Unduvap Full Moon Poya commemorates the arrival of Arahat Sanghamitta Theri in Sri Lanka with the sacred Bodhi tree sapling from Bodh Gaya and the establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sangha. The Sri Maha Bodhi, planted in Anuradhapura in 288 BCE, still stands today as the world's oldest recorded tree, symbolizing Sri Lanka's enduring Buddhist heritage and the recognition of women in the monastic community.

When is Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day?

Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day is celebrated on the full moon day in December.

The following is the list of Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day?

In the 3rd century BCE, during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa, Buddhism was already established in Sri Lanka through Arahat Mahinda Thera, son of Emperor Ashoka of India.

To further strengthen the Sasana (Buddhist Order), Ashoka sent his daughter, Arahat Sanghamitta Theri, to Sri Lanka. On an Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day, Sanghamitta Theri arrived at Dambakolapatuna Port (near Jaffna) carrying a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree from Bodh Gaya, India. This was the very tree under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment.

King Devanampiya Tissa received Sanghamitta Theri and the sacred sapling with great reverence. The sapling was ceremonially planted in Anuradhapura, in the Mahameghavana Park, around 288 BCE.

Known as the Sri Maha Bodhi, it is considered the oldest historically documented living tree in the world. The planting became a lasting symbol of Sri Lanka's role as a stronghold of Buddhism.

Sanghamitta Theri also ordained Queen Anula and her companions, creating the Bhikkhuni Sangha (Order of Buddhist Nuns) in Sri Lanka.

This was a milestone for women in Buddhism, giving them the same opportunity as men to pursue the monastic path and attain enlightenment. From Sri Lanka, the Bhikkhuni Order later spread to other Buddhist countries.