The significances of Vap poya day

Vap Poya marks the end of the three-month retreat by Buddhist monks known as the ‘Vas’ or rainy season. In this Cīvara Māsaya (Month of Robes) the laity offer Katina robes on Vap Poya to the Buddhist monks as an act of merit and to gain good Karma. This is the ‘Month of Robes’ or the Katina Masaya – ‘Month of Steadfastness’. Katina means ‘firm’, ‘strong’ or ‘solid’ ‘Cīvara’ means ‘robe’.

During this period of retreat the monks stay indoors in their monasteries. This rainy retreat which begins on Esala Poya (Full moon day in August) comes to an end on Vap Poya (Full moon day in October), and thereafter commences the ‘Katina’ period. This period lasts for the duration of a month until the next Poya in November. In fact the word ‘Katina’ means unbreakable and refers to the merit gained by offering this ‘Katina Cīvara’ to one of the Maha Sangha. It is taken in a procession along with other gifts from the laity to the temple where the donation ceremony takes place.
Vap Poya was significant even during the life and times of Lord Buddha many centuries ago. It was on such a day that the Buddha ended a ‘Vas’ retreat for the seventh time since attaining Enlightenment. He had spent this time in the celestial abode of ‘Tautisā’, where He had preached the Abhidhama to the deities headed by Matrudeva. He ended the retreat by descending near the gates of Sankissa where he preached the Dhamma to devotees flocked there.

Vap Poya is very significant to Sri Lanka in many ways. According to the history, King Devanampiyatissa dispatched a delegation to India to meet Emperor Asoka.  Arahant Sanghamitta Theri delegation was led by Prince Aritta. With the invitation taken by the prince ‘Aritta’ Emperor’s daughter Their Sangamitta landed in Sri Lanka with a sapling of the Maha Bodhi in India.