Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayake Thera:
A great personality of the Buddha Sasana
Dr. K.D.G. Wimalaratne , Retd. Director, National
Archives
On the occasion of unveiling a statue of Most Ven. Madihe Pannasiha
Thera, September 8, 2012 (tomorrow), by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, it
is befitting to look back of the career and achievements of this sage
who devoted his whole life in the uplift of the Buddha Sasana.
The family beginning of the Pujitha Gunawardena goes back to Pujitha
Gunasekara Arachiege Abeyhami and Andiris in the 18th century, when the
Kandyan King Rajadhi Rajasinghe (1782-1798), bestowed the honorific
titles, viz. Dheerasekara Arachi, Wasala Arachchi and the clan name,
Pujitha Gunawardena, meaning 'Respected for developing virtues' on
Pujitha Gunasekara Arachchige Don Adrian who married Sitinamaluwe
Palliya Guruge Manikka. Grand child of this marriage, viz. Don Louis
Pujitha Gunewardena married Hewaveraduwage Konnehami Wijeratne and had
five children, the second in the family being, James Carolis Pujitha
Gunawardena, also called 'Maha Iskole Mahatmaya' who married Bella
Angelina Dheerasekara, the parents of Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayake
Thera.
Most Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayake Thera |
The monk was born in the village Madihe, within the Four Gravets of
Matara district. The happy parents produced two sons and three
daughters, according to the father's wishes named them Charlotte Stella,
Charles Linden, Thomes Sansi, Arlot Kinsor and the youngest, Benson
Wilmot, who was born on June 21, 1913.
The paternal and maternal lineages of Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Thera
produced eminent scholars such as Madihe Siri Sumitta Dhammakkandha
Thera of the Pujitha Gunawardena family circle, who was the author of
the poetical version of Ummagga Jataka, Sutanu Jataka, Daladapuda etc.
and Carols Pujitha Gunawardena (1854-1926), was associated in the
designing of the Buddhist Flag, on April 17, 1885.
The Thera's maternal lineage also associated with a Sinhala scholar
of the same period, viz. Disneris Dias Dhirasekera who was the author of
'Vanadesi Sandesa' a political work. He was the store keeper of the
salterns of Hambantota, Kirinda and Bundala. The mother of Ven. Madihe
Pannasiha, mentioned above was the daughter of Disneris Dias Dhirasekera.
Although Pujitha Gunawardena and Dhiraskera families were devoted
Buddhists, James Carolis Pujitha Gunawardena Head Teacher of Methodist
School, Paramulla, Matara, happened to be a Methodist. According to the
autobiography of Ven. Madihe Pannasiha, the father became a Methodist,
in order to hold a teaching post in a missionary school, as it was the
order of the time. He lived and died as a Methodist, and was buried in
the Madihe cemetery. The Methodist father spent his time for his
teaching profession, while the Buddhist mother was engaged in bringing
up her children, according to the Buddhist way of life. As there was no
Buddhist temple at the locality at that time, a temple was put up in a
portion of land gifted by the Methodist father. A separate Buddhist
worshipping room was in existence in the house, and the preaching of
Dhamma and alms giving to Buddhists were done. Occasionally, the
Methodist Priest made visits to the house, and they performed their
religious observances in the house without creating any problems in the
household.
Education
Benson Wilmot commenced his education in the English medium at St.
Thomas’ Girls High school, Matara, till 10 years of age, and was
admitted to St. Thomas’ Boys High School, Matara. Arrangements were made
to send him to Mahinda College, Galle, where his elder brother, Charles
Linden was attending, but owing to a sudden sickness, he could not
remain at Mahinda and the mother insisted that he should be admitted to
St. Thomas’ Matara. The father spoke to the Principal of this school and
admitted him to that school.
Ordination
At the age of 13 years he demonstrated an enthusiasm to enter the
Buddhist order. The mother rushed to Devagiri Viharaya and met Ven.
Weragampita Revata Maha Thera. The Guru Deva of Ven. Palane Vajiragnana
Maha Nayake Thera, who very much liked that the young boy should be
ordained under him, as Devagiri Vihara was founded by the descent of the
Pujitha Gunawardena family, viz. Madihe Siri Sumitta Dhammakkhanda Maha
Thera. Father of this Thera was Jacovis Pujitha Gunawardena. The
ordination ceremony was held at Devagiri Vihara, Kamburugamuwa on June
24, 1926, in the presence of a gathering of relations and well-wishers.
The noted absentees were his father, and elder brother who were
indisposed. At the ordination, Benson Wilmot was named 'Madihe Pannasiha'.
Elected as Maha Nayake
Ven. Palane Vajiragnana Thera, who was residing at Vajiraramaya,
Bambalapitiya, visited his Guru and seeing Madihe Pannasiha. The young
Samanera monk, decided to remove him to Bambalapitiya on January 26,
1927. The young monk came to reside at Vajirarama and received a
Buddhist education, appropriate to lead a life of a true disciple of the
Buddha.
Madihe Pannasiha received the higher ordination at Polwastuganga
Seema Malaka, near Gangaramaya, Palene on June 9, 1933, under the
tutelage of Pelane Vajiragnana Maha Nayake Thera.
The Colombo University College commenced a course of training Diploma
of 'Vidya Visharada'. Many who held the title 'Rajakeeya Pandit'
followed this course. However, at the final examination Madihe Pannasiha
Thera, fared better than some of his colleagues in the class. He also
passed the first examination of 'Prachena Pandit' in 1935.
On November 27, 1955, an election by secret ballot was held at
Vajiraramaya, Bambalapitiya to select the Mahanayake Thera to succeed
Ven. Palane Vajiragnana Thera. Accordingly, Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was
elected the Maha Nayake of the Amarapura Siri Dharmarakkitha Sect. The
certificate of appointment of Maha Nayake was handed over by the most
elderly Maha Thera of the Nikaya, Ven. Ahangama Wimalasara Nayake Thera.
At the request of Sir Cyril de Zoysa and later R. Premadasa, former
President of Sri Lanka and M.M.C. Colombo at the time, united all sects
of the Amarapura Nikaya. The first United Vinaya Karma was held at
Maharagama on July 13,1969. Ven Madihe Pannasiha Thera was made the
third head of the United Amarapura Nikaya in 1985.
In April 1954 a committee was appointed by the All Ceylon Buddhist
Congress comprised members from Buddhist clergy and laity, in order to
assertion salient facts regarding the conditions and ways of Buddhist
life. Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was also a member of that commission which
issued its report on February 4, 1956, recommending important proposals
to the government on the development of Buddhism in the country.
The Governor General, Sir Oliver Goonethilake appointed a Sasana
commission on March 4, 1957, under chairmanship of Ven. Kalukondayane
Pannasekera Mahanayake Thera and Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was also a member
of that commission which issued its report after visiting Buddhist
countries around.
The valuable proposals of this report made the Thera to understand
the plight of the Buddhists and their education. He advocated that all
assisted schools to be taken over to the government and making all Poya
days public schools holidays instead of Sundays. This was accepted by
the government and gave effect on January 1, 1966.
National issues and Nayake Thera
The Dudley Senanayake - Chelvanaykam Pact on March 24, 1965 which
proposed Regional Councils (Rata Sabha) for Sri Lanka was opposed by
Madihe Pannasiha Thera and Dudley Senanayake had to withdraw the bill
after discussing the adverse repercussions of the Bill with Maha Nayake
Thera.
In all national issues such as insurrection of 1971, ethnic issues,
educational and religious, the Thera advised the leaders with good
intentions safeguarding the interests of the majority Sinhala Buddhists,
while preserving the rights of the minorities. He always advocated that
the unity of the Sinhalese would lead to the unity of the whole Nation.
Sasana Sevaka Samithiya
This society was established on July 21, 1957, with the able
assistance of Ven. Ampitiye Rahula Thera, in order to train Buddhist
monks, propagate Buddhism all over the world, fashion the laity to
accustom with the Buddhist way of life, and to make Sri Lanka a Dharma
Deepa once again. His prime motto was 'To refine and discipline man to
develop the country'. The Thurunu Saviya and Dharmavijaya Foundation
were the instruments to achieve this goal.
His aim was to propagate Buddhism not only in this country but also
abroad. He visited many countries such as China, Nepal, and U.S.A. to
name a few. In U.S.A. he established Viharas and carried out the task of
enlightening the foreigners interested in Buddhist philosophy.
This centre established as a monument to his dedicated services to
Buddhism. Maha Nayake Thera was a great exponent of Buddhism, with a
simple style and an in-depth analysis. His profound knowledge in
Sinhalese, Pali, Sanskrit, helped him to analyze difficult
understandings of Buddhist philosophy. The Maha Nayake Thera was not
only a theorist on Buddhist philosophy, but to a great extent a
practitioner of the Buddhist way of life.
The Thera was not only a popular preacher, but also a prolific
writer. He wrote many books and articles, which were thought provoking
and contained a mine of information. His fearlessness in expressing
views on national matters and his devotion to a cause made him a
respected Buddhist monk. In his ninth year of remembrance on September
8, 2012, the ideal way of remembering this noble monk of Sri Lanka,
would be to continue what the Maha Nayake Thera advocated for a united
Sri Lanka and as Island of Dharma Dvipa, where right, justice and peace
will prevail.
May the Maha Nayake Thera, attain the Sublime Bliss - Nibbana
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