Sayadaw Agganna’s Dhamma Talk “The Origin of Kathina Ceremony”

at Kathina 2015 DMC dated 8th November 2015.

At the end of rain retreat, Buddhist devotees celebrate offering kathina robe ceremony of which is one of the significant Buddhist traditions. This ceremony is celebrated from full moon day of October to full moon day of November every year. This ceremony has been celebrated from the Buddha’s time to present day, according to the allowance of the Buddha.

THE ORIGIN OF KATHINA CEREMONY
How does the kathina ceremony happened in our Buddhasasana? This is mentioned in the Mahavagga, the 3rd book of Vinayapitaka.

When the Buddha was staying at the Jetavana monastery, Anathapindika’s park in Savatthi. At that time, thirty bhikkhus (Buddhavaggi thirty brothers from Pava) came from Paveyyaka to pay respect to the Buddha. These Bhikkhus took Dutinga practices that stayed in forest, going for alms-food, wearing three robes and robes are also rag-robes (Pansukula).

However they were unable to reach in time of their rain retreat in Savatthi and the rain retreat (vassa) also was approaching, so they decided to stay at Saketa city which is six yojana (one Yojana = 12 miles) away from Savatthi.

They felt disenchanted because they had to spend their rain retreat at Saketa city which was not far from Savatthi. Although they felt disenchanted in that place they still spend their rain retreat over there. They did pavarana (invitation ceremony) immediately at the end of vassa and continued their journey to Savatthi to see the Buddha.

On the way, they encountered heavy rain and when they reached their destination, their robes were drenched and heavy. So they became exhausted and tired when they reached before Buddha. Also they had carried the double robes with them, those double robes were soaked up by rain water and they became too heavy.

If it is possible for the bhikkhu to leave these double robes in one of the monasteries or one of the villages on the way, it would be much easier to travel. Due to the asamadanacara rule where three determined robes must be in allowable distance at the dawn time. There thirty bhikkhus have to carry their double robes with them. These robes were soaked with water and like water bags. Thus, the bhikkus were too tired when they reached Savatthi. 

When they reached before the Buddha, having paid respect to the Buddha, the Buddha asked about their condition in vassa and on the way. They reported about their condition of vassa and their experiences on the way to Savatthi.
Then the Buddha realized how they had felt, carrying the three Robes on the way. So to get the freedom from this asamadanacara sikkhapada (rule) and according to the previous Buddhas’ tradition, the Buddha allowed to hold the Kathina robe spreading ceremony. The monks who spread the kathina robe will gain five privileges (benefits) from vina (rules) also allowed by the Buddha.
[Monks, I allow monks who have completed the vassa to spread the kathina.
(Five Privileges) monks, will be allowable to you who have spread the kathina]
From that time onwards, kathina robe offering and spreading ceremony happened in the Buddha sasana.
The Five Privileges (Benefits)

For those Bhikkhus who performed the kathina these are five benefits:

Anamantacara
Without informing another bhikkhu, one can set off from monastery during five months after kathina spreading, from that time to fullmoon day of March.

Asamadanacara
Going around (setting off) without bringing the full set of three robes, freedom to stay apart from one set of three robes at the break of dawn for five months.

Ganabhojana
Food for group (or a group meal). When layman invites bhikkhu to eat the food should invite appropriately through sasana usage words. If layman invites with improper words one or two, or three bhikkhus can go and take but four or more than four bhikkhus are not allow to go and eat. The bhikkhus who spread the kathina robes gets the freedom from this rule within five months. If the bhikkhu committed this rule, it is not an offence within 5 months.

Yavadatthacivara
If a bhikkhu receives extra robes, he must do determination or assignment (vikappana) within 10 days. Whether to be kept carefully or worn. If determination or assigning to other bhikkhu has not been done, then the bhikkhu who received it must give up and confess because of breaking the rule. But for a bhikkhu who spread the kathina, he gets the freedom from this rules within 5 months. He can keep extra robes as many as he got, without having to do determination or assigning to other bhikkhu.

Yo ca tattha civaruppada
According to the rules and regulations of bhikkhu within monastery, if donors come and offer robes (civara) or any requisites saying “sanghassadema = this is offered to sangha”, then the robe or requisite must be shared with each of the sangha in the monastery. 

But for a bhikkhu who spread the kathina robe, he gets this 5thprivilege. That is: After kathina spreading ceremony, from that time to till fullmoon day of March; within this period, if any donor comes and offers any requisite to sangha, this requisite concerned the bhikkhu who spread kathina robe and other bhikkhus who get Katina privileges in this monastery. It must be shared among the bhikkhus. It does not concern with the bhikkhus who arrive after kathina ceremony or who spend later rain retreat, or who break the rain retreat or who do not rejoice the kathina privileges. No need to share the requisite with those bhikkhus mentioned above.

These are the five privileges or benefits of kathina robe offering.
Therefore, the meaning of kathina is firmness, stability, and durability. Because it has power of providing above mentioned five privileges, making these five benefits available, firm and stable for the eligible and available bhikkhus.

How does one perform the kathina or How to spread the kathina?
Spreading kathina, it does not mean that we take the kathina robe and spread it on the floor. Here I would like to show the simile, when we take a mat and spread it on the floor, we can sit or lie down on this mat altogether. The benefit of mat is able to share with others.

In the same way, when the bhikkhu spreads the kathina, it means that the monks who spreads the kathina is sharing these five privileges with the other eligible bhikkhus participating in the kathina ceremony, making these privileges available, firm and stable for an extended period of time.
Firstly, donor must offer robes to the sangha.

1.Then the bhikkhus accept this kathina robe and
2.Choose the bhikkhu who is appropriate to spread the kathina robe. Really this bhikkhu needs, or should have seven qualifications (kathinatthraraha)
Among the many bhikkhus, one who spend the 1st rain retreat and is wearing old, torn robes, should accept the kathina robe. Otherwise the senior bhikkhu should accept it.
3.After choosing the bhikkhu who is appropriate, the bhikkhu recite “nattidutiya kammavaca” then give the kathina robe to him in the Sima. To perform the kathina robe there are three robes to be given: the upper robe, the lower robe and double robe. The bhikkhu can then accept anyone of the three robes according to his need.
4.Having received the kathina robe, the bhikkhu who received it must abandon the old robe. It is called “paccuddhara”. For example the bhikkhu accept double robe, he must abandon old double robe.
5.Having abandoned old robe, makes a marking (a spot) on the new robe (it is called “kappabindu”)
6.Then, makes a determination “Adhitthana” by saying “I determine this as my double robe”
7.Having determined, the monk has to recite “Imaya sanghatiya kathinanattharami” which means “with this double robe I perform or spread the kathina” in this monastery. He can get five privileges (or benefits) from this practice.
8.Having spread kathina robe, the bhikkhu has to recite “atthatam bhante (avuso) sanghasa kathinam dhammiko kathinattharo anumodatha” this means the sangha has performed the kathina, that is according to the Dhamma. Please rejoice”.
Other bhikkhus will recite “sanghassa kathinam, dhammiko kathenattharo anumodami” which means “the sangha has performed the kathina that is according to the Dhamma, I rejoice in that”. By reciting this, they also get these five benefits.

The significance of the kathina robe offering
To offer this kathina robe is once in one monastery in one month, in one year. The duration also from fullmoon day of October to fullmoon day of November only.

When donors offer this kathina, they must intend to all sangha in the monastery (sanghikadana) and not for individual bhikkhu. Because of offering kathina robe the bhikkhu can obtain freedom from some rules in certain period. Therefore, those who offered the kathina robe can gain significant many benefits in this very life and future, mundane and supra mundane happiness.

May you all attain significant and excellent happiness in this very life and in the future. Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!