Unduvap Poya Day Ceremony

The Full Moon Poya Day of Unduvap in the Buddhist year 2555, falls on December 10, 2011.

This particular day signifies the introduction of the Buddhist Order of nuns or Bhikkuni Sangha to Sri Lanka by the Arahath Therini Sangamitta, the daughter of Emperor Asoka of India 2318 years ago.

At Manelwatta Temple near Kelaniya, a special Poya Day ceremony took place on this special day. Although the Bhikkhuni Order disappeared in Sri Lanka around the 10^th century, in the past two decades, efforts have been made to revive the sacred tradition. 

International Academy of Buddhist Studies has also made its efforts. On 13^th November 2011, a training program for bhikkhunis was launched. 50 bhikkhunis joined the program which was to last for three months.

To commemorate Unduvap Poya Day, a special day for Buddhist women, the ceremony was held at Manelwatta Temple on 10^th December 2011, with bhikkhunis leading the ceremony. The ceremony began at 6.00 am, eight hundred laywomen and laymen participated in the auspicious ceremony. 

All 50 bhikkhuni students participated in the Poya Day ceremony.

aids donated to hospital

H. E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa practicipated in the enthronement of Buddha shrine at International Academy of Buddhist studies, Manelwatta-Kelaniya on 17th Nov. 2011.

MahaDanaya Ceremony

On 7th May 2011, a grand MahaDanaya Ceremony was held at Manelwatta Temple, Bollagela.

It was to celebrate the 2600th anniversary Lord Buddha's enlightenment.

2600 monks were invited for the alms-offering ceremony.

The ceremony was attended H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself.

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Bhikkhuni Maha Danaya

Sponsored by Jiuhua Shan of Taiwan, all bhikkhunis in Sri Lanka were invited to a danaya at Manelwatta Temple,Bollagela, Kelaniya on 5 Jan. 2011. It is estimated that appoximately 3000 bhikkhunis attended the event.

                                                                                                                                             

At the same day, a building for future nunnery school was also unveiled.

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Click here for a Sri Lanka newspaper report

first all Sri Lankan Buddhist Nuns' Maha Danaya

Twenty years ago, the very word 'bhikkhuni' was a taboo in Sri Lanka. But on 5 Oct 2010, the first all Sri Lankan Bhikkhuni Dana (alms-giving ceremony) took place in Manelwatta Temple, Bollegala.

The event was initiated by a Taiwan bhikkhuni sangha, Jiuhuashan. After cooperating on numerous charity  projects in Myanmar with T.S.E.A., the head nuns of Jiuhuashan expressed the wish to offer alms to all nuns, including bhikkhuni, in Sri Lanka. Ven. B. Chandima Thero gladly agreed to help and hence the first all Sri Lankan bhikkhuni dana at Manelwatta Temple.

The event took about three months and over 1000 volunteers to organize. All bhikkhuni in Sri Lanka, numbered about 1000, were invited to attended. Buddhist nuns of other status (e.g. dasi sila mata) were also invited. 3000 invitations were sent out and it is estimated that approximately 2,900 nuns turned out for the historical event. It was very successful.

Ven. B. Chandima Thero would like to express his gratitude to all the volunteers and donors who made the first all Sri Lankan bhikkhuni dana possible.
 

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