October 4, 2017
In Buddhist culture, there are five categories called [အနေႏၲာ
အနႏၲငါးပါး] to whom you owe infinite gratitude. They are as follows:
1. The Buddha, the giver of truth, Dhamma
2. The Dhamma, his teachings
3. The Sangha, the order of monks who carry out the mission
of the Dhamma 4. Parents, Mother and Father
5. Acariya, the teachers. Abhidhamma is one of Tipitaka of
Buddhism. Directly translated three Baskets of Dhamma or Three corpuses, of
Buddhism. They are
1. Three Treatises of Suttas [discourses]
2. Five treatises of Vinaya or Disciplines for the Buddhist
monks and
3. Seven Treatises of Abhidhamma. Abhidhamma is the ultimate
truth behind all illusions.
Lord Buddha went up to the celestial Kingdom “Tavatimsa”
where his mother Maha Maya, chief Queen of Emperor Sudhodana of Kapila Vittu
Kingdom became Sandusitha deva, after her demise a week after she gave birth to
baby boy Prince Sidhartha [Bodhisutha or Buddha to be] For carrying and keeping
in her womb and giving birth to him and feeding him her breast milk the son
owed indefinite gratitude to his mother. On becoming Buddha, the son was
obliged to fulfill his filial gratitude to his mother. So the Buddha spent the
whole Lent in Tavatimsa to deliver his Abhidhamma to his mother, now Santisitha
deva in Tavatimsa celestial Kingdom. The delivery of Abhidhamma at Tavatimsa
took the whole rain retreat of that year. All Brahmas and deities of the entire
Universe gathered to listen to the delivery of Abhidhamma.
Lord Gotama Buddha said that he gave that delivery of
Abhidhamma to his previous mother as an obligation of returning his indefinite
gratitude to her for bearing him, giving birth to him and feeding him with her
breast milk. By his shining example he showed us that we owe boundless filial
gratitude to our mothers for keeping us in their wombs, giving us births and
feeding us with their breast milk. After finishing his delivery of Abhidhamma
in Tavatimsa, the Buddha returned to Earth on full moon of Thadingyut
[October].
Full moon of Thadingyut is therefore very sacred for the
Buddhists. Traditionally Myanmar commemorate the Day as Abhidhamma Day and hold
annually the Festival of Light of Thadingyut. It is also Buddha’s Mother Day.
We have many commemorative days marked by the United Nations Organization UNO
such as UN Day for Peace, UN Day for Democracy, UN’s Mother Day UN Father Day
etc. etc. In fact Full moon of Thadingyut is Buddha’s Mother Day which far
preceded UN Mother Day. The Full moon day of Thadingyut is commemorated as
Abhidhamma Day. Here the writer humbly and rightly proposes that it should be
marked as Buddha’s Mother Day. Also three consecutive days of Thadingyut namely
pre full moon day, Full moon day and the day after it are celebrated as
festival of light in Thadingyut.
The background story of this light festival is that. Lord
Buddha told Saka Deva [Thunder God of Tavatimsa] that he would return to Earth
as he had finished preaching Abhidhamma.
So on full moon night of Thadingyut. Saka deva created three
stair ways leading down to Earth. The middle stair way was built of rubies for
the Buddha to step down.
The right side stair way was built of gold for the devas to
step down and the left side stair way built of silver for the Brahmas to step
down.
The returning Buddha was honoured by celestial regalia and
ceremonies. Many deities accompanied the Lord Buddha. Panca Thinkha deva with
five hair knots on the right played the Veluva harp in praise of Lord Buddha.
Matalideva on the left carried flowers and fragrances to
honour Lord Buddha. Suyama deva carried the yaktail fly whisk, Santusitta deva
held the rubystudded gold fan and Saka deva blew the Vizayuttara conch shell to
celebrate the occasion. All deities dwelling in the whole of Universe gathered
to pay homage to Lord Buddha as best they could. The three stair ways, being
illuminated by the lights radiated from the deities led to the gateway of the
city of Sankassa on earth. When Lord Buddha set foot upon the earth, the crowd
awaited at the city gate all paid obeisance to Lord Buddha and a grand ceremony
was held to welcome and honour him.
To commemorate this great event in the lifetime of Lord
Buddha which took place on the full moon of Thadingyut. Myanmar Kings and
people held and still holding today “Tawetaintha [Tavatimsa] Festival, or Myint
Moe Pwe because Tavatimsa is said to be located on the summit of Mt. Meru.
Fantastic replicas of Mt. Meru were constructed each with three stain ways with
statues of Lord Buddha and other respective Brahmas, devas and Sakka devas etc. on them. When darkness falls and
full moon rises, lights are lit. Deeds of religious merits are done at Pagodas
and temples and monasteries. In the days of Myanmar kings. Thadingyut light
festival was held by the State. Royal Treasury paid for all expenses Inside the
palace city and around four corners of outside palace city, semi. Myint Moe
Pwes were held with illuminations and holding of performing arts, by both human
actors and puppets.
The last Myanmar King Thibaw never failed to hold this
traditional light festival of Thadingyut. Konbaungset Maha Yaza Wun ‘Taw Kyi
[The Great Royal Chronicle of Konbaung dynasty] vol. 3 fully recorded the
account of light festival of Thadingyut held by the king in AD 1883. Two serious
ceremonies of Thadingyut are Pawarana and Puja. At the end of Buddhist Lent,
all Buddhist monks of the same residing monastery gather together and ask each
other by turn to reprimand him who is believed or found to have committed any
sin. The concerned monk has to confess and promise not to repeat the sin. In
that way, transparency, accountality, responsibly and unity and harmony are
maintained in the Sangha Order.
Puja means worship or giving a devotional offering. This ceremony
is usually performed by laymen. Who pay pujas to the Buddha, the Dhamma, the
Sangha, Parents and teachers [including the aged] Recipients of Puja give
blessings after exclaiming delights of Sadu [well done] three times to the
worshipper.
Young ones usually get pocket money from parents, teachers or
the aged or some sweet cakes. Full moon Thadingyut is the great occasion for
religious and socio-cultural activities we Myanmar never fail to observe,
commemorate and enjoy.
Maha Saddhamma Jotika Dhaja, Sithu Dr. Khin Maung Nyunt
Ref; The
Global New Light of Myanmar
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