MAGHA PUJA DAY

There are many important Buddhist days in Thailand, those days falling on full moon days, the 8th day of the waxing moon and those of the warning moon. In this way, the Buddhist holy days are calculated according to the lunar calendar. Though the Grogorian calender is universally adopted in Thailand, yet ther eis not difficulty in identifying any Buddhist festivals as they take place on any date according to the Gregorain system. In this lesson, we shall study one important Buddhist holy day , Magha Puja Day. Magha Puja Day usually takes place on the full moon day of the third lunar month. this holy day commemorates two important events in the time of The Buddha.

The first important event occurred in the first part of the Buddha’s missionary life. He had sent out about 1340 arahants to preach to people at the beginning of the year., and on the full moon day of the third lunar month, while the Buddha was dwelling at Veluvana Monatery in Rajagaha city.1250 arahats, without prior appointment, returned from their mission to pay respect to the Buddha.

Four unappointed events about this union were as followers:
1) All 1250 monks were arahants.
2) All monks were ordained into the monkhood by the Buddha himself.
3) They all came without prior appointment.
4) It was a full moon day and the moon passed through the constellation of Magha.

Through the constellation of Magha. The Lord Buddha took this opportunity to proclaim the fundamental principles of Buddhist doctrine and discipline
The second important event took place in the last year of the Buddha’s life. It was also the full moon day of the third lunar month and the Buddhism was staying at Pavala Cetiya. In Vesali City. After he had delivered a sermon named Iddhipada Dhamma, < Dhamma leading to success> to his disciples, he remained alone and made the great decision to pass away in three months.Magha Puja day usually falls on the full moon day of the third lunar month, but owing to the adding of one intercalary month every two or three years, it may fall on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month.