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| Tuesday, 9 November 2004 |
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Debt of gratitude to Theri Sanghamitta by H. M. Nemsiri Mutukumara The focus of this year's Sanghamitta Day is in the capital city of Colombo. The celebration is organised by the Bauddha Kantha Jatika Sangamaya - BKJS. A large assembly of school children, their teachers, parents are invited to this rare celebration, says Vimala Somaratne BKJS President. Celebration begins on Sunday December 26 morning at the Vihara Maha Devi Uyana. Judging by the success achieved on Uduvap poya day last year, the BKJS believes a greater number will attend and participate in the Sangamitta day celebrations. Many from outstations are keen to participate in the orderly program. Program will be conducted with the blessing and guidance of the Maha Sangha and the Buddhist nuns. The BKJS, Mrs. Somaratne says keep completely aloof from controversial matters. Sans controversy, sans arguments and wasting of precious time. Instead we listen to a recorded bhakti gita program when there are no dhammadesana, dhamma discussion or bhavana programs are not available. At the very outset last year, our BKJS Sanghamitta day activity came to be discussed much long after the event. It had many salient features. Firstly, the leaders and even the helpers were disciplined. Conspicuous in its total absence, the scenes of those sleeping with wide opened out or sleeping on mats like logs of wood. The BKJS, enamoured with our Sasana Sevaya felt it was a totally rewarding exercise. As a result of last year's success, the BKJS made a one bold step forward for the greater welfare of all womenkind and well-being of all living beings. This year we present before the people and the relevant authorities the need to declare the Sanghamitta day as the day of Sri Lanka women. Theri Sanghamitta arrived in the Sinhalavipa bringing the serene southern branch of the Sacred Bodhi Tree from Buddha Gaya and accompanied with her eleven Bhikkhunis, and other Samaneris and Upasika required to organise ordination of women as Bhikkhunis and give them Upasampada - higher ordination. By the time of Theri Sanghamitta's arrival, already, Princess Anula had already attained sovan - the first stagehood of saint. She became the first to enter the order of the Bhikkuni Sangha. She was the Queen of Viceroy Arittha in fact, prince Arittha agreed to take ruling monarch king Devanampiyatissa to emperor Asoka inviting Theri Sanghamitta to Sihaladvipa to establish the Bhikkuhuni Sasana. He agreed to undertake the Royal mission only after the king gave him permission to enter the Bhikkhu Sangha order. By the time theri Sanghamitta set sail to Lanka "Queen Anula who with five hundred maidens and five hundred women of the royal harem had accepted pabbajja, in discipline, looking for the coming of the Theri take up her abode, leading a holy life, in the pleasant nunnery built by the king in a certain part of the city. Since the nunnery was inhabited by these lay-sisters it became known in Lanka by the name Upasika Vihara." The Mahavamsa: Wilhelm Geiger PhD., assisted by Mabel Haynes bode, ph.D. pp:122 and 123 - Pali text society. Before she took up residence at the Upasikaramaya. Theri Sanghamitta arrived with the great bodhi tree at Jambukola in the North. King Devanampiyatissa with a relative of officials, nobles, ladies and men and women from many provinces converged at Jambukola in an unprecedented number. The Royal party led by king Devanampiyatissa waded through the water knee-deep paid homage to the great bodhi. Everywhere along the long route from Jambukola to Anuradhapura - the capital of the king resembled a heavenly abode a heavenly realm - no less. Amazing spectacle is the colourful convergence of people from provinces, far away places within a short space of time in that distant past when Communication techniques were not so advanced. With Theri Sanghamitta's arrival in Lanka, signalled the opening of the first ever museum in the world. The mast, the Rudder and the Heln of the ship that navigated the theri Sanghamitta from madhya pradesh to Jamubkola were deposited in three separate buildings. Every Sri Lankan should be proud of possessing the world's ever first museum in our country. Theri Sanghamitta should be bestowed with honour after honour by every man and woman without an exception. Her noble endeavours brought solace to everybody. Every Buddhist in particular should erect a statue of Theri Sanghamitta in their Vihara and Dhammasala. Every Dhamma school child should read the Thera Mahinda and Theri Sanghamitta life story in one volume. As the BKJS has taken steps, societies in general and Buddhists in particular team up together to usher in the Sanghamitta day as the Buddhist women's day. Bhikkhuni Devasara in the fourth century (according to the Gregorian Calendar) went to China and established the Bhikkhuni Sangha Order and Upasampada was conferred on Chinese Upasika: At that time Theravada Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis lived in China. Regrettably, foreign invasions and various ism's creeping into the colossal land, mass Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis left the Viharas and Upasikarama carrying along with them patra bowl, the robe and a few manuscripts and fled into jungles and caves. Heartening indeed, a few weeks ago, a Chinese official delegation visiting Sri Lanka had expressed the peoples' deep desire and devotion to learn Pali language and the Theravada Dhamma. According to BKJS planning the absolutely effective way of organising a worldwide Theri Sanghamitta Day celebration is to communicate with Sri Lankan Buddhists in foreign countries. Namely, in England, Germany, and the United States of America the Viharadhipathi Maha Theras every year celebrate the Theri Sanghamitta Day in a tremendous success. Sri Lanka newspapers publish photographs and descriptions of magnificent celebrations in many parts of the world where Sri Lankan expatriates live. The BKJS is definitely in a sound footing since they are going to seek the fullest assistance from the Venerable Dr. Pandita Medagama Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera - the London Buddhist Viharadhipati, the Venerable Kurungoda Piyatissa Nayaka Thera, New York (USA) Viharadhipati, the Venerable Valpola Piyananda Nayaka Thera, Dhamma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara, Los Angeles, USA, the Venerable Ratmale Punnaratana Nayaka Thera, Berlin Buddhist Vihara, Germany. These Buddhist Prelates will serve as the nucleus of Theri Sanghamitta Day across the world. Sri Lanka will pay the world's debt of gratitude to Arhat Theri Sanghamitta who arrived in this country quite young and never returned to her motherland. She chose to live in Lanka, helping the people and the land winning the ever increasing respect and admiration. "The well-beloved, the great Theri Sanghamitta of lofty wisdom now took up her abode in this pleasing monastery for Bhikkhunis" (Mahawamsa pg. 135). That was the monastery King Devanapiyatissa built near the elephant-post by which name it was called Hatthalaka Vihara and lived throughout her life. |
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