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| Tuesday, 29 July 2003 |
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Moratuwa maintains Amarapura traditions by Nemsiri Mutukumara Sri Lanka and Myanmar celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of establishing the Amarapura tradition of the Order of the Bhikkhu Sangha, this year. Followed by a train of horrible disturbances, caused by the disunity of the ruling elite and the invading forces of colonialists and empire builders across the northern sea, which led to the Bhikkhu Sangha, the custodians of Buddha Sasana abandoning the Viharas and Centres of education and taking refuge in caves and hill-tops, even a quorum sufficient for ordination or higher ordination-Upasampada could not be mustered in any particular place in the country. This disastrous situation called for the determined, dedicated and the disciplined to seek support of the Siyamdesa and Marammadesa revitalisation of the Bhikkhu Sangha and the restoration of the Upasampada in Lanka. Fifty years before that is in 1753, the Venerable Velivita Pindapatika Asarana Sarana Saranamkara Thera received Upasampada from a retinue of bhikkhus led by the Venerable Upali Mahathera of Siyamdesa with this historic Sasana event came into being the Siyam-Upali (Siyamopali) Maha Nikaya. In 1803, due to difficulties faced by the non-agricultural communities, obtaining Upasampada, the Venerable Ambagahapitiya Nanavimalatissa a learned Bhikkhu accompanied by five other Samaneras (novices) set sail to Siyam. "Hearing on the way, that in Burma, too, Buddhism was flourishing in its purity, they landed in that country ..... They landed in Amarapura, the then capital ..... Where they were cordially received by the reigning king Bodawpaya himself ..... they received higher ordination at the hands of the Burmese Mahathera Nanabhivamsa." (Encyclopedia of Buddhism Vol. I. Pgs. 406 and 407). The Venerable Nanavimalatissa and the other Upasampada bhikkhu and the two lay men who went with them also receiving ordination returned home the same year. On their return, a new chapter in the history of Lanka as well as in the Sasana was created with the birth of the Amarapura Nikaya. Sri Lanka and Myanmar, which is known in the Pali tradition as Maramma-desa, celebrate another important event in the Sasana history of both countries. Today-July 29, 2003 - in this historic year the Sri Lanka-Myanmar Friendship Association celebrates its fourth anniversary in Colombo chaired by its President Kumara Semage. The Association is organising itself to rally round everybody - the Bhikkhu Sangha led by the Mahanayakatheras of 26 or more sects of the Amarapura Sangha brought under the banner of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha and the people of all walks of life to celebrate the occasion in a fitting manner that will further strengthen the already existing close and cordial relations between two Buddhist nations. On this occasion my mind goes back to a religious ceremony of offering Sanghika dana to the Myanmar bhikkhu sangha of the Maha Makutaramaya, Dematagoda with the participation of the Venerable Piyadassi Nayakathera, the Director of the Vajiraramaya, Bambalapitiya and the Venerable Kondanna Mahathera, the Chief Resident Bhikkhu of the Sirisena Dharma Mandiraya, Ravatavatta, at the Mandiriya. This ceremony had the participation of a number of members of the Friendship Association. Of all towns and cities and villages, why was Moratuva selected for this religious ceremony with the association of the Myanmar Ambassador in Sri Lanka, the madame and the other family members and many Embassy officials and their spouses? The reason being that Moratuva stands above all others as the one place which is connected to Myanmar inseparably in almost all spheres of life. In the field of Buddha Sasana; in the arena of sports; in the realm of commerce and trade; in the spread of the Myanmar meditation; and also in the development of the Amarapura Nikaya tradition. Among the number of Viharas and Buddhist Centres, in Moratuwa the Amarapura Viharas head the list. This is the gratitude of both the laity and the Bhikkhu to the historic event that took place in Amarapura in 1803 and paved the way for their ordination and higher ordination. In the arena of sports, the Prince of Wales' College, Ravatavatta, Moratuva can boastfully claim to be the only public school to appoint a Myanmar lad, as the School's Cricket Captain. He was Maung Om Pe who became the Cricket Captain. That was 90 years ago. The large majority of the Moratuvites being carpenters, create masterpieces of wooden objects with teak, solely imported from Burma. In every carpentry household, Burma and Buruma-tekka are household words. Their teak creations have won them name and fame throughout the world and they are very much beholden to the people of Myanmar. The Sirisean Dharma Mandiraya (Amarapura Vihara) became the nucleus of the Vipassana Bhavana introduced by the Venerable Abhidhammika Dodampahala Kavidhaja Mahathera after a Bhavana training at the Sasana Yeiktha Bhavana Centre in Yangon from the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw. On his return after accomplishing his object, Mahathera Kavidhaja's Buruma Bhavana became so popular within two months he had to travel one hundred miles down south to Matara, Dikvella, Devinuvara and similar distances in the Central and North-Western provinces to start Buruma Bhavana retreats. So much so, a devout dayaka deeply delighted in the Prelate's Sasana activity offered him a brand new Peugeot car for him to travel in safety and comfort to thirty-two Bhavana Centres across the country. Almost all these Viharas were Amarapura Centres. After his demise, the Venerable Moratuve Vacissara Mahathera continued the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition, his Sasana brother, Mahathera Kavidhaja started with earnest, at the same venues. Today, the senior pupil of both these prelates, the Venerable Dodangoda Assaji Nayakathera Joint Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha continues the good work at the Sri Kavidhaja-Sri Vacissara Bhavana Mulasthanaya at Ravatavatta (Another Amarapura Pansala). He also continues to organise the Bhavana Day on Poson Pasalosvaka Poya day at the Mahamevuna Uyana, Anuradhapura under the shade of the Jayasiri Maha Bodhi and the Ruvannmeliseya. Another, Amarapura bastion, the Sri Sudharmaramaya, Moratumulla where the Venerable Moratuve Sri Sasanavamsa Nayaka Thera resided is the venue of the sacred sapling of the Jayasiri Maha Bodhi planted by Myanmar Ambassador Tun Hla Oung during his days in Lanka. The Bodhi Sapling has put forth brakeless in the four directions is a pleasant sight in the evenings with people lined up for Bodhi Puja. Both the Bhikkhu Sangha and the laity of Moratuva maintain the memorable and glorious Amarapura tradition. |
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