanchi.
After landing here and delivering this precious gift, she was responsible for establishing the Bhikkhuni Sasana during the month of Unduvap.
The sacred Bo sapling was brought to Sri Lanka in a golden bowl, and thereafter planted in the Mahameuna Garden in Anuradhapura. The Bo saplings that emerged from this tree were taken to other parts of the island to spread the Buddhist philosophy and culture. It is said that this visit by Sangamitta Theri was beneficial to Sri Lanka in many ways other than its main purpose of bringing the Bo sapling.
The retinue that accompanied her included people skilled in diverse crafts and disciplines such as wood work, agriculture, indigenous medicine, etc. and their expertise was shared with the locals. Since then, these skills have been handed down through generations and utilized for the development of this country.
Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day Traditions, Customs and Activities
In honour of the event of back in history during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa, devotees flock to Anuradhapura in their thousands on Unduvap Poya day to pay homage to the sacred Bo tree and observe the five precepts in order to lead exemplary lives.
The Sri Pada mountain pilgrimage season starts in Unduvap month. The Sri Pada climbing is very popular for tourists and locals alike. It is recorded that during the Lord Buddha’s lifetime, He visited Sri Lanka, and on one of these visits placed His footprint on the summit of the mountain known as Sri Pada. This was on the invitation of lord Sumana Saman. From then on, the Sri Pada pilgrimage became an integral part of every Buddhist’s spiritual journey, to be embarked on at least once in a lifetime.
Climbing to the summit of Sri Pada with other devotees is esteemed as a lifetime experience of pilgrimaging the mountain wonder of Sri Lanka. Watch from the summit at sunrise – an absolutely awesome sight!
