Magha Puja Day
Buddhists consider Magha Puja a sacred day because of four extraordinary events that coincidentally took place on the same day. These four events are known as the “Fourfold Assembly” (Cāturaṅga-sannipāta). It was like the first formal orientation for spreading Buddhism and is remembered as a miraculous gathering of only fully enlightened disciples. It was the first meeting held to establish a unified direction for the propagation of the Buddha’s teachings.
The Four Miraculous Events of Magha Puja
It was the full moon day of the third lunar month (Magha month).
1,250 monks assembled spontaneously without prior appointment.
All 1,250 monks were Arahants (fully enlightened ones) who had attained the six higher knowledges; none were ordinary monks or disciples at lower stages of enlightenment.
All had been ordained directly by the Buddha through the Ehi Bhikkhu ordination (“Come, monk”).
Who Attended the Assembly?
The 1,250 Arahants were divided into two groups:
Group 1: The former fire-worshipping ascetics led by Venerable Uruvela Kassapa, totaling 1,000 monks.
Group 2: The disciples of Sariputta and Moggallana, totaling 250 monks.
This great assembly played a crucial role in establishing Buddhism firmly in the Kingdom of Magadha, which was then the largest and most prosperous region of ancient India. Since many religious sects competed for followers there, it was essential to organize and unify the Buddhist Sangha. When Venerable Sariputta attained arahantship, he became the chief general of the Dhamma, ready to help lead the mission of spreading the teachings.
Seeing that the time was right, the Buddha convened the assembly and delivered the Ovada Patimokkha, the core principles for spreading Buddhism.
The Essence of the Ovada Patimokkha
The Ovada Patimokkha, delivered on Magha Puja Day, contains:
3 Principles
4 Ideals
6 Methods
The 3 Principles
To abstain from all evil (avoid the ten unwholesome actions of body, speech, and mind).
To cultivate all good (practice the ten wholesome actions).
To purify the mind (free it from the five hindrances):
Sensual desire
Ill will
Sloth and torpor
Restlessness and worry
Doubt
The Five Precepts help control these hindrances.
The 4 Ideals
Patience and endurance
Non-violence
Peacefulness in body, speech, and mind
Nibbana — the ultimate cessation of suffering, attained through the Noble Eightfold Path
The 6 Methods of Practice and Propagation
Not slandering others
Not harming others
Observing monastic discipline
Moderation in eating and using necessities
Living in peaceful places suitable for meditation
Cultivating a concentrated and purified mind
Magha Puja: A Day of Love in Buddhism
Magha Puja is also considered a Day of Love in Buddhism because it reflects the Buddha’s boundless compassion for humanity. For 45 years, the Buddha tirelessly taught the Dhamma so that beings could discover the path to inner peace and liberation.
Present Observance
Today, Magha Puja is a public holiday in Thailand. Buddhists observe the day by:
Offering alms to monks
Listening to Dhamma talks
Practicing meditation
Performing candlelight processions around temples
Many temples also hold lantern-lighting ceremonies in the evening as an offering to the Buddha.
In 2006, the Thai government declared Magha Puja as a National Gratitude Day, encouraging it to be observed as a day of pure love and moral reflection.
On this sacred day, Buddhists around the world are encouraged to practice generosity, observe moral precepts, and cultivate meditation. By following the heart of the Buddha’s teaching — avoiding evil, doing good, and purifying the mind — one can experience the timeless compassion and wisdom of the Buddha and progress toward liberation.
Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Kathmandu, Performances in Kathmandu, Meetups in Kathmandu.
