Āsālha Pūjā
Asalha is the eighth month of the Thai / Lao lunar calendar and the tenth month in the Lanna system. The full moon marks the moment of the Buddha’s first teaching and hence the arising of the complete 3 gems, while the following day marks the start of the 3 month rains retreat for the monks.
Burmese Manuscript from the British Library .
As mentioned previously this commemorates the first teaching of the Buddha: the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. Here is a short version of the story behind this sermon:
“Having attained Enlightenment, the Buddha departed from the Nigrodha tree and went on his way to the Deer Park near Banares. There the five monks, Kondanna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama and Assaji, his former aquaintances had made their habitation. The Buddha arrived there exactly in the evening of the 14th day of the waxing moon in the eighth lunar month, 45 years before the Buddhist Era.
When the monks spied him in the distance they doubted that he had attained Enlightenment since he had given up his ascetic practices. Consequently, they did not get up to receive him in the customary manner. Though the Buddha neared regardless they called out to him rather disrespectfully until the Buddha said: “I come to tell you that I have attained Enlightenment. If you have a mind to hear and follow me, you will also become enlightened within a short time.” Then they felt inclined to listen to him, for they had never heard Gotama talk like that.
On the following morning the Buddha delivered his first sermon.”
Phra Visuddhibrahmachanya, Wat Trimarsathit, Phanga, Thailand.
There are many different things that
people offer during this time of
year.
This is because the monks are
more restricted and most stay in
a temple for the three monthes of
rainy season and can not travel
around as before.
Therefore it is a time of more
vigorous practice and study and
so many of the things offered
reflect this.
In particular it has become a very
common tradition to offer candles
so the monks can spend more time
in study and today even fluorescent
light bulbs may be offered for this
reason.
Another common offering is wash
clothes such as that to the left.
The three monthes of the rainy season are also the occasion of many other stories from the Buddha’s life for example, because of the Buddha’s absence of 3 monthes, the first Buddha statue was created so the King could worship him and the preaching of the Abhidhamma as shown here:
“Buddha’s mother, Mahamaya, had died shortly after his birth. She was now in Indra’s heaven, and the Buddha decided to visit her. So he ascended to heaven and seated himself on a throne under the coral tree of paradise. There he delivered a sermon on the Abhidhamma Pitaka to Sri Mahamaya Devi and Lord Sakka. Thousands of devas also gathered there during the three months of vassa. Buddha’s mother and many devas walked the Noble Path and attained Ariyaphala.”
Phra Khru Paladsuvatanadhutagun, Wat Rajaburanavoravihara, Bangkok.
Today there are many festivals with variations across Thailand and Buddhist Southeast Asia, such as the candle carving competitions in Ubon Ratchathani as shown above.
The 3 monthes are also a time of more intense practice and study for many laypeople too. It is particularly common for the elderly in the countryside to make a commitment to wear white, hold the 8 precepts, meditate and sleep at temples on each of the Wan Phra, 12 Buddha days during this time. Another common practice among the devout is to keep the 5 precepts steadfastly for the entire period and accordingly there are often campaigns to encourage people to forgo alcohol at this time.
