Recently, the Prime Minister of India participated in an event marking Abhidhamma Day at the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar.

About Mahaparinirvana Temple:

=> It is located in Kushinagar in UP.

=> The reclining nirvana statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is 6.10 mt. long and is made of monolith red sandstone of the 5th century A.D.

=> It represents the ‘Dying-Buddha’ reclining on his right side with his face towards the west. Being the death- place of Lord Buddha, it is a holy place for pilgrimage.

What is Abhidhamma Day?

=> The day marks the end of a three-month rainy retreat - Varshavaas or Vassa - for the Buddhist monks and nuns during which time they stay at one place and pray.

=> The Union culture ministry and International Buddhist Confederation, in association with the government of Uttar Pradesh, is organising the Abhidhamma Day on the auspicious occasion of Ashwin Poornima.

=> This day is mostly celebrated in countries where Buddhism is practised by the majority of the population.

• According to widely held belief, this is the day when Lord Buddha came back to earth from heaven.
• He is believed to have gone to heaven to teach Abhidhamma Pitaka (a basket of ultimate things) to his mother.
• The teaching took three months after which Buddha came back to Earth. His followers too mark the three-month time by staying at one place and praying.