On the trail of a Thera and his Upasampada mission here
By Udumbara Udugama
From Vesak Full Moon Poya day which fell on May 20 this year until Poson Poya (today), the Malwatte and Asgiriya Maha Vihara have been conducting Upasampada ceremonies of the samanera (novice) monks of the Siam Nikaya (sect).
It is believed that the first Upasampada was conducted over 2600 years ago by the Buddha near the Sri Maha Bodhi in Buddha Gaya. During the Buddha’s time, there were eight ways in which Upasampada was conducted: The first was the Ehi Bhikku Upasampada where the Buddha himself conferred higher ordination on samanera.
The birth anniversary of Ven.Weliwita Asarana Sarana Saranankara Maha Thera who initiated the revival of Upasampada in Sri Lanka fell on June 18. He was one who believed that if the Buddha Sasana was to continue, there should be bhikkhus who have received Higher Ordination.
The second son of Kulatunga Nilame, who was well respected in the village of Weliwita in Thumpane Korale, born on June 18, 1698, he was named Kulatunga Banda. At the age of 12, he informed his father of his desire to enter the Buddhist Order. His father vehemently opposed his request as he did not want his son to be another Ganinnanse (pseudo-priest), who did not follow the tenets of Buddhism as taught by the Buddha.
However, as the boy was insistent, he was ordained as a samanera (student monk) with Suriyagoda Kithsirimevan Rajasundara Unanse as his teacher at the Yatinuwara Sooriyagoda Viharaya. Kulatunga Banda was named Welivita Saranankara.
With the passage of time Buddhism declined in the Kandyan areas due to the indifference of the kings, feudal chieftains and also the invasion by foreign powers.
Welivita Saranankara Thera could not receive Upasampada as there were no monks who had higher ordination at that time - the requirement being that there should be five such Theras to perform Upasampada on Samanera monks. He realized that if Buddhism was to survive in this country, Upasampada Theras should be brought from Siam (Thailand) or Burma to conduct higher ordination to re-establish the Buddhist Order.
Poson Poya is commemorated in the island as the day Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera arrived with an entourage of seven during the reign of King Tissa in Anuradhapura. Of the seven, Arahant Mahinda, Ittiya, Utthiya, Sambala and Bhaddasala had received higher ordination. The other two were Sumana Samanera and Bhanduka Upasaka.
With the visit of Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera, King Devanampiya Tissa became a Buddhist. Maha Aritta, a minister who had obtained permission from the King was ordained and is believed to be the first Sinhala Thera to receive Upasampada.
Weliwita Sangaraja Thera was keen anxious to re-establish Higher Ordination and train the people in the Dhamma way. However there were setbacks - the Thera’s teacher was accused of high treason by King Vira Parakrama Narendra Sinha and exe- cuted. Ven. Saranankara Thera retreated to the Alagalla mountain in Kadugannawa to live in a cave. The villagers having very little food, still provided whatever they could spare.
Hearing that Leuke Ralahamy was imprisoned by the King in Makehelwala, a village close to Alagalla, Weliwita Saranankara decided he wanted to learn Pali under him. Leuke Ralahamy had studied under Ven. Watapuluve Thera. But it was an offence to associate with a prisoner. Yet he was permitted to worship at a nearby Bodhi tree and there the Thera was able to meet him and learn Pali and the fourfold foundation of Meditation. As Leuke Rala’s grammar was limited, he studied grammar under Samanera Attadassi, another pupil of Ven. Watapuluve Thera. Weliwita Samanera wrote on velipila (sand strewn on planks) and improved his knowledge.
Living in this cave, engrossed in his studies, he was joined by three others who were also very much interested in the Dhamma. They were Sitinamaluve (from Beliatta, Matara), Ilipangamuwa (Nelundeniya, Kegalla) and Kadiragoda(Kurunegala). This group was named ‘Silvat Samagama’ (pious ones) by the people. A layman, Kanuketiyegedera of Satara Korale extended an invitation to the Thera. Weliwita Samanera Thera with the ‘Silvat Samagama’ accepted the invitation, travelled to Satara Korale and participated in religious activities. They proceeded to Unaliya (Kuliyapitiya) and there the Thera requested the villagers to polish ola leaves (Talipot) for writing.
The group thereafter proceeded to Udapola Korale and making Polgahawela their base, travelled to Satara Korale (Kegalle District) and Sath Korale (Kurunegala District) where the Thera taught the children to read and write. Students of Watapuluve Thera too joined this group as they were very much impressed with the work done by the Weliwita Thera. The people were taught Buddhist rites and practices which are followed to-date.