Published On:Sunday, 7 September 2014
Posted by Celebrate Life Style information Blog
Celebrated Madhu Purnima (Bengali for 'honey full-moon')
Madhu Purnima (Bengali for 'honey
full-moon') is a Buddhist festival celebrated in India and Bangladesh,
especially in the region of Chittagong. It occurs on the day of the full moon
in the month of Bhadro (August/September).The day commemorates an occasion on
which the Buddha retreated to the wilderness of Parileyya forest to bring peace
between two quarrelling factions of disciples. According to legend, a monkey
and an elephant named Parileyyaka fed him during this time, the elephant
bringing fruit and the monkey bringing a honeycomb. The monkey was so excited
when the Buddha accepted his gift that he began leaping from tree to tree and
fell to his death. However, he was immediately reborn in Tavatimsa as a result
of his generosity.On this day, the Bhikkhus of Kosambi ended the disunity in
their ranks and went to the Buddha in the forest to take a vow of unity and
cooperation. In his sermon, Buddha pointed to the elephant and said, “This
elephant lives alone in the forest in the absence of a proper partner. If you
do not get associates with wisdom and high thoughts, it is better to live alone
in this world, for foolish associates will only increase your suffering.After
the rains retreat the monks who had split into two groups agreed to make up
their differences because the local lay people were not making any offerings to
them. The monks sent a representative to see the Buddha and invite him to go
back to the city. The elephant palilayaka was heartbroken to see the Buddha go,
and followed him out of the forest, and even made as if he would follow the
Buddha into the city. The Buddha turned to him and said, "Palilayaka. This
is the limits of your territory. From here on is the territory of man, which
are a great danger to animals such as you. You cannot come with me! Palilayaka
the elephant stood and roared in grief, but did not dare follow the Buddha. As
soon as the Buddha was out of sight, his heart broke and he died right there.
The texts state that the elephant and the monkey, after dying at that time, were
reborn as devas in the Tavatimsa heaven.Madhu Purnima is celebrated as a joyous
day of unity and charity. Indian and Bangladeshi Buddhists observe it by
bringing gifts of honey and fr
(Content from the Wikipedia).
