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July Sil Program and Vas Aradhana
July 21 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
| Esala Poya is commemorated on the full moon day of July. The conception of Prince Siddhartha (Bodhisattva) in Queen Mahamaya Devi’s womb occurred on this Poya day. Prince Rahula was born on this Poya Day. It is the day that Prince Siddhartha renounced the lay life in search of ‘truth’. After enlightenment, the Buddha conducted his first sermon to five ascetics on this Poya day. The Buddha performed the Yamaka Maha Prathiharya or the Twin Miracles on an Esala Poya Day to show that He was the Buddha to the proud, older Sakya clansmen. The first ordination of a Sri Lankan took place on an Esala Poya day in Anuradhapura. Prince Ariththa, nephew of King Devanampiyatissa was ordained as a bhikkhu by Arahath Mahinda. It was on an Esala Poya day that the laying of the foundation for the Ruwanvelisaya took place and the enshrinement of relics by King Dutugemunu.Esala Poya also marks the start of the Vas Kalaya (rainy season retreat) for bhikkhus. It was on an Esala Poya Day that the Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to Sri Lanka by Princess Hemamala and Prince Dantha. |
