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== Origins ==
== Origins ==
Māgha Pūjā day marks an event occurring at the [[Veḷuvana]] grove,<ref name="bbc" /> near Rājagaha (present [[Rajgir]]) in northern India, ten months after the [[enlightenment (Buddhism)|enlightenment]] of the Buddha. On that occasion, as recorded in the commentary to the Mahāsamayasutta (DN 20), four "marvelous events" occur:
Māgha Pūjā day marks an event occurring at the [[Veḷuvana]] grove, near Rājagaha (present [[Rajgir]]) in northern India,<ref name="bbc" />{{sfn|Melton|2011|p=538|loc=Magha Puja Day}} ten months after the [[enlightenment (Buddhism)|enlightenment]] of the Buddha. On that occasion, as recorded in the commentary to the Mahāsamayasutta (DN 20), four "marvelous events" occur:


# 1,250 disciples come to see the [[Buddha]] that evening without being summoned;<ref name="bbc" />
# 1,250 disciples come to see the [[Buddha]] that evening without being summoned;<ref name="bbc" />
Line 35: Line 35:
# It is the [[uposatha|full-moon day]] of the third lunar month.{{sfn|Irons|2008|page=199}}
# It is the [[uposatha|full-moon day]] of the third lunar month.{{sfn|Irons|2008|page=199}}


On this occasion the Buddha teaches those ''arahants'' a summary of Buddhism, called the "Ovādapatimokha".<ref name="bbc" /> Those principles are: "The non-doing of evil / the full performance of what is wholesome / the total purification of the mind."<ref name="Swearer">{{cite book|last1=Swearer|first1=Donald K.|title=The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia|date=2010|publisher=[[State University of New York Press]]|isbn=978-1-4384-3251-9|url=http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/The%20Buddhist%20World%20of%20Southeast%20Asia_Swearer.pdf|page=38|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref>[[Pāli Canon]]: D.ii.49, Dh.183</ref>
On this occasion the Buddha teaches those ''arahants'' a summary of Buddhism, called the "Ovādapatimokha".<ref name="bbc" /> Those principles are: "The non-doing of evil / the full performance of what is wholesome / the total purification of the mind."<ref name="Swearer">{{cite book|last1=Swearer|first1=Donald K.|title=The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia|date=2010|publisher=[[State University of New York Press]]|isbn=978-1-4384-3251-9|url=http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/The%20Buddhist%20World%20of%20Southeast%20Asia_Swearer.pdf|page=38|edition=2nd}}</ref>{{sfn|Melton|2011|p=538|loc=Māgha Pūjā}} According to the [[atthakatha|traditional Pāli commentaries]], the Buddha continued to teach this summary a period of twenty years, after which the custom was replaced by the recitation of the [[Patimokkha|monastic discipline code]] by the Saṅgha themselves.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Payutto|first1=Phra|author-link=Prayudh Payutto|script-title=พจนานุกรมพุทธศาสตร์ ฉบับประมาลศัพท์|trans-title=Dictionary of Buddhism, Vocabulary|date=1993|language=th|publisher=[[Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University]]|location=Bangkok|isbn=974-575-029-8|page=575|edition=7th|url=http://www.watnyanaves.net/uploads/File/books/pdf/dictionary_of_buddhism_vocabulary_version.pdf}}</ref>


Apart from the religious meaning, Māgha Pūjā also reflects the Southeast Asian agricultural year, as it is celebrated after the harvest.<ref name="Swearer" /> Māgha Pūjā is also the day that the Buddha announced he would die in three months.<ref name="Bhaskar" />
Apart from the religious meaning, Māgha Pūjā also reflects the Southeast Asian agricultural year, as it is celebrated after the harvest.<ref name="Swearer" /> Māgha Pūjā is also the day that the Buddha announced he would die in three months.<ref name="Bhaskar" /><ref name="Ling">{{cite book|last1=Ling|first1=Trevor|last2=Axelrod|first2=Steven|title=Buddha, Marx, and God: Some Aspects of Religion in the Modern World|date=1979|publisher=[[Macmillan Press]]|isbn=978-1-349-16054-9|url=https://books.google.com/?id=x8ewCwAAQBAJ|page=70}}</ref>

It is unknown how traditional Buddhist societies celebrated this event in pre-modern times. The first known instance was during the reign of the Thai king [[Rama IV]] (1804–68), who instituted it. His successor [[Rama V]] (1853–1910) expanded the practice and organized it as a national celebration in the [[Temple of the Emerald Buddha]]. From Thailand, the practice spread to neighboring countries.{{sfn|Melton|2011|pages=538, 699|loc=Māgha Pūjā Day, Ploughing Day}}


== Celebrations and Observances ==
== Celebrations and Observances ==
Māgha Pūjā is a day that laypeople make [[merit (Buddhism)|merit]]. Monastics and devotees will hold processions, light candles, and make [[offering (Buddhism)|offering]]s.<ref name="Bhaskar" /> Māgha Pūjā is celebrated most extensively in Thailand.{{sfn|Melton|2011|page=539|loc=Magha Puja Day}}
Māgha Pūjā is a day that laypeople make [[merit (Buddhism)|merit]]. Monastics and devotees will hold processions, light candles, and make [[offering (Buddhism)|offerings]].<ref name="Bhaskar" /> Māgha Pūjā is celebrated most extensively in Thailand,{{sfn|Melton|2011|page=539|loc=Magha Puja Day}} but it is a national holiday in most Southeast Asian countries.<ref name="Ling" />


=== Myanmar ===
=== Myanmar ===
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=== Thailand ===
=== Thailand ===
{{Commons category|Magha Puja}}
{{Commons category|Magha Puja}}
In Thailand, Māgha Pūjā was instituted by [[Rama IV]] (1804–68).{{sfn|Melton|2011|page=699|loc=Plouging Day}} It is designated as a national holiday.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tetsunori|first1=Koizumi|last2=幸泉|first2=哲紀|last3=コイズミ|first3=テツノリ|title=Adoption and Adaptation of an Imported Culture: Buddhism in Thailand and Korea|date=25 March 2004|page=182|url=http://hdl.handle.net/10519/2339|publisher=Ryukoku University Institute for International Society and Culture}}</ref> On the evening of Māgha Pūjā, most temples in Thailand hold a candlelight procession called a ''wian thian'' (''wian'' meaning to circle around; ''thian'' meaning candle). Holding flowers, incense and a lighted candle, the monks and congregation members [[circumambulate]] clockwise for three times, around the [[phra ubosot]] (ordination hall), once for each of the [[Refuge_(Buddhism)|Three Jewels]]: the Buddha, the [[Dharma#Buddhism|teaching of the Buddha]], and the [[Sangha|monastic community]]. Furthermore, people will 'make merit' ([[Thai language|Thai]]: ''tham bun'') by going to temples and by joining in with activities. For example, observing the [[Five Precepts|Five]] or [[Eight Precepts]] ([[Thai language|Thai]]: ''rap sin''), practicing meditation and mental discipline, staying in the temple, and wearing white robes. This is usually done for a number of days.
Thus, in Thailand, Māgha Pūjā was instituted by [[Rama IV]].{{sfn|Melton|2011|page=699|loc=Ploughing Day}} It is currently designated as a national holiday.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tetsunori|first1=Koizumi|last2=幸泉|first2=哲紀|last3=コイズミ|first3=テツノリ|title=Adoption and Adaptation of an Imported Culture: Buddhism in Thailand and Korea|date=25 March 2004|page=182|url=http://hdl.handle.net/10519/2339|publisher=Ryukoku University Institute for International Society and Culture}}</ref>{{sfn|Melton|2011|page=539|loc=Magha Puja Day}} On the evening of Māgha Pūjā, most temples in Thailand hold a candlelight procession called a ''wian thian'' (''wian'' meaning to circle around; ''thian'' meaning candle).<ref name="Ling" /> Holding flowers, incense and a lighted candle, the monks and congregation members [[circumambulate]] clockwise for three times, around the [[phra ubosot]] (ordination hall), once for each of the [[Refuge (Buddhism)|Three Jewels]]: the Buddha, the [[Dharma#Buddhism|teaching of the Buddha]], and the Sangha. Furthermore, people will 'make merit' ([[Thai language|Thai]]: ''tham bun'') by going to temples and by joining in with activities. For example, observing the [[Five Precepts|Five]] or [[Eight Precepts]] ([[Thai language|Thai]]: ''rap sin''), practicing meditation and mental discipline, staying in the temple, and wearing white robes. This is usually done for a number of days.


=== Other countries ===
=== Other countries ===
In Chinese communities, a similar festival can be observed.{{sfn|Irons|2008|page=542}} Moreover, Māgha Pūjā has also become a popular event among western Buddhists.<ref name="bbc" />
In Chinese communities, a similar festival is observed.{{sfn|Irons|2008|page=542}} Moreover, Māgha Pūjā has also become a popular event among western Buddhists.<ref name="bbc" />{{sfn|Melton|2011|page=539|loc=Magha Puja Day}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
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{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Citation|last1=Irons|first1=Edward A.|series=Encyclopedia of World Religions|title=Encyclopedia of Buddhism|date=2008|publisher=[[Facts on File]]|isbn=978-0-8160-5459-6|url=http://www.khamkoo.com/uploads/9/0/0/4/9004485/encyclopedia_of_buddhism.pdf}}
* {{Citation|last1=Irons|first1=Edward A.|series=Encyclopedia of World Religions|title=Encyclopedia of Buddhism|date=2008|publisher=[[Facts on File]]|isbn=978-0-8160-5459-6|url=http://www.khamkoo.com/uploads/9/0/0/4/9004485/encyclopedia_of_buddhism.pdf}}
* {{Citation|last1=Melton|first1=J. Gordon|authorlink1=J. Gordon Melton|editor1-last=Melton|editor1-first=J. Gordon|editor1-link=J. Gordon Melton|encyclopedia=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations|date=2011|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|isbn=1598842056|url=http://dlx.b-ok.org/genesis/729000/1a8e53f2eaf67b46fa31c870bb4a940b/_as/[J._Gordon_Melton,_James_A._Beverley,_Christopher_(b-ok.org).pdf}}
* {{Citation|last1=Melton|first1=J. Gordon|authorlink1=J. Gordon Melton|editor1-last=Melton|editor1-first=J. Gordon|editor1-link=J. Gordon Melton|encyclopedia=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations|date=2011|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|isbn=1-59884-205-6|url=http://dlx.b-ok.org/genesis/729000/1a8e53f2eaf67b46fa31c870bb4a940b/_as/[J._Gordon_Melton,_James_A._Beverley,_Christopher_(b-ok.org).pdf}}


{{refend}}
{{refend}}

Revision as of 21:40, 1 March 2018

Māgha Pūjā
The Buddha giving a discourse on Māgha Pūjā
Also calledSaṅgha Day[1][2]
Fourfold Assembly Day[1]
Boun Khao Chi (Laotian language)
Observed byCambodian, Lao, Burmese, Sri Lankan and Thai Theravada Buddhists
TypeBuddhist
Observancesprocession with light, general merit-making activities
DateFull moon day of the 3rd lunar month
Translations of
Burmeseတပို့တွဲလပြည့်နေ့
Khmerមាឃបូជា
(UNGEGN: Meak Bochea)
Laoມະຄະບູຊາ
Sinhalaනවම් පොහොය
(Navam Poya[5])
Thaiมาฆบูชา
(RTGS: Makha Bucha Day[6])
Glossary of Buddhism

Māgha Pūjā is the second most important Buddhist festival,[1] celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month[2] in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka and on the full moon day of Tabodwe in Myanmar. The spiritual aims of the day are not to commit any kind of sins; do only good; purify one's mind. Māgha Pūjā is a public holiday in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand and is an occasion when Buddhists go to the temple to perform merit-making activities.[7]

Magha Puja Day in Wat Khung Taphao, Uttaradit Province, Thailand.

On Māgha Pūjā, Buddhists celebrate the creation of an ideal and exemplary community, which is why it is sometimes called "Saṅgha Day". The Saṅgha refers to the Buddhist community, and for some Buddhist schools this is specifically the monastic community.[1]

Origins

Māgha Pūjā day marks an event occurring at the Veḷuvana grove, near Rājagaha (present Rajgir) in northern India,[1][8] ten months after the enlightenment of the Buddha. On that occasion, as recorded in the commentary to the Mahāsamayasutta (DN 20), four "marvelous events" occur:

  1. 1,250 disciples come to see the Buddha that evening without being summoned;[1]
  2. All of them are Arahants, enlightened disciples;[2]
  3. All have been ordained by the Buddha himself, and therefore are his direct spiritual descendants;[2][6]
  4. It is the full-moon day of the third lunar month.[2]

On this occasion the Buddha teaches those arahants a summary of Buddhism, called the "Ovādapatimokha".[1] Those principles are: "The non-doing of evil / the full performance of what is wholesome / the total purification of the mind."[9][10] According to the traditional Pāli commentaries, the Buddha continued to teach this summary a period of twenty years, after which the custom was replaced by the recitation of the monastic discipline code by the Saṅgha themselves.[11]

Apart from the religious meaning, Māgha Pūjā also reflects the Southeast Asian agricultural year, as it is celebrated after the harvest.[9] Māgha Pūjā is also the day that the Buddha announced he would die in three months.[6][12]

It is unknown how traditional Buddhist societies celebrated this event in pre-modern times. The first known instance was during the reign of the Thai king Rama IV (1804–68), who instituted it. His successor Rama V (1853–1910) expanded the practice and organized it as a national celebration in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. From Thailand, the practice spread to neighboring countries.[13]

Celebrations and Observances

Māgha Pūjā is a day that laypeople make merit. Monastics and devotees will hold processions, light candles, and make offerings.[6] Māgha Pūjā is celebrated most extensively in Thailand,[14] but it is a national holiday in most Southeast Asian countries.[12]

Myanmar

In Burma, Magha Puja is called the "Tabodwe Full Moon Day" (တပို့တွဲလပြည့်နေ့), and is a traditional merit-making day.[15] Tabodwe is the month before last month of the year in the traditional Burmese calendar. The country's largest pagoda festival, the Shwedagon Pagoda Festival, begins during the new moon of the month of Tabodwe in the traditional Burmese calendar and continues until the full moon.[16] The festival begins with a nakyake shitsu ceremony for offerings to the 28 Buddhas (from Taṇhaṅkara to Gotama), followed by a 10-day, non-stop recital of the Patthana, Buddhist scriptures on the 24 causes of worldly phenomena.[17]

Other pagoda festivals are held on this day, including the Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival in Magwe Region's Minbu Township and the Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda Festival, near the Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park in Sagaing Region.[18][19]

A youth program held in Thailand. The youth are joining in with a Magha Puja celebration.

The Full Moon of Tabaung also coincides with the Pa-O National Day, traditionally set on the day of King Suriyachanda's birth.[20]

Thailand

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Magha Puja.

Thus, in Thailand, Māgha Pūjā was instituted by Rama IV.[21] It is currently designated as a national holiday.[22][14] On the evening of Māgha Pūjā, most temples in Thailand hold a candlelight procession called a wian thian (wian meaning to circle around; thian meaning candle).[12] Holding flowers, incense and a lighted candle, the monks and congregation members circumambulate clockwise for three times, around the phra ubosot (ordination hall), once for each of the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the teaching of the Buddha, and the Sangha. Furthermore, people will 'make merit' (Thai: tham bun) by going to temples and by joining in with activities. For example, observing the Five or Eight Precepts (Thai: rap sin), practicing meditation and mental discipline, staying in the temple, and wearing white robes. This is usually done for a number of days.

Other countries

In Chinese communities, a similar festival is observed.[23] Moreover, Māgha Pūjā has also become a popular event among western Buddhists.[1][14]

See also

  • List of Buddhist festivals
  • Chotrul Duchen, a festival celebrated in Tibet as an Uposatha day and falls on around the same day as Māgha Pūjā
  • First Full Moon Festival, a festival celebrated in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam as an Uposatha day and to mark the end of the Lunar New Year, falling on or around the same day as Māgha Pūjā

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Sangha Day". BBC. 7 May 2004. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e Irons 2008, p. 199.
  3. ^ "Holidays in Thailand in 2016". OfficeHolidays. Retrieved 4 Mar 2015.
  4. ^ http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1016715/significance-of-navam-poya
  5. ^ Robertson, Alec. Significance of the Full Moons in Buddhism. Buddhist Cultural Centre, Dehiwala 1998.
  6. ^ a b c d Bhaskar, V.S. (2009). Faith and Philosophy of Buddhism. Kalpaz Publications. pp. 259–60. ISBN 8178357224.
  7. ^ http://calenworld.com/religion/buddhist-calendar
  8. ^ Melton 2011, p. 538, Magha Puja Day.
  9. ^ a b Swearer, Donald K. (2010). The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia (PDF) (2nd ed.). State University of New York Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-4384-3251-9.
  10. ^ Melton 2011, p. 538, Māgha Pūjā.
  11. ^ Payutto, Phra (1993). พจนานุกรมพุทธศาสตร์ ฉบับประมาลศัพท์ [Dictionary of Buddhism, Vocabulary] (PDF) (in Thai) (7th ed.). Bangkok: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. p. 575. ISBN 974-575-029-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |script-title=: missing prefix (help)
  12. ^ a b c Ling, Trevor; Axelrod, Steven (1979). Buddha, Marx, and God: Some Aspects of Religion in the Modern World. Macmillan Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-349-16054-9.
  13. ^ Melton 2011, pp. 538, 699, Māgha Pūjā Day, Ploughing Day.
  14. ^ a b c Melton 2011, p. 539, Magha Puja Day.
  15. ^ "Meritorious deeds performed at religious edifices throughout nation on Full Moon Day of Tabodwe". New Light of Myanmar. 19 Mar 2011. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved 8 Mar 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Banned festival resumed at Shwedagon Pagoda". Mizzima News. 22 Feb 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 23 Feb 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Thein, Cherry (10 Mar 2008). "Shwedagon Tabaung festival". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 8 Mar 2012.
  18. ^ Moh Moh Thaw (28 Mar 2011). "Pilgrims flock to Shwesettaw for Tabaung". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 8 Mar 2012.
  19. ^ Thein, Cherry (2 Jan 2012). "Trustees ready remote Alaungdaw Kathapa for festival season". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 8 Mar 2012.
  20. ^ Nandar Chann (May 2004). "Pa-O: The Forgotten People". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 8 Mar 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Melton 2011, p. 699, Ploughing Day.
  22. ^ Tetsunori, Koizumi; 幸泉, 哲紀; コイズミ, テツノリ (25 March 2004). "Adoption and Adaptation of an Imported Culture: Buddhism in Thailand and Korea". Ryukoku University Institute for International Society and Culture: 182. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  23. ^ Irons 2008, p. 542.

References

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