Katina The Ritual Offering of the Robe

Katina refers to the offering of the special robe (Katina civara) prepared and presented to monks who have completed the three-month period of retreat called Vas in Sinhala, and Vassana in Pali, meaning the period of rain. Katina literally means ‘firm,’ or ‘solid,’ because the offering of a Katina robe helps to earn solid good karma. The Katina Ceremony is over 2500 years old. It is a monastic tradition preserved and observed by Buddhists all over the world because it is an extraordinary opportunity to acquire merit once a year.

Invitation to the Monks
It is customary for prominent supporters to invite the monks formally to observe the retreat in a temple or other dwelling place. If the monks accept the invitation, the hosts would assume responsibility for providing all the needs of the monks during this period

Monastic Confessional
At the close of the Vas retreat, the monks perform the pavarana ceremony. During this ceremony, the monks get together and invite one another to point out their faults and lapses. It is friendly and constructive criticism and almost invariably well received. The practice is intended to help the monks purify themselves.

At the end of the pavarana, the Katina ceremony proper is held. Robes can be offered to monks any time. The offering of a Katina robe is of utmost significance to a Buddhist who knows the meaning of it, and is of curiosity to someone with no knowledge of it.

Why is the Katina Robe Special?
The Katina robe is significant because during the three-month Vas period, Buddhist monks are required to remain fully dedicated to purifying themselves through the rigorous practice of meditation and moral conduct. A robe offered to such a monk potent with spirituality and dedication to religious living at this time, helps one to earn solid merit or good karma.

One of the stanzas chanted during Katina glorifies the greatness of the merit which one gets from performing Katina. It says that even this solid earth, or a solid rock or a piece of diamond could tremble, shake and break at times. However, the merit obtained by offering of Katina cannot be nullified by anything until one achieves the ultimate goal of Buddhist aspiration which is Nirvana.

FUTURE KATINA SPONSORES AT BUDDHIVIHARA

2023. Pham Nga, Kim Le, Bin Luu, Phillip,  Nhuan Chung,  Tuyen Luu
2024. Abeywickrama Kosala & Priyanka, En you Josephine & Ava, Tien & Tram
2025. Nguyen Minh ,Yen, Bich, Hung, Vincent & Nee and Pauline
2026. Le Tammi, Janaka & Shehara Ranatunga
2027. Silva Kumara & Sriyani, Rohan and Samanmali Sirimanna
2028. Lien Chuong & Mui Van
2029. Dodanwala Indika, Anjala & Manali
2030. August Family
2031. Kodikara Family
2032. Caroline Hoffman Tower
2033. Yamuna & Randheera
2034. Yapabandara Deshan
2035. Gayan, Pamod, Kevin & Marlin
2036. Senanayake Venus & Surya
2037. Thuyvi Nguyen
2038. Christina Bui,  Daris & Darin Tran
2039. En you Josephine & Ava