View source for Vassa

{{Short description|Three-month Theravada Buddhist festival}}
{{Italic title}}
{{ Infobox Buddhist term
| title = ''Vassa''
| en = Rains Retreat
| pi = 
| sa = 
| bn = 
| my  = ဝါတွင်း<br>{{IPA|my|wàdwíɰ̃|}}
| my-Latn = 
| zh = 雨安居
| zh-Latn = yu an ju
| ja = 安居
| ja-Latn = Ango
| km = វស្សា
| km-Latn = vôssa
| ko = 
| ko-Latn = 
| ksw = ဝါတွ့ၤ <br>{{IPA-ksw|wàdway|}}
| ksw-Latn =
| lo = ພັນສາ,  ວັດສາ<br>{{IPA|lo|pʰán sǎː|}}, Watsa
| mnw = 
| mnw-Latn = 
| shn = 
| shn-Latn = 
| si = 
| si-Latn = 
| ta = 
| tl = vassa
| th = พรรษา, วรรษา<br>{{RTGS|phansa}}, {{IPA|th|pʰān.sǎː|pron}}<br>{{RTGS|watsa}}
| bo = དབྱར་གནས
| bo-Latn = Yarne
| vi = an cư
| id = 
}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
{{Theravada Buddhism|Traditions}}
{{Buddhism}}
[[File:Vassa in Utt.jpg|alt=MONK AT VASSA|thumb|Monk at Vassa]]
'''''Vassa''''' ({{langx|pi-Latn|vassa-}}, {{langx|sa-Latn|varṣa-}}, both "rain") is the three-month annual [[Retreat (spiritual)|retreat]] observed by [[Theravada]] Buddhists. Taking place during the [[wet season]], Vassa lasts for three [[lunar month]]s, usually from July (the [[Burmese calendar|Burmese month]] of Waso, {{lang|my|ဝါဆို}}) to October (the Burmese month of Thadingyut, {{lang|my|သီတင်းကျွတ်}}).<ref name="about">[http://buddhism.about.com/od/buddhismglossaryv/g/Vassadef.htm Vassa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064307/http://buddhism.about.com/od/buddhismglossaryv/g/Vassadef.htm |date=2011-06-15 }} at [[About.com]]</ref>

In English, Vassa is also called '''Rains Retreat'''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Vassa/id/578909 |title=Vassa |access-date=2010-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323201202/http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Vassa/id/578909 |archive-date=2010-03-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> While Vassa is sometimes casually called "'''Buddhist [[Lent]]'''", others object to this terminology.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/no427/n003.htm|title=Shwedagon Pagoda marks the start of Buddhist Lent this week|last=Thein|first=Cherry|date=July 14–20, 2008|work=The Myanmar Times|access-date=15 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921104822/http://www.mmtimes.com/no427/n003.htm|archive-date=21 September 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="access"/>

For the duration of Vassa, monastics remain in one place, typically a [[vihara|monastery]] or temple grounds.<ref name="access">[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html#rains  Lay Buddhist Practice - The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day, Rains Residence]</ref><ref>[http://www.bookrags.com/tandf/was-vassa-tf/ Was (Thai) Vassa]</ref> In some monasteries, monks dedicate the Vassa to intensive [[meditation]].<ref name="access"/> Some [[Laity#Lay Buddhists (Buddha's lay disciples)|Buddhist lay people]] choose to observe Vassa by adopting more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.<ref name="about"/> In Thailand, the sale of alcohol is prohibited on the first (''Wan Khao Phansa'') and last (''[[Wan Ok Phansa]]'') days of Vassa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Religious holidays bring two alcohol ban days, four-day weekend |url=https://www.thephuketnews.com/religious-holidays-bring-two-alcohol-ban-days-four-day-weekend-76539.php |website=The Phuket News |date=3 July 2020 |access-date=7 January 2021}}</ref> Commonly, the number of years a monk has spent in monastic life is expressed by counting the number of vassas (or ''rains'') since [[upasampada|ordination]].

[[Mahayana]] Buddhists also observe Vassa. [[Vietnamese Thiền]] and [[Korean Seon]] monastics observe an equivalent retreat of three months of intensive practice in one location, a practice also observed in [[Tibetan Buddhism]].{{cn|date=July 2020}}

Vassa begins on the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month, which is the day after [[Asalha Puja]] or Asalha [[Uposatha]] ("Dhamma day"). It ends on [[Pavarana]], when all monastics come before the [[Sangha (Buddhism)|sangha]] and atone for any offense that might have been committed during Vassa.

Vassa is followed by [[Kathina]], a festival in which the [[Upāsaka and Upāsikā|laity]] expresses gratitude to monks.<ref name="kathina">[http://www.viet.net/~anson/ebud/ebdha086.htm Vassa (Rains Retreat) and Kathina (Robe Offering) Ceremony]</ref><ref name="tv">[http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=6,9375,0,0,1,0 Vassa, The Rains Retreat]</ref> Lay Buddhists bring donations to temples, especially new robes for the monks.<ref name="kathina"/><ref name="tv"/><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/kathina.shtml Kathina] at [[BBC]]</ref>

The Vassa tradition predates the time of [[Gautama Buddha]].<ref name="about"/> It was a long-standing custom for [[sramana|mendicant ascetics]] in India not to travel during the rainy season as they may unintentionally harm crops, insects or even themselves during their travels.<ref name="access"/>{{primary inline |Some scholars have argued that ''harming crops'' is meant idiomatically rather than literally.|date=August 2019}} Many Buddhist ascetics live in regions which lack a rainy season.<ref name="tv"/> Consequently, there are places where Vassa may not be typically observed.<ref name="tv"/>

== See also ==
* [[Esala Mangallaya]]
* [[Monsoon of South Asia]]
* [[Thadingyut Festival]]
* [[Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival]]
* [[Varsha (season)]]
* [[Vassa candle]]
* [[Vesak]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Vassa}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Public holidays in Myanmar}}
{{Public holidays in Thailand}}

[[Category:Buddhist festivals]]
[[Category:Buddhist festivals in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist festivals in Thailand]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Thailand]]
[[Category:July observances]]
[[Category:August observances]]
[[Category:September observances]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:Observances set by the Burmese calendar]]
[[Category:Spiritual retreats]]
[[Category:Theravada]]
[[Category:Buddhist festivals in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Buddhist festivals in Cambodia]]
[[Category:Buddhist festivals in Laos]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Myanmar]]