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Introduction
teachings of the Buddha. Buddhist history starts with the birth of prince
There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the
significant dates in the Buddhist calendar, i.e. Vesak day (Buddha’s birth,
enlightenment and passing away), Asalha puja day and Kathina day (see
below for detail) and Maghapuja day (great congregation of the sangha)
Asalha Puja Day, the full moon day of the eighth lunar month (Asalha
Purnima, usually in July) is one of the most sacred days in Buddhism. The
also the Great renunciation (leaving family life), the day he delivered his
the Sangha Community, fulfilment of The Triple Gem (Tiratana) and the
beginning of the rain retreat (Vassa) for the Monks. Vassa and Kathina
Rain-Retreat or V assa
live for three months of Retreat in one place and cultivate his knowledge
and meditation.
The origin of the Vassa is related to the time of the Buddha. At that
time Monks continue to travel for teaching Dhamma even during the rainy
season. This stopped due to two main reasons; effect on plants and crops
of laities and laities would like to see monks at one place for certain time’s
as other religions do. So, Lord Buddha instituted the retreat at the request
months, which starts on the full moon day of Asalha. In some monasteries,
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The Royal Kathina Booklet, 2008, The Buddhavihara Temple Kings Bromley, UK
many Buddhist lay people reinvigorate their spiritual training and adopt
more ascetic practices for example, in Thailand, the laity will often take
monastic vows for the Vassa period and then return to lay life.
The focus of celebration by the laity is the first day of vassa during
to the monks, donate candles and other necessities to temples. During this
retreat, the lay people also take the opportunity for doing wholesome
purifying their minds which leads to the end of their sufferings and gain
the ultimate happiness in life. The Monks also take this opportunity to
dedication. They also take this opportunity to bless and instruct the lay
people. Thus the Monk’s and lay people all over the world celebrate this
Sangha day”. Therefore, the vassa period became one of the important
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The Royal Kathina Booklet, 2008, The Buddhavihara Temple Kings Bromley, UK
which the laity gathers to make formal offerings of robe cloth and other
group of minimum four Monks. If there are four or more Monks, which
three months during rainy season. During the Vassa period, the Monks can
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The Royal Kathina Booklet, 2008, The Buddhavihara Temple Kings Bromley, UK
circumstances they can leave the monastery for not more than seven days.
During the beginning of the Vassa junior Monks used to visit senior
Monks to pay respect and ask for forgiveness for any mistakes made
Pali. It means inviting the members of the Sangha to point out offences or
wrong doings if there are any, and to promise to correct the wrong doing
promptly and dutifully. Only those who stay in a monastery for the whole
three months without breaking their stay and who perform the ‘invitation
ceremony’ are entitled to accept Kathina. The Sangha that accepts the
Kathina robe must have spent the whole three months in the monastery.
They must also have performed the invitation ceremony (pavarana). The
Monk. In case, if one temple has only two or three Monks as a group
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The Royal Kathina Booklet, 2008, The Buddhavihara Temple Kings Bromley, UK
taking vassa, devotees can offer Kathina robe by inviting Monks from
other temples.
the Kathina Robe is offered to the Sangha as a whole and second one is
that the Sangha select an individual Monk to offer that Kathina robe.
Kathina Ceremon y
used in sewing robes on. On the other hand, Kathina also refers to the
requirements during the rains retreat. Kathina Robe can be either one of
these three pieces; outer robe (civara), shoulder robe (Sanghati) and
Its origin dates back to the time of the Buddha. Once, a group of
thirty monks travelled from Pava city to Savatthi city, the Jetawana
monastery, where the Buddha was living in order to pay respect and
neighbouring city Saketa before the Vassa or Rains retreat began. As per
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The Royal Kathina Booklet, 2008, The Buddhavihara Temple Kings Bromley, UK
rules, when the compulsory day to observe the vassa they stopped their
journey and waited for the Pavarana, a invitation ceremony, which will be
after three months. Immediately, when vassa came to an end, they set to
Jetawana monastery without having any delay. Having seen the unusual
condition of the 30 monks, the Buddha realised a need of extra robes for
Buddhism because of these three reasons apart from qualities and benefit
of generosity.
temple.
period, which starts from the end of Vassa or full moon day of October to
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The Royal Kathina Booklet, 2008, The Buddhavihara Temple Kings Bromley, UK
individual monk.
lay people and also it is beneficial to Monks in more than one way. As the
Buddha says that offering to the Sangha is always more beneficial and
the recipient is virtuous our offerings will bring more results. The Sangha
is a group of virtuous Monks right from the time of the Buddha till today.
devotees may have to wait for years to offer Kathina Robe to the Sangha.
are group Kathina offerings. Beside the main Kathina Robe by one
individual or family, devotees also offer robes and other materials to the
Sangha on the Kathina day ceremony. Thus all the lay people get the
Further, these days Kathina robe offering function is also become a way of
fund raising to maintain and support the monastery and sangha to spread
of Buddhist teachings.
It’s a greatly beneficial ceremony for both lay people and Monks
for the goodness and happiness in the present, in the middle and in the
strong support for you, for success in life and helpful in gaining the
Reference;
Bhikkhu Dhammasami, ‘Kathina Robe-Offering Ceremony: Historical and
Spiritual Significance’, http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas
www.accesstoinsight.com