Ven Pallegama Hemaratana Thera turns 59
Premasara Epasinghe
The Chief Sangha Nayaka - Nuwara, Kelaniya and Viharadhipati, Chief
Priest of the most venerated Ruwanweli Maha Seya, the pious, highly
respected, dynamic and artistic monk Venerable Pallegama Hemaratana
Thera, turned 59 on June 15.
Pallegama is a hamlet, bordering Dambulla and Anuradhapura in the
Matale District. Most of the names of the island become famous, when
that particular name of a village is linked or coined with a name of a
pious, outstanding, erudite and scholarly Buddhist monk. Few examples
are Weliwitiya-Soratha, Yakkaduwe Pragnarama, Kalukodayawa Pannasekera,
Mawittara Sri Rewata, Bellanwila Dr Wimalaratana, Ittepana Dhammalankara
and the list goes on.
The specialty of village Pallegama was that it produced a number of
monks who became "Viharadhipatis of Atamastana", namely Thuparama,
Jayashrimahabodhi, Ruwanweliseya, Lankarama, Abhayagiriya,
Jetavanaramaya etc. Therefore, Pallegama and Anuradhapura Atamastana are
inseparable. At present, Chief Incumbents or Viharadhipathis of
Jayashrimaha Bodhi and Ruwanweliseya are Most Venerable Pallegama
Sirinivasa and Pallegama Hemaratana Nayaka Theras respectively.
Most Venerable Pallegama Hemaratana Nayaka Thera's 59th birthday was
on June 15. He was born on June 15, 1954. His parents were K. Kiribanda
and Karuna Kumarihamy of Karadagolla Walauwa. They named this sweet
little baby K W Nandasena. He had his education at Bulugala Junior
School, Pelwehera Junior School Kandalama and Pallegama Siddhartha Maha
Vidyalaya.
There was a Chieftain at Pallegama by the name of Wijekoon. Nandasena
fondly addressed him as Arachchi Atta. He was a highly respected senior
citizen of Pallegama. Wijekoon, was a very close associate of
"Atamastanadhipati" of Anuradhapura at that time Most Venerable
Pallegama Dhammarakkhita Nayaka Thera or the High Priest of the most
venerated leading eight temples (Atamastana) of Anuradhapura.
Once, this famous Nayake Thera Dhammarakkhita, the High Priest,
requested Weerakoon to find four boys from the village of Pallegama, to
be ordained at Mahaviharaya, Anuradhapura. Wijekoon selected four boys.
Out of this four, Pallegama Dhammarakkhita Thera picked two boys, namely
Jayatilake and Nandasena.
Today, the elder boy Jayatilake is the Atamasthanadhipati High Priest
in charge of the eight leading temples (Atamastanaya) of Anuradhapura.
Nandasena, is the Viharadhipathi or the High Priest in charge of the
world famous Religious Edifice - Ruwanweliseya or Swarnamali Maha
Chaitya Rajaya.
Ven Pallegama Hemaratana Nayake Thera is a versatile and pious
Buddhist monk. This dynamic Bhikku is a great social service worker,
poet and a lyricist. He obtained a Degree in Archaeology from the
University of Kelaniya.
This compassionate, kindhearted monk, Ven Pallegama Hemaratana Thera
earlier, had his Pirivena Education at the Vidyodaya Pirivena,
Maligakanda, Colombo.
Ven Pallegama Sirinivasa Thera "Atamasthanadhipati" and Ven Pallegama
Hemarathana Nayake Priest of Ruwanweliseya, entered the order on the
same day May 9, 1968. Further, these two obtained their Higher
Ordination (Upasampada) also, on the same day July 5th, 1975.
From the advent of Buddhism, during the reign of Devanampiyatissa,
Mahaviharaya in Anuradhapura became the epic centre of Theravada or
Hinayana Buddhism. It enriched the lives of the people. A new
civilization dawned. Culture, fine arts, sculpture and architecture
flourished. They were nurtured by the tank (wewa) and pagoda (dagaba).
During the time of Buddhagosha Thera's arrival at Mahavihara in the 5th
century, Sinhala literature flourished.
Some of the books written during this period were Maha Attakatha,
Maha Paccheriya Attakatha, Kurund, Attakatha, Sinhala Dhammapadatta
Katha, Translations of Sutra, Sinhala Bodhivamsa and Sinhala
Daladavamsa. Buddhagosha Thera, who wrote Visuddhi Magga once stated
that he heard women singing melodious songs during the harvesting
seasons.
Ven Pallegama Hemaratana Nayaka Thera was an extraordinary monk. He
is a leading creative poet. His books of poetry were Pahana Nivi
Dolosmahe (1988), Athithaya Sihinayak (2004), a collection of lyrics
titled Seetala Gangula Wagai (2009).
At last year's film festival, Ven Pallegama Hemaratana Nayaka Thera
won the Most Creative Lyric Writer's Award for the film
"Mahindagamanaya", for the lyric - Sansare me bara podi evathalanne enne
- Nivan mage doradhakinna enna enna enna pama novi enna .
This song is sung by reputed artist Karunaratne Divulgane, Governor
of North Central Province and Uresha Ravihari. The Music Director was
Rohana Weerasinghe.
Siddhartha Gautama Buddha's two chief disciples were Sariputta and
Moggallana. They grew up together. They were known as Upatissa and
Kolotha before entering the order. Similarly, Jayatilake and Nandasena
were two close friends from the village of Pallegama. They entered the
Buddhist Order as Venerable Pallegama Sirinivasa and Pallegama
Hemaratana.
Today, Pallegama Hemaratana Nayaka Thera is the Chief Sanghanayake,
Nuwara Kalawiya, Viharadhipathi Chief High Priest Ruwanweliseya and an
Executive of Mahavihara Pirivena, Anuradhapura and a member of the
Director Board of Mahavihara Project Anuradhapura.
On Pallegama Hemarathana Nayake Thera's 59th birthday, we worship him
and wish him long life.
May the Triple Gem Bless you Venerable Sir!
Chiran Jayatu!
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