On the trail of a Thera...
This was the first step taken by the Thera to establish pirivena education in the island.
After the death of King Narendra Sinha, King Vijaya Rajasinha of South Indian Nayakkar origin, who was the younger brother of the Nayakkar queen of Narendra Sinha and a pupil of Ven. Weliwita Thera succeeded the throne.
On the request of Weliwita Thera, the King sent emissaries to Siam on two occasions requesting for Theras who had higher ordination to visit Sri Lanks. This was not successful. It was only on the third time, during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinha that the Thera’s request was fulfilled.
The delegation that was sent by the King was given an audience with the King of Siam (Thailand) in July 1751.The King arranged for 21 monks headed by Upali Maha Thera to travel to Sri Lanka.
Due to hazardous weather conditions and rough seas, the delegation reached the island only in January 1753. It is stated that they were received at Trincomalee and conducted in procession to reach Kandy after five days. They were accommodated at the Pushparamaya (Malwatta Viharaya) in Kandy. Upali Maha Thera decided that the building in the courtyard of the Viharaya which is now the Poyage was a suitable place to conduct Upasampada.
Ven. Kulugammana Dhammarakkhita Thera in his article ‘The Revival of Buddhism under Ven. Weliwita’ in the book Weliwita Sarankara Sangaharaja Pranamaya compiled by Kandakkulame Dharmakirthi Himi states, “In the newly consructed hall (sima), the first upasampada ceremony was conducted by Siamese Upali Maha Thera, on Friday July 19, 1753. The first ceremony was conducted to confer Upasampada on novice (samaneras) from Siam who accompanied the delegation. This was done so that the local monks would become aware of rites.The following day being Esala Full Moon day (July 20, 1753) King Kirthi Sri Rajasinha, called over at the Malwatte Vihara and having paid due respect to the Siamese prelates, offered a fan (Vatapatha made of Ola) to Upali Maha Thera and requested him to conduct the ceremony in Sri Lanka.
The Chief Monk of Malwatte Vihara Kobbekaduve Unanse who was still a Samanera was the first to be conferred Upasampada, as he was senior in the order to Weliwita Saranankara. Subsequently,Weliwita Saranankara Thera, Hulangamue Samanera, Bambaradeniye Samanera, Tibbatuwawe Samanera and the Chief Thera of the Asgiriya, Ven. Navinne Samanera were ordained by Ven. Upali Maha Thera.
Kirthi Sri Rajasingha offered a vatapatha (Bhikkhu fan) to Weliwita Saranankara and proclaimed “from today, I appoint you the Sangha Nayaka Thero of Tri Sinhala – the whole island of Lanka divided into three provinces.”
Todate, at the Malwatte Viharaya, the Upasampada ceremony is conducted within the seema (consecrated area) in the Poyage. A second ‘seema’ was consecrated at the Asgiriya Gedige Viharaya to conduct Upasampada ceremonies.
The new Order is known as Syamopali (meaning the fraternity of Upali of Siam) Maha Nikaya – the Malwatte is known as Syamopali Maha Nikaya Malwattu Parshawaya (Malwatte Chapter of the Siamese Sect) and Asgiriya as Shiyamopali Maha Nikaye Asgiri Parshawaya (Asgiriya Chapter of the Siamese Sect).