Today is Poson Full Moon Poya Day. It commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in the 3rd Century BC.
The Poson Poya Day is significant to the Sri Lankans as the day on which Emperor Asoka’s son, the Arahat Mahinda, introduced Buddha Dhamma to the island. Poson Poya is significant for Sri Lankan Buddhists. The appearance of Arahant Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka in Lanka, from Jambudvipa was extremely successful in shaping the destiny of the people and the country, and was unparalleled in human history
Over 2,000 years ago Arahant Mahinda, son of Emperor Asoka of India, converted King Devanampiyatissa to Buddhism. It is mentioned in the history of the Sasana that after the third Dhamma Sangayana, dhamma teams were despatched to nine countries with the contribution of Emperor Dharmashoka. This Dhamma campaign was most successful within Sri Lanka and King Devanampiyatissa who was ruling the country during that period and the citizens embraced Buddhism. A rejuvenation was witnessed in the religious, social, cultural and economic fields within the country with the spread of the Buddha Dhamma.
The Dhamma Sermon organized on every Full Moon Poya Day at Temple Trees was held at the President’s House in Anuradhapura today. It was the 124th in the series of the Dhamma Sermons. The Dhamma Sermon was delivered by the Chief Adhikarana Sanghanayake of the North Central Division, the Ven. Ralapanawa Dhammajothi Thera. President Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa, Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and family members, many Parliamentarians and a large number of devotees were present on the occasion.
In the meantime, the “Savanak Res” Poya programme telecast by ITN on every Full Moon Poya Day was aired live from the Sithulpawwa Raja Maha Vihare. The Pinkama was organized under the guidance of Chief Incumbent the Ven. Metaramba Hemarathana Thera. A noteworthy feature of the programme was the presentation of Dhamma books to 50 Samanera monks and gifts to parents who offered their sons to the Buddha Sasana, marking ITN’s 35th Anniversary. Also many religious programmes including Dhamma Sermons and Dhamma discussions were telecast from the Sithulpawwa Raja Mahja Vihare.
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