Binara Full Moon Poya commemorated

Today is Binara Full Moon Poya Day. It commemorates the Buddha’s visit to heaven to preach to his mother and celestial multitude. This Binara Full Moon Poya Day falls within the Vassana period – Rainy Season.

It is recalled how the Buddha who was spending his 11th customary retreat since his Enlightenment in the Brahmin Village named Eknala, one day, guided the Bhikkhus to the paddy fields of Magadha Kshetra situated in the vicinity. On having pointed out to them the arrangement of ridges separating paddy beds, the Buddha told them that they should follow the same pattern for stitching their robes by joining segments of cloth together. It was also at the same village and during the same vassana that the Buddha delivered to the Brahmin Kasibharadvaj, the wealthy paddy cultivator, the well known sutta which received its name after him. The beginning of the Bhikkuni Sasanaya, was also recorded on Binara Full Moon Poya day.
Various religious programmes marked this religious day. The Dhamma sermon at Temple Trees was delivered by the Head of the Cultural Division of the Kelaniya University and Senior Lecturer the Ven. Embulegama Wimalagnana Thera. President Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa were among those present.’
In the meantime, The Poya Savanek Res of Independent Television Network was telecast live from the Mangala Raja Maha Vihare in Seruwila. Among the pinkamas included in the programme were sil and meditation campaigns and dhamma discussions.