By Bhante Sumitta |
Full Moon is an amazing natural phenomenon just like any other natural scenarios such as raining, sun rising, sun setting etc. Full Moon Day is highlighted with quite a few synchronized actions in the nature such as swelling of the ocean, increasing the tidal waves, illumination of the whole sky with yellowish color and the like. The soothing and calming effect in the night time due to moon as compared to the more vibrant effect in the day time due to sun is quite extraordinary. The world is busy and active in the day time while most of the sentient beings do take a good night rest in the night time sans a few nocturnal animals and birds. Many of the nocturnal animals and birds go for their hunting during the night time while they do take a good rest hiding from the sun during the day time. Humans on the other hand, tend to take a rest in the night after working hours during the day time. Somehow while average humans take rest in the night there are few other humans hitting night streets for different activities mostly with some negative ulterior motives. Thus in a way, night time is not a safe time to travel outside and many who are riding or traveling outside in the night have more seductive, violent or nasty intentions and mindsets. Criminals, gangsters and prostitutes normally occupy the night time streets. Hence it is considered inappropriate to travel in the night except due to unavoidable circumstances. People and animals can be quite wild and violent during the night and the role of the moon or darkness could be decisive in this regard.
Hence, Full Moon Day is considered a great day to practice morality by many religions in the world. Buddhism gives foremost priority to the Full Moon Day. It is said Prince Siddhattha was born on a Full Moon Day; ascetic Gotama attained enlightenment on a Full Moon Day and the Buddha passed away on a Full Moon Day. All these three major occasions happened under a tree. In the Buddhist calendar, Full Moon Day is reserved to practice Dāna (Generosity), Sīla (Morality) and Bhāvanā (Meditation). Sri Lanka for example declares all the Full Moon Days as Public, Bank & Mercantile holiday thus giving the countrymen to practice and find peace on that particular day.
Full Moon Day List in 2021 (Detailed) | Sri Lankan Version
January – Durutu (Phussa)
Last Quarter – 6
New Moon – 13
First Quarter – 21
Full Moon – 28
February – Navam (Māgha)
Last Quarter – 5
New Moon – 11
First Quarter – 19
Full Moon – 26
March – Medin (Phagguṇa)
Last Quarter – 6
New Moon – 13
First Quarter – 21
Full Moon – 28
April – Bak (Citta)
Last Quarter – 5
New Moon – 11
First Quarter – 19
Full Moon – 26
May – Vesak (Vesākha)
Last Quarter – 4
New Moon – 11
First Quarter – 19
Full Moon – 26
June – Poson (Jeṭṭha)
Last Quarter – 3
New Moon – 9
First Quarter – 17
Full Moon – 24
July – Esala (Āsāḷha)
Last Quarter – 2
New Moon – 9
First Quarter -17
Full Moon – 23
August – Nikini (Sāvaṇa)
Last Quarter – 1
New Moon – 8
First Quarter – 16
Full Moon – 22
Last Quarter – 31
September – Binara (Poṭṭhapāda)
New Moon – 6
First Quarter – 14
Full Moon – 20
Last Quarter – 29
October – Vap (Assayuja)
New Moon – 6
First Quarter – 14
Full Moon – 20
Last Quarter – 29
November – IL (Kattika)
New Moon – 4
First Quarter – 12
Full Moon – 18
Last Quarter – 27
December – Unduvap (Māgasira)
New Moon – 4
First Quarter – 12
Full Moon – 18
Last Quarter – 27
Most of the traditional Buddhist countries celebrate these special holidays with some spiritual activities such as Dāna (Generosity), Sīla (Morality) & Bhāvanā (Meditation).
Pali & Sanskrit Terms for the Months of the Year:
Māgha – Māgha (January-February)
Phagguṇa – Phālguna (February-March)
Citta – Caitra (March-April)
Visākha – Vaisākha (April-May)
Jeṭṭha – Jyaiṣṭha (May-June)
Āsāḷha – Āṣāḍha (June-July)
Sāvaṇa – Śrāvaṇa (July-August)
Poṭṭhapāda – Bhādrapada or Prosthapada (August-September)
Assayuja – Āśvina (September-October)
Kattikā – Kārttika (October-November)
Māgasira – Mārgaśirṣa (November-December)
Phussa – Pauṣa (December-January)
