Ex-Thai governor organises Buddhist recital event in Kapilvastu

By Our Correspondent,Kapilvastu, Mar. 4: Former governor of the Thai provinces of Lamphun and Lampang Dr. Direk Konkleb recited the Mahasamaya Sutta here on Friday.

The former governor led a group of 50 Buddhist monks and devotees in reciting the Mahasamaya Sutta at Mahavan, situated at Balakanth Baraju, in Banganga Municipality, Kapilvastu.

 Dr. Chainarong Na Lamphun, a former secretary of the Ministry of Energy of Thailand, accompanied the former governor. It is believed that the Mahasamaya Sutta was read when there had been a disagreement between the Shakya and Koliya nations over the water of the Rohini River, which occurred 15 years before Gautama Buddha arrived in the location. 

The Sutta was delivered only once during the Buddha's lifetime, and it took place at Kapilvastu's Mahavana on the day of Jeshtha Purnima. This is recorded in the history of Buddhism.  The Thai people were eager to visit when Sumanglo, a monk from Nepal, told them about this site while he was in Thailand. 

Government personnel, retired army personnel, physicians, and prominent businesspeople in Thailand's construction industry visited the site.

They were brought here in collaboration with the Madhuvandham-based Mahavan Buddhist Bihara. 

The former governor pledged his support for this region's growth through a scheme. During their visit, they gave Rs. 120,000 and sporting goods to each of the two schools in Kapilvastu and Arghakhanchi districts. After reciting the Mahasamaya Sutta, the group went to Lumbini, Tilaurakot, Niglihwa, and the Buddhist temples in Kapilvastu.

About 250 Koliya and 250 Shakya monks, as well as 10,000 Chakravarti deities had heard Buddha deliver the Mahasamaya Sutta in the Mahavana, according to Buddhist history. 

Monk Sumangalo informed that 500 monks became Arahants (Bodhi-enlightened) after the Buddha’s preaching. He said that the Thai group’s performance would contribute to promoting tourism in the area. They prayed for global peace after chanting the Sutta. 

"I felt fortunate to be able to recite the Sutta at the location of the Buddha's sermons," Dr. Saroch Khewakji, a former Thai army officer and a group member, said. He said that since he now possessed good morality, he would be more committed to promoting peace.

It is stated that the Charkoshe Jhadi (bush) contains the Mahavan where Buddha stayed, preached and recited the Sutta.  The moon is said to have risen at that moment from the Yugandhara peak on the eastern horizon. 

According to Buddhist historian Chaturbhuj Pandey, the Tripitaka records that several monks meditated in a cave after hearing the Buddha's teaching. He said that this Mahasamaya Sutta was spoken by the Buddha in the Mahavana in accordance with Buddhist literature. The Rohini and the Rapti rivers ought to be between these locations, he said. Such a thick forest and geographical characteristics cannot be found elsewhere.

Stone sculptures and several ancient remains can be found underground. Other discoveries include headless statues and hewed stones. The full moon may be seen rising on the southern slope of Karechuli mountain from here, according to him, proving that this is the Mahavana that the Buddha visited. The Banganga River and a cave may also be found nearby. According to Bhiksu Wazir, a reader at Lumbini Buddhist University, the place is still referred to as Mahavana based on geographical factors and Buddhist literature.

Suttas have been recited to draw the tourists to the area, which is situated in a dense Sal tree forest along the Banganga River. 

One can reach the Mahavan region after travelling three kilometres through the jungle. On Jestha Purnima, Buddha recited his sutta. The Maitreya Buddha, who will be born in the future, will likewise continue the tradition and recite and teach the sutta, he said, adding, “So far, 27 Buddhas have preached this sutta."