Maudgalyayana Saves His Mother 目犍連尊者救母 and Hungry Ghost Festival

First posted on 11 August 2018

In Singapore and East Asia countries, on the 7th Lunar month of the year, most Chinese will observe the Hungry Ghost Festival by making food offering to their deceased ancestors. On the 15th day of 7th Lunar month, the gate of hell is opened for the hungry ghosts to roam the living world. 

In Singapore, there will be getai performance where singers will dressed up and performed on temporary stages in the heartlands. Front row seats will be empty as they are reserved for the wandering spirits. Do take note that burning of offering is from Taoist practice. Generally Buddhists don't burn offering. 

The origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival is influenced by Buddhism, from the  Ullambana Sutra on how Maudgalyayana Mujian Nian目犍連尊者saves his mother from suffering in the hungry ghost realm.

Among Buddha's disciples, venerable Maudgalyāyana (目犍連尊者) is foremost in psychic powers. Using his psychic power, he found that his mother was in the hungry ghost realm. Maudgalyāyana tried to offer her food, but the food burst into flames each time she tried to eat. Maudgalyāyana therefore seek the help of Buddha, who advised him to make merit to the Saṃgha and transfer it to his mother. This helped his mother to be reborn in heaven.

 Image from the straits time.

Front row seats reserved for the wandering spirits. Image from the straits times.

Making food offering to the spirits. (Image from wikipedia). Please do not eat these food offering  for the wandering spirits. 

(From Wikipedia) 

In teaching, Maudgalyāyana relies much on such powers. Varying accounts in the Pali Canon show Maudgalyāyana travelling to and speaking with pretas (spirits in unhappy destinations) in order to explain to them their horrific conditions. He helps them understand their own suffering, so they can be released from it or come to terms with it. 

Maudgalyāyana is able to use his powers of mind-reading in order to give good and fitting advice to his students, so they can attain spiritual fruits quickly.^[64] He is described as using his psychic powers to discipline not only monks, but also devas and other beings. 

Mulian Rescues His Mother 

Maudgalyāyana Mulian Rescues His Mother  or Mulian Saves His Mother From Hell is a popular Chinese Buddhist tale originating in the 3rd century CE, inspired by tales from India of Maudgalyayana, who becomes Mulian in the Chinese stories. Mulian, a virtuous monk, seeks the help of the Buddha to rescue his mother, who has been condemned to the lowest and most painful purgatory in karmic retribution for her transgressions. Mulian cannot rescue her by his individual effort, however, but is instructed by the Buddha to offer food and gifts to monks and monasteries on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, which established the Ghost Festival (Chinese: 鬼 節; pinyin: guijie)

The account of Maudgalyāyana looking for his mother after her death is widespread. Apart from being used to illustrate the principles of karmic retribution and rebirth,in China, the story developed a new emphasis. There Maudgalyāyana was known as "Mulian", and his story was taught in a mixture of religious instruction and entertainment, to remind people of their duties to deceased relatives. Its earliest version being the Sanskrit Ullambana Sutra.