Bak Full Moon Poya day at Gangarama Temple ...
April 10, 2017
Bak Full Moon Poya Day is on the
Full moon day of April.
This holy day celebrates the
second visit of the Buddha to Sri Lanka, which took place in the fifth year of
his supreme enlightenment in order to reconcile two local chiefs, Mahodara and
Chulodara, uncle and nephew, who had fallen into disagreement and were
threatening hostility over a throne beset with jewels. The theme of the day is
Right Understanding (Samma Ditthi).
Naga Mahodara was then a King,
gifted with miraculous power in a Naga Kingdom in the ocean. His younger sister
had been given (in marriage) to the Naga-King on the Kannavaddhamana mountain;
her son was Culodara. His mother’s father had given to his mother a splendid
throne of jewels, then the Naga had died and therefore this war of nephew with
uncle was threatening and also the Nagas of the mountains were armed with
miraculous power.
Mahavamsa also records that
the Buddha was accompanied by a deity to Sri Lanka. Buddha settled the dispute
and the next development of events. Hovering there in mid-air above battlefield
the Master, who drives away (spiritual) darkness, called forth dread darkness
over the Nagas. Then comforting those who were distressed by terror he once
again spread light abroad. When they saw the Blessed One they joyfully did
reverence to the Master’s feet. Then preached the Vanquisher to them the
doctrine that begets concord and both (Nagas) gladly gave up the throne to the
Sage
