Ven. Dr. Rajakeeya Pandit Julampitiye Gnanaratana Thera:

Honoured as Chief Sangha Nayaka of India

Kirinde Pemasiri Thera

The honoured title of "Adhikarana Nayaka of India' along with the honourable epithet 'Sri Sugata Shasana Dharmaduta Vibhushana' has been conferred on Ven. Dr. Rajakeeya Pandit Julampitiye Gnanaratana Thera the Chief Incumbent of Devarohana Maitree Buddha Vihara of the City of Sankassa in North India.

We mention here with a sense of gratitude and honour towards the Right Honourable Maha Thera of the working Committee headed by the most Venerable Maha Nayakas of Malwatta Chapter of Kandy.

Let me mention here the story of young Rajapaksha boy who rose to the unique position mentioned above under the name of Ven. Julampitiye Gnanaratana the Rajapaksha boy (Later known as Ven. Gnanaratana) was born to Mr and Mrs. D. J. Rajapaksha, on June 21, 1946 at Lindagawatta of Udajulampitiya, Mulkirigala of Giruwapattu in the District of Hambantota in the Ruhunu fame.

He attended Ulhitiyawa mixed school for his elementary education and later joined the temple attached to the Purvarama Pirivena, Kirinda. He fulfilled the required studies and the know-how which should be possessed by Novice Monks.

He was ordained under the name of Julampitiye Gnanaratana as a monk in 1962 under the tutelage of Ven. Katukurunde Sri Dhirananda Nayaka Thera, an erudite scholar monk who graced the Southern Province.

Ven. Aparekke Devananda and Ven. Getamanne Sri Piyaratne were the teachers who guided Ven. Gnanaratane at the initial stage. Ven. Gnanaratana completed seven years of Elementary Pirivena Education at Purvarama Pirivena and joined the Vidyalankara Maha Pirivena one of the two premier educational institutions of Sri Lanka and came out with flying colours at the oriental studies (Prachina) Examination and was successful in obtaining the Siamesa Royal Prize in the very year which completed the century of Vidyadayas' existence.

It was really a blessing for Ven. Gnanaratana. After passing the Final Examination he came back to the Purvarama Pirivena as an assistant teacher there and worked for the improvement of the institution putting his utmost effort with the sole idea of serving the community at large.

Ven. Gnanaratana thought of expanding his knowledge and joined the Vidyalankara University, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and obtained BA Hons. Degree.

In the year 1980 he preceded to Laknow University in India and obtained the B.A. Degree in Hindustani. On his return to the island he was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer in Hindustani at Vidyalankara University Sri Lanka. Ven. Gnanaratana returned to India in 1989 and obtained PhD in Hindustani from Lucknow University later.

He then joined the Hindus University of Beneres and obtained MA in Pali, thus he became the possessor of two MA degrees one from Lucknow University and one from Beneres Hindu University.

Ven. Gnanaratana turned his mind on Buddha's words 'Charatha Bikkave' oh! Bhikkus go forth for the propagation of Dhamma." Ven Gnanaratana made his way to the Birmingham Temple of England and was appointed as the organising incumbent of that famous Vihara.

After two years of successful career he observed that the comfortable life he spent in England must be changed, to the rough and a more meaningful life in India.

He forthwith returned to India and started going in search of a suitable place to stay to commence the propagation of the Dhamma. Fortunately he met Ven. Madabavita Soma Thera who was residing in the city of Sankassa which is one of the four, most unique and salient places connected with the Buddha's life.

It was the most blessed place where the Buddha delivered the all important Vijam discourse to the deities including the Buddha's mother who had been born in the world of deities. After delivering the "Vijam" he descended on earth where the present site of the Sankassa Vihara is and Ven. Gnanaratana got a room at the pilgrims rest on rent and continued the search for a place suitable for the intended shrine room.

At this juncture he came across Ven. Wijayasoma who willingly granted Ven. Gnanaratana a piece of land for the purpose and invited him to commence the work of the propagation of the Dhamma forthwith. His Dhammaduta work was enlivened by the close association of the late Ven. Metiwala Sangharatana Maha Thera the incumbent priest of Jetawanarama in the city of Sevath.

It is worthy to mention here that Ven. Gnanaratana was ably assisted by Ven. Professor Kamburupitiye Sri Indaratana Nayaka Thera who put his heart and soul to improve the Viharaya at the City of Sankassa.

He allowed Ven. Gnanaratana to make use of the school premises which was under his care and made available all possible facilities for him to continue his work in propagating the Dhamma. Ven. Galagedera Pannananda Thera who was helping Ven. Gnanaratana from the University days, was an asset to him.

At that time, Sankassa was known to most of the Sri Lankan Pilgrims as a den of thieves and plunderers. In fact it was infested with undesirables.

With the advent of Ven. Gnanaratana all the fears doubts and instability, people had were cast off. It resembles the Buddha's dispelling the three-fold fears which devastated the city of Visala.

Ven. Gnanaratana who commenced the work of Devavarohana Maithree Buddha Viharaya, rose to the status of a complete temple comparatively in a short period of two years with the unfailing support of the Sri Lankan devotees.

The completion of the temple withe beautiful Shrine room added a new chapter to the Indian history. It was noteworthy to state here the arrangement of a six 'thirty hour Pirith' (protection) with the compete adherence to the required norms in 'Pirith' including the Dorakada Asna and Anusasana Asana, two very salient features connected to the delivery of 'Pirith'.

At present the Sankassa Vihara premises supply a complete rest for the pilgrims who had come on an arduous journey of 423 kms. The rest has all facilities for the tired pilgrims who feel so comfortable as they are at home.

All these facilities were provided to the pilgrims with loving kindness inborn in him. The very sight of Ven. Gnanaratana gives in inspiration to anybody who comes across him. Even when he is short of time, he receives the guest monks who come to his temple, with all loving kindness and good will, many a time he has made arrangements for the welfare of the monks who come from Sri Lanka to spend the rainy season (Vas) in the Sankassa temple.

They were looked after with love and kindness to their utmost satisfaction. Taking into consideration the valuable services rendered by Ven. Gnanaratana towards the improvement of the dispensation of the Buddha, the action committee headed by the Maha Nayaka of Malwatta Chapter has conferred on him the tile, "Siri Sugata Dharmaduta Vibushana" along with the rare and unique title of the chief Sangha Nayaka of the Bharata Desha (India).

It is an honour not only on Ven. Gnanaratana but also on the community of Maha Sangha. I take this opportunity to offer my appreciation to the Ven. Gnanaratana and wish him well in order to continue the excellent work he hopes to fulfil with the blessing of the Triple Gem.