MAGHA PUJA DAY

Magha Puja Day falls on the fullmoon of the third lunar month, which is toward the end of February. Magha is the name of a month in the lunar calendar used in ancient India. The word puja signifies worship; therefore, Magha Puja means the worship in the month of Magha.

The Magha Puja Day is also known as the day of the Fourfold Assembly. This was a special assembly which took place in the Bamboo Grove (Veluvana) and contained four extraordinary events as follows:

1. It was the fullmoon day of the month Magha.
   
2. 1,250 monk disciples assembled to see the Buddha without any appointment.
   
3. All these monks were Arahants who had attained the sixfold superknowledge.
   
4. All of them were the Buddha's direct disciples having been ordained by the Buddha himself.

At the fourfold assembly the Buddha gave Ovadapatimokkha to 1,250 monks an important discourse summarizing his teachings into three main principles as follows:

1. Not to do any evil.
   
2. To do good.
   
3. To purify the mind.

These three principles are fundamental in the Buddha-dhamma (Buddhist Doctrine).

Magha Puja Day is also known as the Dhamma Day. This occasion was the important Dhamma discourse was delivered by the Buddha.

Magha Puja Day is also important in another respect. It is said that in the last year of his life, just three months before his passing away, the Buddha had determined the day he would die and announced it to his disciples. The incident is known as the Rejection to the Aggregates of Life and it also took place on the fullmoon of the third lunar month (Magha). This fact adds more significance to the Magha Puja day and makes it even more sacred for all Buddhist.

On Magha Puja day, Buddhists flock to the temple in the morning. They observe the five precepts, listen to a sermon, serve food for monks, and meditate or take part in other forms of meritorious activities. They also perform circumambulation, walking around a shrine or a Buddha image three times, as a gesture of faith and respect in the Holy Triple Gem.