Saga Dawa or Vesak Month for Buddhists

 

 

Tibetan lunar month begins and ends with a new moon. The full moon day that falls in the middle of the month is Saga Dawa Duchen; Duchen means “great occasion.” This is the single most holy day of Tibetan Buddhism. Like the Theravadin observance of Vesak, Saga Dawa Duchen commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death (Parinirvana) of the Lord Buddha.

Saga Dawa is called the “month of merits” for Tibetan Buddhists. Dawa means “month” in Tibetan, and “Saga” or “Saka” is the name of a star prominent in the sky during the fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar when Saga Dawa is observed. This year it started from 20th May to 18th June.

 Our different ways to accumulate Merits:
The month of Saga Dawa is the most auspicious time for meritorious actions. And on Saga Dawa Duchen, the merits of worthy acts are multiplied 100,000 times. So, on this auspicious month of Saga Dawa nuns of Jangchub Choeling Nunnery performed several meritious rituals as follows:-

 The fasting retreat, also called “Nyungne”, is in the Tibetan language.
*  Overnight Tara praises
*  Lighting butter lamp
*  Reading spiritual texts
 * Mamo Pacification Ritual
 * Rituals to praise glorious goddess (Palden Lhamo)