Unduvap Full Moon Poya

Unduvap Full Moon Poya, observed on December 4, is an important Buddhist observance in Sri Lanka. It commemorates the arrival of Sanghamitta Theri, daughter of Emperor Ashoka, who brought a sapling from the sacred Bodhi Tree in India to Sri Lanka. The tree was planted in Anuradhapura and remains deeply revered as a living connection to the Buddha’s enlightenment.

The day also honors Sanghamitta Theri’s role in establishing the Bhikkhuni Order in Sri Lanka, allowing women to formally enter the Buddhist monastic tradition. Devotees may mark Unduvap Full Moon Poya with visits to temples, meditation, acts of generosity, and religious ceremonies, creating a meaningful occasion for reflection, compassion, and spiritual renewal.

Unduvap Full Moon Poya commemorates the arrival of Sanghamitta Theri, a Buddhist nun and daughter of Emperor Ashoka, in Sri Lanka during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa. According to the traditional chronicles, she came from India carrying a sapling of the sacred Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, under which Siddhartha Gautama was believed to have attained enlightenment. The sapling was planted at Anuradhapura, where it became the Sri Maha Bodhi, one of the most revered living symbols in Sri Lankan Buddhism. The observance is held on December 4.

The event also marked an important development in the institutional history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Sanghamitta Theri is traditionally credited with establishing the Bhikkhuni Sangha, or community of Buddhist nuns, on the island. Her arrival therefore represented more than the transfer of a sacred tree: it connected Sri Lankan Buddhism with the monastic tradition of India and gave women a formal place within the Buddhist religious community. Accounts of these events were preserved and elaborated in historical chronicles such as the *Dipavamsa* and *Mahavamsa*, which helped shape the observance’s enduring importance.

Over time, Unduvap Full Moon Poya developed from a commemoration of these ancient events into a major religious observance involving pilgrimage, worship, meditation, almsgiving, and participation in Buddhist ceremonies. Devotees particularly visit Anuradhapura to pay respects at the Sri Maha Bodhi, although temples throughout Sri Lanka conduct their own programs. As with other Poya observances, the day encourages reflection on Buddhist teachings, generosity, discipline, and compassion.

Culturally, Unduvap Poya links Sri Lanka’s religious identity to both the preservation of Buddhism and the protection of sacred heritage. The Sri Maha Bodhi is revered not only for its association with the Buddha’s enlightenment but also for its continuous place in Sri Lankan history and ritual life. Through annual observance on December 4, the festival recalls the contributions of Sanghamitta Theri, the historical relationship between India and Sri Lanka, and the central role of Buddhist institutions in the island’s cultural development.