A month of Katina pinkam that ends with Il Poya
The Vas retreat of three months during the rainy season where upasampada bhikkhus (high ordained monks) stay indoors, which began on Esala Poya ended on Vap Full Moon Poya. Thereafter the ‘katina chivara’ (robes) month began and this will end with the ll Full Moon Poya, which falls on November 15.
Il Full Moon Poya is significant for many reasons in the Buddhist world. It was on an Il Poya day that Maithriya Bodhisattva met the Buddha and was ordained. The Buddha addressed the Bodhisattva and said that he will be born as Maithri Buddha during the mahabhadra kalpaya.
Three Mehenin wahanses who attended the Katina pinkama
The Chief Disciple in Dhamma, Arahant Sariputha Thera visited his mother Sari Bemini and convinced her of the virtues of the Buddha. The Arahant’s parinibbhana was in his birthplace Nalaka on an Il Full Moon Poya.
When Buddha visited Uruvela, the three Jatila brothers Uruvel Kassapa, Nadi Kassapa and Gaya Kassapa met the Buddha and after listening to the Dhamma gave up their earlier beliefs. Arahant Theras were sent to spread the Buddha Dhamma for the first time on an Il Full Moon Poya.
The Katina chivara being taken to the Rama Viharaya in Udawattakelle, Kandy
The sacred collar bone of the Buddha was enshrined in the Thuparama Chaitya, which is the first dagaba to be built in this country.
At present, there are Katina pinkamas being held throughout the country. The Sunday Times visited the Rama Viharaya in Udawattakelle, Kandy on October 27 to observe the Katina pinkama in the viharaya. Early in the morning, the Katina Chivaraya was brought with great reverence by devotees from a residence at Rajapihilla Mawatha to the Rama Viharaya.
There were many religious discourses and a daval dana (alms) was offered to the Sangha. The monks discussed about the offering of the Chivara to a suitable monk and it was finally decided to present it to Ven. Ampitye Dhammasiddhi Thera, the incumbent monk of the Rama Viharaya.
The Katina chivara (robe) was marked with three dots on the corner of the robe to set it apart from the other robes. After receiving the robe, the Ven. Thera gave a short discourse and ended the Katina pinkama of the temple. Devotees are keen to participate in Katina pinkamas to gain merit to shorten their samsaric births.
Another important event that takes place on an Il Full Moon Poya is the Karthika Mangalya which is an Aloka poojawa, where oil lamps are lit. This is the last major event for the year conducted by the Maligawa, which has three other mangalyas – the Aluth Sahal Mangalya, Aluth Avuruddha and the Sri Dalada Esala Perahera.
The Kariyakarawana Korale of the Dalada Maligawa said that this year the oil for the lamps will be distributed on the 12th. On that day, sufficient oil will be taken in the afternoon in a procession from the Maligawa to the Natha Devalaya. From there the oil will be distributed to the four devalas in Kandy – Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, Pattini and the pansal and devala of the Udarata (upcountry) for the Aloka poojawa on Il Poya. All the lamps at these premises will be lit at the same auspicious time given by the Nekath Rala. At the Vishnu Devalaya there will be a hevisi pooja until dawn the next day.
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