Māgha Pūjā

This day (full moon day in February) marks the four auspicious occasions occurring at the Veḷuvana bamboo grove, near Rājagaha in northern India ten months after the enlightenment of the Buddha.

On that occasion, as recorded in the commentary to the Mahāsamayasutta, DN-Comm 20) four marvellous events occurred:

a.  1,250 disciples came to see the Buddha that evening without being summoned.
b.  All of them were Arahants, Enlightened Ones, and
c.  All were ordained by the Buddha himself: 'Ehi Bhikkhu'.
d.  It was the full-moon day.

On this occasion the Buddha gave those Arahants the principles of Buddhism, called "The ovadapatimokha".

Those principles are:

Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ
kusalassa upasampadā
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.

To avoid all evil,
to cultivate good, and
to cleanse one's mind
— this is the teaching of the Buddhas.

- Dhammapada Verse 183

- Posted by CFFong