A Poya connected with the Buddha Sasana
Navam Pura Pasalosvaka Poya which falls tomorrow, is signified as the day the first ever Sangha Sangayanaya or the Congregation of the Sangha took place for the formation of a code of ethics for the Sangha. It was held on the first Navam Poya Day following the Enlightenment of the Gautama Siddhartha.
Although it was just nine months after He commenced spreading the Dhamma, His Teachings were drawing followers. And by then, the number of those who entered the Order of the Sangha had risen to 1,250.
However, though it was still at the formative stage of the Sangha Order, the Buddha, in His Wisdom and foresight, realised that ethics and management policies needed to be formulated and implemented to maintain the moral conduct and discipline of this new Order.
As while the Sangha fraternity was increasing in numbers they varied from one another in many respects.
Although there had been no incidents of indiscipline and breach of conduct up to then, the Gautama Buddha, foresaw the likelihood of emergence of such developments in the future.
Therefore, He held the first Sangha Sangayanaya on a Navam Poya Day and proclaimed a code of fundamental ethics for the monks.
The significance of Navam Poya Day therefore, is very relevant today in the light of disturbing developments taking place in some quarters of the Sangha, which, as the Buddha envisaged could harm the Doctrine.
The Buddha’s way out was a Sangha Sangayanaya and hold a “Kathikawatha” or a dialogue to discuss and formulate ethics in keeping with the Doctrine, an act that could be emulated for the preservation of the Saasana.
With the word spreading of the Buddha’s Teachings, many were arriving in Veluwanaaraamaya from near and far for ordination.
Up to the time of the Sangayanaya, those who sought to enter the Bhikkhu Order, were ordained by the Buddha Himself. With numbers growing and with some of these aspirants having to come from far, the Buddha, at the Sangayanaya, delegated powers and functions to the Maha Sangha in the respective areas to ordain such aspirants and admit them to the Sangha Order.
This removed the need to travel from far for ordination enabling them to enter the Order at their convenience. Those who wanted to listen to the Buddha however, travelled following the ordination and asked for clarifications in areas that confused them.
It was also on a Navam Poya Day that the Buddha took the bold step to appoint His two Chief Disciples – Sariputta and Moggallana, inspite of the fact that they were not the most senior monks. Sariputta was appointed to the position of “Dharmasenadipathi” and Moggalana as “Dharma purohita.”
These appointments were made over senior monks, an act which puzzled some. Buddha, finding out that queries were being made about the appointments, explained that seniority was not the sole criterion when making appointments. What mattered was whether they were competent to carry out their duties.
Buddha thereafter, delivered the famed Anusaasana“Ovada Prathimoksha” which taught Sariputta and Moggallana and the assembled monks how self-discipline could be developed.
Sariputta, known as Upatissa when he was a layman, was the son of the Brahmin Sari. Following the Ordination, he took up the name as Sariputta. Moggallana was Kolitha as a layman. As young men, they were close friends who were searching for salvation.
This urge to seek salvation came upon them when they attended a huge sports festival called “Giraggasamajja” when they realised the futility of worldly desires, sensual pleasures and impermanence. And so in their search to find the path of salvation, they met the Ascetic Sanjaya.
Failing to achieve what they sought, Upatissa met Arahant Assaji, one of the Buddha’s five earliest disciples who in turn, directed them to the Buddha. They received ordination from the Buddha.
Moggallana attained Arahantship within a week and he was followed by Sariputta. Their conduct may have been very impressive for the Buddha to pick them for the most prestigious positions of the Chief Disciples of the Buddha.
It was once again, on a Navam Poya Day at Rajagaha Nuwara that the Buddha, who had disseminated the Dhamma for 45 years and approaching his eightieth year, announced that within three months His Parinirvana would take place. By that time, both His Chief Disciples- Sariputta and Moggallana had passed away three months earlier.
Navam Poya thus signifies several events connected with the Buddha Sasana. To coincide with this day, the Navam perahera has been held in Colombo since 1979 – the architect of it being Venerable Galaboda Gnanissara, popularly known as Podi Hamuduruwo of the Gangarama Vihara.
An event which has turned out to be a pageant of rich religious and cultural traditions, at this perahera, an elephant carrying the casket of the Sacred Relics along with about 100 elephants in glittering attire, dancers, drummers, flautists and other performers walk along the Navam Mawatha in glorious splendour thus preserving some of the cultural traditions for future generations.