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Most Venerable Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera:

A person of saintly erudition
 

Buduruwanata bethi daruwo
Damruwanata bethi keruwo
Sangaruwanata gethi yuruwo
Vethi honda Sinhala daruwo
Maupiyanata pem keruwo
Guruwarunata keekaruwo
Wedimalunata garu saruwo
Vethi honda Sinhala daruwo
- Bauddha lamaya -

- Pelene Sri Vajiragnana

(Those children are devoted to the Triple Gem will invariably turn out to be the best Sinhala children).

I learnt these beautiful, simple verses at the Vajiraramaya Dhamma school, Bambalapitiya, five and a half decades ago.

The above verses were penned by the Most Venerable Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Vajiraramaya Temple, Bambalapitiya. Today, it is rather unfortunate, telling versification of this nature is indeed rare.

After Henry Steele Olcott, and Anagarika Dharmapala, who were totally responsible for the Buddhist renaissance in Ceylon, it was the late Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera, who held aloft the Torch of Buddhist Learning, leading several generations towards the glory of Buddhist thought.

Venerable Maha Nayaka Thera's contribution in promoting the Message of Buddha Dhamma, locally and internationally was enormous.

He was an unofficial trainer of the souls of several generations of young men and women, some of them, later on, became the leaders of this land.

One of his specialities was the communication of deep thoughts in words over little children as well as adults in simple language and in his own inimitable style of deliverance. He will also be remembered for his memorable sermons, which were gems of lucid, yet deep analysis.

Venerable Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera was not only a professed Buddhist, but also, he practised it to the hilt. Under his able guidance, such internationally renowned, reputed missionary monks - Ven. Narada, Ven. Piyadassi, English monk Ven. Gnanamoli Bambalapitiye Kassappa (former Dr. Cassius Pereira) flourished. I pen these few lines to pay my humble tribute and homage to this great monk on the occasion of his 50th death anniversary which fell on September 21, 2005.

Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera was born on 25th November 1878. His parents were Muhandiram Don Andiris Tudawe Pandita Gunawadene and Dona Gimara Serasinghe. He was ordained at Kamburugamuwa Devasiri Viharaya, as Pelene Vajiragnana.

His teacher monk was Veragampita Sri Rewatha Nayake Thera. In 1897, he entered the great seat of Buddhist learning and the crest jewel of Buddhist education - Vidyodaya Pirivena, Colombo.

He was an outstandingly brilliant student. In 1900, he won the prestigious Samaraja prize at the Vidyodaya Pirivena.

This great monk was a renowned preacher. Every Sunday, he delivered a Dhamma sermon, at the Maithree Hall, Mettaramaya, Bambalapitiya. After obtaining his Higher Ordination, he resided at Suvisuddharamaya, Wellawatte.

In the annals of broadcasting history of Sri Lanka, April 21, 1928, was a red letter day. It was on this day, the first ever Dhammanusasanawa (Bana sermon) was broadcast live over the air waves of Radio Ceylon by Ven. Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera.

During the latter part of the 19th century, in 1880s, the Buddhist residents of Bambalapitiya formed a Buddhist society named Dharma Samagama.

They constructed a Dharmasalawa, invited Pelene Vajiragnana to be the chief incumbent of the temple, which was named Vajiraramaya. This became one of the headquarters of Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka.

Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera gave top priority for children and the youths. He considered them as the greatest assets of the country. His mission and vision, was to mould their character in the Buddhist way of life. To achieve this purpose, as a great communicator, he edited a monthly magazine titled Bauddha Lamaya.

This scholarly monk continued his Buddhist writings and authored a very valuable book called Sabhartha Chintha. Some of the reputed, renowned scholars of that era were of the opinion that this research study, this dessertation and thesis, richly deserves him a Doctorate. It was considered as a masterpiece.

In 1917, Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera was appointed as the Anunayake, and in 1918 he was appointed as the Most Venerable Maha Nayake of the Amarapura Chapter.

This great scholar always associated with the cream of educated monks and laymen of the calibre of Kalukodayawe Pannasekhera, Weliwitiye Soratha, the author of Jinawachanakoshaya, Mawittara Rewatha, High Priest of Walukaramaya, Colpetty, Sir D. B. Jayatilake, Munidasa Kumaranatunga, Dr. Gunapala Malalasekera, Dr. Senarat Paranawitana etc. With them, he had many discussions on Dhamma, Sinhala Language and literature, grammar, history, Pali, Sanskrit and archaeology.

Some of the distinguished Buddhist monks ordained by him - Narada, Kamburugamuwe Mahanama, Denipitiye Sumanasiri, Koggala Rohana, Madhihe Pannaseetha, Piyadassi, Ampitiye Rahula, Pamburuana Metthiya, Soma, Keminda, Walgama Sugathananda, Panwila Vipassi, Naotunne Gunasiri, Urugamuwe Senananda, Kollupitiye Anuruddha, Bambalapitiye Kassapa, Bope Vinitha, Dewalapola Siridhamma, English monk Gnanamoli and Gnanaweera.

These monks who were the pupils of Sri Dharmarakshitha Wansalankara, Most Venerable Pelene Vajiragnana did yeoman service, like the illustrious teacher himself, in the propagation of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and abroad.

They were some of the leading lights of Buddhism. Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera passed away on 21st September 1955. It was an irreparable loss to Buddha Sasana.

The Buddhist renaissance of the 20th century that ensued a re-awakening into Buddhist way of life can be largely attributed to the influence of this erudite monk Most Venerable Pelene Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera.

May the Maha Nayaka Thera attain the eternal bliss of Nibbana.

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