Great Poet Tibetan Monk Ven S Mahinda Thera:

Thera re-kindled flame of patriotism

Premasara Epasinghe

A person who loves his country, defend it against an enemy, is called a patriot. Among the galaxy of patriots in Sri Lanka, two foreign names are outstanding. They are American national Henry Steele Olcott, Father of Buddhist Education and poet from Tibet Ven S Mahinda Thera, who re-kindled the flame of patriotism.

As many Sri Lankan have forgotten this national patriot monk Venerable S Mahinda, I pen these few lines to pay my humble tribute.

Ven S Mahinda Thera

Our dynamic President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his brilliant speeches very often stress the value of honouring of our country. I presume, as an educationalist, this is something that our schoolchildren should be taught.

Once my Education Prof Clarence Noise from America explained in one of his lectures how in Japanese schools every student takes an oath to love and serve their country as patriotic citizens.

No wonder Japan is one of the leading countries in the world.

To begin with, our children should be taught the Patriotic Poems written by Venerable S Mahinda Thera.

Tibetan monk Sikkhim Mahinda (Ven S Mahinda) came to Ceylon in 1913. He learned Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit and mastered these languages. He was a creative poet who evoked, motivated the feelings of patriotism.

Kesgaha pava wena ratawala minisunne
Us nidahasa pinisa satanata serasenne
His mola tibettith me waga nothakanne
Es gediwalata hena gehilada sihalunne

In another brilliant piece of a poetry, he gives a highly patriotic message - “Worship Mother Lanka.”

Nidahas gahe jatika mal pipena turu
Edawath karau papuwe unule waturu
Eda nohakinam niwahal miniheku auru
Venda lakmawata ada avasan husma haru

With fighting spirit, Ven S Mahinda wrote his poems, describing our proud and prestigious history.

Balau polonnaru anurapura pedesa
Sitau pevati nidahasa mehi pera dawasa
Nagau thawa thawath tarasara
taruna ghosa
Vareu-yamauw-negative-nopiyau de-asa

These rhythmic words remind me so much about the role played by our War Heroes, the march of our soldiers and officers who laid their lives, lost their limbs for the sake of our beloved country in liberating the North and East from the Terrorists.

Who is Ven S Mahinda?

Ven S Mahinda Thera was born in Gratock, the Capital of Sikkhim, a small state close to Tibet. Their family name was K Thashinamgal, highly influential and respectable family. They named this boy Pempa Thendupi Serki Cherin.

History states that Poet Tibetan Monk S Mahinda's brother was attached to the University of Calcutta as a Professor of Tibetan Language.

It was the normal tradition in Tibet, known as the ‘Roof of the World’, to donate a son to the temple and S Mahinda's elder brother entered the Buddhist Order.

Tragedy struck. They lost their parents. Serki Cherin (S Mahinda) lived with his brother who was a Buddhist monk. These, two brothers accompanied by a German Buddhist monk Venerable Gnanatiloka came to Polgasduwa, Dodanduwa. Later, Ven S Mahinda studied Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit at one of the crest jewels of Pirivena Education- Vidyodaya.

He learned English at Maha Bodhi College, Maradana near Colombo Eye Hospital.

Just after the first World War in early 1940s, Serki Cherin was ordained in Ceylon as S Mahinda.

He was a brilliant scholar. He passed the Preliminary and Intermediate Examinations of the Pracheena Pandith Vibhagaya, examination conducted by oriental studies society.

Tibetan monk S Mahinda was very fortunate to associate Sir D B Jayatilake, Educationalist, Scholar, Statesman, Dr P de S Kularatne, Dr Gunapala Malalasekera, Munidasa Kumaratunga, Ven Ananda Maitriya thera etc. He came to the forefront in the Independence struggle too. He motivated the people to fight against imperialism and used his pen, writing poem to motivate them. He was a born poet.

His poems were written in simple language. In fact, he was more a Sri Lankan, than any Sri Lankan. He wrote many poems on patriotism and poems for children. The theme was patriotism.

Tibetan monk S Mahinda was greatly grieved about the demise of great national patriot, Sir Baron Jayatileka one of the greatest sons of Sri Lanka.

I give below some lines he wrote after the death of Sir D B Jayatileka.

Me pata vipata tawa matu vipateka mulaka
Vagatha noheka gatha avilai gini delaka
Ma atahera giyen mage putu Jaya tilaka
Kavata bala sanasemi dan koi kalaka
Ranmal helena karunabara sinawata
Panditha kamata saha sihi kalpanawata
Tenpath kamata saha sihi kalpanawata

Un mage putha aiyo nethi una mata

I close the envelop with this verse given below written by this great Venerable S Mahinda Thera.

Jatiya ran wimanak we
Agama mini pahanak we
Eya rakagannata melo we
Samath wetota puta numba we

May there be many patriotic sons to serve this resplendent island of ours, Sri Lanka!