VESAK

A new interest in the teachings of Lord Buddha has arisen currently the world over. Many foreign nationals are interested in learning the dhamma to find a path to eternal peace of soul. All around us, life is full of discontent which leads to perpetual sadness. It is the Buddha who preached the way out of all life’s sadness and cravings so that one may find the happiness of the soul.  Vesak celebrations are a small way of celebrating this great human who has taught a philosophy, a way of life, to anyone who is willing to follow it, to find peace  within self. 

Words : Lakmini Wijemanne

Vesak Poya is a day of much significance to Buddhists due to many reasons. Among many historical events that have taken place on such a day , the most important event which took place was that, on a Vesak Poya day, Prince Siddhartha was born, attained enlightenment as Lord Buddha, and passed away (parinabbana) at the age of 80 years. Many hundred years ago, on another such poya day in the month of May, Lord Buddha had visited Kelaniya with 550 arahats - His third visit to the island - on the invitation of King Maniakkika. Following a special sermon delivered by the Buddha to all who were present there, the king erected a shrine with the Buddha’s hair and the jeweled seat on which he sat upon, buried inside. Thus, the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara was built and the site thereafter became a most important sacred site 
to Buddhists. The day also has historical significance as, according to the “Mahavamsa” the Aryans from India (Prince Vijeya and his group) had arrived in Sri Lanka on the same poya day in May that the Buddha passed away in Kusinara, in India. Thus the day acquired historical importance since it relates to the origins of the Sinhalese race.

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