Kushinagar, July 16: A group of 75 Buddhists from Thailand has reached Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, the place of ‘Mahaparinirvana’ of Gautam Buddha, for Varshavas also known as Vassa. The group will stay in the Thai Wat Buddhist Vihar here during the three months of Varshavas and will study and contemplate Buddhism. The group also includes 20 women monks. The group will leave for their home country after donating chevar on Sharad Purnima.
In Thai Wat, the in-charge of Thai Monastery and Buddhist religious guru Chakhun Sompong and Chakhun Songkran on Wednesday informed the migrant Buddhist monks about the importance of ‘Varshavas’. The religious gurus taught the monks to imbibe humility and modesty in life. He said that this develops spirituality and gives the power to enrich the unity of the Sangha and community life. Phra Kittiphan, Phra Bunma, Phra Dam, Phra Praveen etc. are also providing teaching to migrant Buddhist monks.
It is noteworthy that on 20 October 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi donated Chivar (clothes) in Kushinagar on Kwar Purnima.
What is Varshavasa
‘Varshavas’ is an important tradition of Buddhism. During Varshavas, Buddhists monks and nuns reside at one place for the period of three months to protect plants and animals. Lord Buddha did his first ‘Varshavasa’ in Sarnath in 527 BC in Rishipatan of Sarnath. He also did his 45th Varshavasa at this place. Apart from this, he did Varshavasa in Shravasti, Jetavana, Vaishali, Rajgriha. During the rainy season, Buddhist monks and nuns practice religion by staying at one place for a period of three months from Ashadha Purnima to Kwar Purnima. Under special circumstances, with the permission of the Guru, they can go out with the condition of returning before sunset.