This is the last Poya in the rainy season. On ill Full Moon Poya Day was the receipt of permission (Niyatha Vivarana) by Bodhisatta Maitriya to be the next Enlightened One or the Future Buddha Maitriya.

Siriwaddana had entered the Buddhist Order as Bhikku Maitriya. The Buddhas with his divine vision and insight predicted that in Benares there will be a kingdom known as “Kethumathi” and a king called Sanka whose advisor Subrahamme and his wife Brahamawathi will be parents of Future Buddha Maitriya and that he will attain enlightenment under Banyan Tree.

Significance of Vap Poya (full moon Poya day in October) From time immemorial, Vap is known as the period of sowing. The major cultivation season is known as „Maha‟ which begins with the inter monsoonal rain around the month of October.

The rainy season commenced three months ago. It is known as „Vassana Kalo‟ and it comes to an end with the Vap Poya and Katina season ushers in the Buddhist Calendar with the month of Vap, which is popularly known as “Cheevara Masaya”.

Nawam Poya Day is Today

Navam full moon has special significance for the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and in the world. The two very significant incidents that took place on the Navam Pura Pasalosvaka Poya Day were the first ever Buddhist congregation and the appointment of two chief disciples of Gautama Buddha as Aggasavakes namely Sariputta and Moggallana. In the eve of the first Navam Full Moon Poya day after the Enlightenment of Gauthama Buddha, there were more than One thousand two hundred and fifty disciples in the Order of Maha Sangha.