A day of much significance for the Sangha
Of many events that took place on a Navam Full Moon Poya in Buddhist history, there are two of special significance. The first Sangha sammelanaya, the congregation of the Sangha (monks) numbering more than 1000 was held in the Buddha’s time, about nine months after His Enlightenment. A discourse, ovadha patimokkha (Sanskrit –Prathimoksha) which included advice and vinaya rules -discipline for monks for their moral conduct and monastic life – was delivered by the Gautama Buddha.
The Buddha announced the appointment of Sariputta and Moggallana as his chief disciples. This decision was opposed by some senior monks who felt they were bypassed although ordained earlier. The Buddha however realized that Sariputta and Moggallana would be great assets to the Buddha sasana in spreading the Dhamma. Buddha explained that these positions were not made solely on seniority but because of their merits over previous lifetimes.
Devotees will visit temples to observe sil today
Sariputta and Moggallana were born on the same day in neighbouring villages close to Rajagaha in India as Upatissa and Kolitha. Upatissa’s mother was Sari Bemini and therefore he was named Sariputta, son of Sari, and Kolitha as Moggallana, Moggali Bemini’s son. They belonged to wealthy high caste Brahmin families and were great friends from childhood. As young men, they went to Rajagaha to attend a festival. They saw a play Giragga Samajja which made them think about life. They discussed the impermanence of life and decided to renounce the world.
In their search for a teacher, they met Sanjaya Bellatthiputta, an ascetic and teacher and followed his teachings for many years. Still not satisfied, they went on their separate paths in search of the truth. In Rajagaha, Sariputta saw a monk with a serene demeanour. He was Arahant Assaji, one of the first five arahants. A dialogue ensued and it was established that he was a son of the Sakyans and a disciple of Gautama Buddha. After listening to the Dhamma which the Arahant explained, Sariputta went in search of Moggallana and together they decided to meet the Buddha. They realized that finally they had found their ideal teacher from whom they could learn the Dhamma.
Seeing them, the Buddha understood that these two would be very capable disciples – Sariputta had a sharp and analytical mind which would enable him to explain the Dhamma to others and Moggallana had psychic powers, (iddhi). Buddha appointed Sariputta as the Dhammasenapati (General of the Dhamma) and Moggallana the Dhammapurohita. But of course, the Buddha explained that monks should not display their psychic power (iddhi) unless it is absolutely necessary and only for a good purpose.
The two agrasravakas, the chief disciples Arahants Sariputta and Moggallana passed away before the Buddha’s parinirvana. When Sariputta realized that he would not live long, obtaining permission from the Buddha he went to his village to see his mother, who was a non-believer. When Sari Bemini saw her son as a monk in robes, she was disappointed and did not wish to meet him. But later when Sariputta explained the Dhamma she listened to him and became a follower of the Buddha Dhamma. Arahant Sariputta passed away peacefully in her presence in his village where he was born.
Two weeks later Arahant Moggallana passed away but his was a traumatic death due to an attack by thugs hired by rival ascetics due to their jealousy of the Buddha’s teachings. Initially he evaded the attacks using his psychic powers. Later he realized that this happened because of a bad karma in a previous life and did not use his psychic powers. He was brutally assaulted. Although seriously wounded, using his psychic powers he reached the Buddha to pay his last respects before passing away.
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