Six years after the Buddha had gained enlightenment, his father, King Suddhodana heard the news that his son had attained Enlightenment. Wanting to see his son, the King sent an envoy with a retinue of 1,000 to invite the Buddha to his kingdom of Kapilavastu, thought to have been in modern-day Nepal. However, the envoy never returned, having entered the Buddha’s Order without passing on the message.
The King sent nine more envoys but they all joined the order without passing on his invite. As a last roll of the dice, King Suddhodana sent Kaludai, a boyhood friend of Prince Siddhartha (the Buddha). Kaludai agreed to pass on the message, provided he too would be allowed to enter the order.
Kaludai managed to persuade the Buddha to visit His aged father Suddhodana and relatives in the Sakya Desaya at Kimbulwathpura.
And so it was on the Madin Full Moon Day, that the Buddha, accompanied by 20,000 disciples made the journey of about 900 miles from Veluwanaramaya, Rajagriha, to meet his father, relatives, and friends.
The Buddha then preached the Vessanthara Jathakaya to the crowds, explaining his previous life as King Vessantara.
This poya signifies the love and brotherhood as it was on a Madin poya day that Prince Rahula, Prince Siddhartha’s (the Buddha before enlightenment) only son, entered the Buddha Sasana.
For Sri Lankan Buddhists, Medin Full Moon Poya is particularly important as it marks the climax of the Sri Pada pilgrimage season.