Four significant events associated with Navam Poya
This year Navam Full Moon Poya falls on Wednesday January 31. Duruthu Full Moon Poya was on January 1. This is a rare occurrence, as the month of Navam is February according to the Sinhala Almanac and Navam Pasaloswaka Poya is in February. There are four significant events associated with Buddhism on Navam Poya.
Budha appointed his two Chief Disciples Sariputta and Moggallana on a Navam Poya. The first Sangha Sammelanaya — the first congregation of the Sangha of more than 1000 monks — was held on a Navam Poya. The third event –a discourse by the Buddha, the Ovada pratimokshaya Desanawa – advice and rules of discipline, (the Vinaya rules) for monks for moral conduct and if they broke the rules the consequences they will have to face, were explained by Gautama Buddha. The fourth being the Ayusanskaraya -- the Buddha decided on his parinibbhana (passing away), which he said would be after three months.
The two chief disciples Sariputta and Moggallana are said to have been born on the same day in two villages north of Rajagaha. One was named Kolitha, also known as Mogallana, being Moggali Bemini’s son. The other was Upatissa who was called Sariputta, Sari’s son. The two boys became close friends and as young men, went to Rajagaha to attend a festival. They watched a play, Giragga Samajja, which made them think about life – the impermanence of everything and they decided to renounce the worldly life. They became disciples of Sanjaya Belatthaputta, a religious teacher and followed his teaching for many years.
The two lived with their teacher as wandering ascetics. Not satisfied with what they had learnt, they decided to leave their teacher and go their own way in search for truth. One day in Rajagaha, Saripputta saw a monk with a serene demeanour. He was Assaji Maha Arahant. Sariputta inquired from him about his teacher. Assaji replied that he was a son of the Sakyans and explained the Dhamma. After listening to the Dhamma, Sariputta went in search of Moggallana who saw that he looked calm and serene. Sariputta said he had listened to the Buddha Dhamma. They decided to visit the Buddha and learn more about the Dhamma.
When the Buddha saw them approach, he realised that they would become capable disciples. Buddha knew that Sariputta had a sharp and analytical mind and was able to explain the Dhamma. He was appointed the Dhammasenapati (General of the Dhamma). It is mentioned that Moggallana had a very dark complexion. His developed faculties were iddhi, psychic powers. He was appointed as Dhammapurohitha.
Once, a merchant at Rajagaha, raised a sandalwood bowl on top of a pole in the city centre and challenged the monks to rise to the top and touch the bowl. Moggallana and Pindola Bharadvaja were in Rajagaha. The merchant said, “you have psychic powers, try and reach upto the bowl.” Pindola rose into the air and was able to reach it.
The Buddha heard of this incident and made a rule for monks not to display their psychic powers unnecessarily. Yet, the Buddha realised that at times psychic powers could be used for a good purpose. It is mentioned that once thieves attacked a house and abducted two children. A monk used his psychic powers to rescue the children. The other monks complained to the Buddha and accused this monk of not keeping to the rules. As this was done out of compassion, the Buddha said that he could be forgiven. Moggallana too used his psychic powers but only for good deeds.
Sariputta cared more for the sick and the poor. Once when there was an invitation by rich merchants for the monks to visit their homes for a meal, all the monks accepted except Sariputta who preferred to visit the home of a poor woman. King Pasenadi learnt of this and sent the woman a large sum of money to prepare a meal for Sariputta and the poor woman used the balance to lead a fairly comfortable life.
Sariputta and Moggallana passed away before the Buddha. Sariputta realised that he would not live long. He informed the Buddha of his wish to visit his village to pay his respects to his mother before he dies. His mother did not believe in the Dhamma and Sariputta wished to help her understand it. When he arrived at her home and she saw him still as a monk, she was disappointed. She distanced herself from him and did not wish to meet her son. However, it is said that when Sariputta was dying, devas appeared to pay their respects and seeing these heavenly beings the mother realised her son’s importance. She then listened to the Dhamma as explained by Sariputta and became a follower of the Buddha Dhamma. Sariputta passed away in the presence of his mother.
Two weeks later, Moggallana passed away. He was attacked by thugs but he managed to reach the Buddha before he died. It is believed that this happened to him due to a past bad kamma as he had attacked his parents in a previous birth in his samsaric journey.