Sunday, February 3, 2008

SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS: SRI LANKA’S BUDDHIST RELICS










SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS: SRI LANKA’S BUDDHIST RELICS

Relics
Relics are an important aspect of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Shamanism, and many other faiths. Numerous Holy Relics of the world range from Holy Shroud of Turin to Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha at Kandy.

Distribution of Relics
Following the final extinction (Maha-parinibbana) of Buddha in 543 BC at Kusinara (Kushinagar), North India the body of Gauthama Buddha was cremated. With the rescue of various fragments of the remains of Buddha, the Mallas of Kushinagar thought themselves most fortunate to have received all the relics of the Buddha's body. However, following the representations from eight other eight countries that constituted ancient India, the relic were divided into eight portions by Brahmin Drona. The eight devotees of Buddha each took his share to his own country and the eight great stupas were built enshrining the holy relics.

Redistribution of sacred relics of Buddha
In time these relics were again subdivided & redistributed by Mauyran Indian Emperor Ashoka who is believed to have built 84,000 stupas.

Sacred Relics of Buddha today
Today relics are contained in various stupas scattered across Asia with Sri Lanka featuring most prominent sites.

Stupas in Sri Lanka enshrined with Relics received following the cremation of Buddha
Thuparama Stupa, Anuradhapura
Seruwila Stupa
Somawathiya Stupa
Tissa Maha Dagaba, Tissamharama
Muthiyanga Stupa, Badulla

Relics that are not enshrined in Stupas
Sacred Tooth Relic at the Holy Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
The Seema Malaka & Gangaramaya Temples, Colombo

Relics bestowed by Buddha himself during his life time
Giragadu Seya, a modern stupa is enshrined with Sacred Kesha Dhathu (hair relic bestowed upon two Indian brothers named Tapassu & Bhalluka by Buddha himself.
Sri Lanka’s Mahiyangana Stupa, the one & only stupa that was built during the lifetime of Buddha, is enshrined with a lock of pure blue black hair bestowed by Buddha to Prince Mahasumana of Sumanakuta (Adam’s Peak). In a latter stage of the history the stupa was also enshrined with Neck bone relic of Buddha.


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YOU CAN SET SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS IN OUTLOOK EXPRESS


SRI LANKA Holidays

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[Sri Lanka Holidays ] 25
Tamil Thai Pongal Day (BPM),2008/1/15
Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/1/22
National Day (BPM),2008/2/4
Navam Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/2/20
Mahasivarathri Day (BP),2008/3/6
Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet’s Birthday) (BPM),2008/3/20
Medin Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/3/21
Good Friday (BP),2008/3/21
Day Prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day (BPM),2008/4/12
Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day (BPM),2008/4/13
Bak Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/4/19
May Day (BPM),2008/5/1
Vesak Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/5/19
Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/5/20
Poson Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/6/18
Esala Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/7/17
Nikini Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/8/16
Binara Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/9/14
Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day) (BP),2008/10/01
Vap Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/10/14
Deepavali Festival Day (BP),2008/11/27
Il Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/11/12
Id-Ul-Alha (Hadji Festival Day) (BP),2008/12/9
Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day (BPM),2008/12/12
Christmas Day (BPM),2008/12/25

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Instructions

A) Backup the existing SRI LANKA Holidays file
1. Exit Outlook if it is running.
2. Locate Outlook.hol file and create a backup of it.
Outlook 2007: drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\1033\Outlook.hol
Outlook 2003: drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\1033\Outlook.hol

B) Update the Outlook Holiday file
 1. Exit Outlook if it is running.
2. Open the Outlook.hol file in a text editor, such as Notepad.
3. If you're doing this for the first time, copy and paste the above section between "Start Copy" and "End Copy" to the end of the Outlook.hol file. Update your existing list with the above if you've already have a section for the Sri Lanka Holidays.
4. Save and close Outlook.hol.

C) To update the Outlook calendar
 1. Start Outlook.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. On the Preferences tab, under Calendar, click Calendar Options.
4. In the Calendar Options dialog box, under Calendar options, click Add SRI LANKA Holidays.
5. Select the check box "Sri Lanka HOLIDAYS " and click OK.

Note: If a set of SRI LANKA holidays or events observed has already been selected in the Add SRI LANKA Holidays to Calendar dialog box and you try to add the same again, you see the message, " SRILANKA Holidays for country are already installed. Do you want to install them again?" Click No. If you click Yes, the SRI LANKA holidays and events are installed a second time, and you will see duplicate holiday and event entries in your calendar.