Sri Sangharaja perahera of Kandy

Nirmala SAMARASINGHE

The pioneer of present Buddhist revival, Ven Welivita Asarana Sarana Saranankara Sangharaja Thera will be commemorated at a public meeting to be held at Malwatte Maha Viharaya, Kandy on July 3 at 1.30 pm presided over by the Ven Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Maha Nayaka Thera of Malwatte Chapter. This will be followed by the Sri Sangharaja perahera which will parade the streets of Kandy starting from Malwatte Maha Viharaya for the 66th successive year.

Sri Sangharaja Gunanusmarana Sangamaya, Kandy, its Kantha Sangamaya, Central Provincial Council with its Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Pradeshiya Sabhas of Kandy and Kandy Municipal Council with its Mayor are making elaborate arrangements to make this perahera grand this year under the guidance of Ven Mahopadyaya Agga Maha Panditha Aluthgama Dhammananda Nayaka Thera, Senior Member, Karaka Sabha of Malwatte Chapter.

Ven Welivita Sarankara Sangharaja Thera was born in the small hamlet Welivita near Thumpone in Kandy district on June 18, 1698. His father was Mudliyar Kulatunga and he was given the name Kulatunga Banda. He was ordained at Suriyagoda Raja Maha Viharaya by the Viharadhipathi Kithsirimevan Rajasundera Ganinnanse who was also the Viharadhipathi of Poya Malu Viharaya of Malwatte Maha Viharaya.

There were no Bhikkhus of higher ordination during the time and only the novices called ‘Ganinnanses’ were in-charge of Temples.

Ven Saranankara did not get much patronage from the King Veera Parakrama Narendrasinghe (1707-1739 AD) but he was successful in getting king's help to inaugurate the first Pirivena of the present Buddhist revival at Niyamakanda in Udu-Nuwara area.

All the aspirations of Ven Saranankara Thera were fulfilled after King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1782 AD) ascended the thrown. The king could get the help of Dutch to provide a ship for the emissaries to travel to Siam (Thailand) to bring Bhikkus for higher ordination.

King Dharmika of Siam sent 18 Bhikkus led by Ven Upali Maha Thera and the historical ‘Upasampadawa’ was held at ‘Uposathagaraya’ of Malwatte Maha Viharaya in 1753 establishing a class of Sangha named ‘Shiamopali Maha Nikaya’ (Coalition of two words ‘Shiam’ and ‘Upali’ became ‘Shiamopali’).

Ven Mahopadyaya, Agga Maha Panditha Aluthgama Dhammananda Nayaka Thera, senior member, Karaka Sabha of Malwatte Chapter inaugurated the Sri Sangharaja Gunanusmarana Sangamaya, Kandy on May 15, 1947 at a meeting held at Sri Pushpadana Hall presided over by the Ven Rambukwelle Sri Sobitha Maha Nayaka Thera of Malwatte Chapter and held the first Sri Sangharaja perahera on July 25, 1947 starting from Daluggolla Raja Maha Viharaya, Ampitiya where the remains of the Sangharaja were cremated and a Chaithya constructed by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe enshrining the ashes of Sangharaja along with the Sacred Relics of the Buddha.

The Sangaraja statue was unveiled by Pananwala Nilame, the then Basnayaka Nilame of Srimath Upulwan Devalaya, Kandy while a perahera organized by the Diyawadena Nilame C B Nugawela coaleased with this perahera near the Sri Dalada Maligawa and paraded the streets of Kandy and ended up at Malwatte Maha Viharaya.

This year's President of Sri Sangaraja Gunanusmarana Sangamaya is old Anandian L H Harischandra, Treasurer being Chapa Weeraratne while the President of its Kantha Sangamaya is Kusuma Weeraratne.