*Ø* Blogmanac | Full moon in June: Poson Festival, Sri Lanka
The Poson Festival commemorates the anniversary of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
O great King! the birds of the air and the beasts on the earth have an equal right to live and move about in any part of this land as thou. The land belongs to the people and all other beings and thou art only the guardian of it.
Arhat Mahinda, who brought Theravada Buddhism to Sri Lanka in 246 BCE
The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demand for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life activity: it affords protection of all beings, offering shade even to the axe man who destroys it.
The Buddha
Today would be an excellent time to be in the mountainous heart of Sri Lanka at Mihintale (aka Mihinthele), the ‘cradle of Buddhism’ in that beautiful but tragic island. For two days of the full moon of June, the Festival of Poson is in full flight. It is a nationwide commemoration, but Mihintale is the place to be.
It was here in 246 BCE that the Buddhist apostle Arhat Mahinda Thero, special envoy of his father (Asoka, 264-267 BC King of India), met King Devanampiyatissa (307-267 BCE) on the full moon day in the month of Poson and officially introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Devanampiyatissa was out deer-hunting in the wilderness around Mihintale. The royal party pursued a stag that fled in the direction of Silakuta (the northern peak of Mihintale mountain), and the king suddenly came upon Arhat Mahinda and his companions. The thera (elder, or saint) soon engaged the king in repartee that led to Devanampiyatissa’s conversion to Theravada Buddhism.
Today, Mihintale is one of the great sacred sites of the world, with rocky outcrops, including the great Meditation Rock, and some large statues of the Buddha, making it an awesome experience to visit the ancient town. The Ambasthala stupa has 1,840 stone steps leading up to it on the top of the Mihintale hill, a site of pilgrimage for Sri Lankan believers in this predominantly Buddhist land.
Relics of sage and Buddha
During the month of Poson, many thousands of devotees ascend the steps to pay their respects to Arahat Mahinda. The ancient monastery contains some important relics said to be from the body of Mahinda, and even some of the Buddha himself. One of Lord Buddha’s collarbones is there, and the uma-roma, a hair that grew between the eyebrows of the Enlightened One, signifying a maha purusha or ‘great being’. (Note: There is also a legendary belief that the Buddha himself three times visited Sri Lanka, which was then known as Heladiva. Heladiva is often used by Sri Lankan nationalists who oppose the Tamil citizens, whom they see as foreign interlopers.)
The Ambasthala dagaba (shrine containing relics) is known as the ‘mango-tree stupa’, deriving its name from a riddle that Mahinda is said to have posed to the king to see how clever a student of religion he would be.
Pointing to a nearby tree, the saint asked King Devanampiyatissa its name. The king replied, “It is a mango tree, Mahinda.”
“And are there any other mango trees besides this?” asked the sage.
“Indeed, there are many mango trees,” replied Devanampiyatissa.
“And are there any other trees besides this mango tree and other mango trees?”
“Indeed, there are many other trees,” replied the king, “but they are not mango trees.”
“And are there besides these mango trees and those which are not mango, yet other trees?”
“There is this mango tree,” replied the king.
“Thy wit is shrewd, O ruler of men,” laughed Mahinda.
The very place where this clever dialog took place is still marked at Mihintale and mango trees have been planted all around to memorialise the event.
At the Ponson festivities, pandals (undercover seating arrangements) are erected, there are almsgiving and religious observances mostly in the sacred monastic complex of Mihintale, but also Sri Lanka-wide. As a side note, at this time of year, the Bambara bee (apis indica), the largest bee species in Lanka, produces its honey which is harvested by the indigenous hunter-gatherers (Veddas).
Pip Wilson's articles are available for your publication, on application. Further details
Sri Lankan Customs, Rituals & Traditions
The Poson Festival commemorates the anniversary of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
O great King! the birds of the air and the beasts on the earth have an equal right to live and move about in any part of this land as thou. The land belongs to the people and all other beings and thou art only the guardian of it.
Arhat Mahinda, who brought Theravada Buddhism to Sri Lanka in 246 BCE
The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demand for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life activity: it affords protection of all beings, offering shade even to the axe man who destroys it.
The Buddha
Today would be an excellent time to be in the mountainous heart of Sri Lanka at Mihintale (aka Mihinthele), the ‘cradle of Buddhism’ in that beautiful but tragic island. For two days of the full moon of June, the Festival of Poson is in full flight. It is a nationwide commemoration, but Mihintale is the place to be.
It was here in 246 BCE that the Buddhist apostle Arhat Mahinda Thero, special envoy of his father (Asoka, 264-267 BC King of India), met King Devanampiyatissa (307-267 BCE) on the full moon day in the month of Poson and officially introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Devanampiyatissa was out deer-hunting in the wilderness around Mihintale. The royal party pursued a stag that fled in the direction of Silakuta (the northern peak of Mihintale mountain), and the king suddenly came upon Arhat Mahinda and his companions. The thera (elder, or saint) soon engaged the king in repartee that led to Devanampiyatissa’s conversion to Theravada Buddhism.
Today, Mihintale is one of the great sacred sites of the world, with rocky outcrops, including the great Meditation Rock, and some large statues of the Buddha, making it an awesome experience to visit the ancient town. The Ambasthala stupa has 1,840 stone steps leading up to it on the top of the Mihintale hill, a site of pilgrimage for Sri Lankan believers in this predominantly Buddhist land.
Relics of sage and Buddha
During the month of Poson, many thousands of devotees ascend the steps to pay their respects to Arahat Mahinda. The ancient monastery contains some important relics said to be from the body of Mahinda, and even some of the Buddha himself. One of Lord Buddha’s collarbones is there, and the uma-roma, a hair that grew between the eyebrows of the Enlightened One, signifying a maha purusha or ‘great being’. (Note: There is also a legendary belief that the Buddha himself three times visited Sri Lanka, which was then known as Heladiva. Heladiva is often used by Sri Lankan nationalists who oppose the Tamil citizens, whom they see as foreign interlopers.)
The Ambasthala dagaba (shrine containing relics) is known as the ‘mango-tree stupa’, deriving its name from a riddle that Mahinda is said to have posed to the king to see how clever a student of religion he would be.
Pointing to a nearby tree, the saint asked King Devanampiyatissa its name. The king replied, “It is a mango tree, Mahinda.”
“And are there any other mango trees besides this?” asked the sage.
“Indeed, there are many mango trees,” replied Devanampiyatissa.
“And are there any other trees besides this mango tree and other mango trees?”
“Indeed, there are many other trees,” replied the king, “but they are not mango trees.”
“And are there besides these mango trees and those which are not mango, yet other trees?”
“There is this mango tree,” replied the king.
“Thy wit is shrewd, O ruler of men,” laughed Mahinda.
The very place where this clever dialog took place is still marked at Mihintale and mango trees have been planted all around to memorialise the event.
At the Ponson festivities, pandals (undercover seating arrangements) are erected, there are almsgiving and religious observances mostly in the sacred monastic complex of Mihintale, but also Sri Lanka-wide. As a side note, at this time of year, the Bambara bee (apis indica), the largest bee species in Lanka, produces its honey which is harvested by the indigenous hunter-gatherers (Veddas).
Pip Wilson's articles are available for your publication, on application. Further details
Sri Lankan Customs, Rituals & Traditions
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