“Whatsoever a book is in your hand, go through it with
much interest and implant the subject matter in your
mind. Thereby, it enables you to proliferate and enrich
your knowledge. Pick up even a piece of paper of any
sort thrown on the road, if there is something which you
are ignorant of , learn it.”
The above lines were uttered by Ven. Hikkaduwe Sumangala
Thera, during the era when Sri Lanka was under the
British Colonialism. Since the introduction of Buddhism
in 246 BC and the establishment, Sri Lanka had been a
Buddhist country. Unfortunately, the invasion of the
British and its impact on Buddhism and the innocent
Buddhists, had drastic effects on the people. They were
converted to Christian religion. The apostate sovereign
could no longer protect the Sasana. There upon, the holy
places of Buddhist worship that should have been in the
possession of Buddhists were controlled by the followers
of another religion. Both Buddhist Bhikkhus and lay
people became helpless.
How could the Sri Lankan patriots endure the gravity of
such a tragedy caused by the foreign rulers? Sri Lanka
fell into the hands of the British on March 2, 1815,
which had been protected by the ancestors even at the
cost of their lives. The Sinhala Flag which fluttered
proudly was replaced by the British Flag. At the end of
the 19th century, the Sinhala Buddhists had to suffer
various inexplicable plights. Such an unreasonable
influence caused the Sinhalese a great deal of torment
and oppression. All their social, religious and
educational responsibilities were grabbed and suppressed
by the British.
At such a critical moment a child was born on January
20, 1827 to a couple. Abeyweera Gunawardhana and
Dandagoda Gamage, in a beautiful village named Hettigoda
in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The child was Don
Nikulas. The Sinhalese who were deprived of their
culture, traditions, customs, religion and their homes,
had to go through Baptism. This little Nikulas had to be
baptized in a church after his birth. With the passage
of time, there came an auspicious time to introduce him
to books as it was an important landmark in his life. It
was a custom and was usual to go to a learned Buddhist
monk to get a child’s first reading done. Through there
were lay teachers, his parents took the child to Ven.
Sobita Nayaka Thera, the erudite monk, for his first
reading, which was done in May 1832.
Having obtained permission from his parents, he entered
the dispensation of the Buddha in 1840 and adopted a new
name Sumangala, Ven. Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thera. From his
childhood onwards, he was skilful and had a deep respect
for Buddhism. Having gone to Parama Dhamma Cetiya
Temple, he obtained invaluable advices from Ven. Valane
Sri Siddhartha Nayaka Thera, the Viharadhipathi. He
learned Sinhala and Pali with the assistance of Ven.
Thotagamuwe Pannamgoda Jethuththara Thera and Ven.
Bowila Sri Dhammananda Thera. Furthermore, he acquired a
good knowledge of English from Jhon Coraneris
Abeywardhana and gained a good knowledge of the Sanskrit
language from Brahmin Kashinatha Vidyalankara. Likewise,
he received advice from Ven. Batuwantudawe Devarakshita
Thera.
Ven. Hikkaduwe Sumangala Thera was the embodiment of
various praiseworthy qualities. He was obedient,
faithful and graceful to his teachers. He grew up
gradually along with the thought of restoring Buddhism
to its rightful place. In 1847, he obtained his Higher
Ordination, “Upasampada” at Pushparama Uposathagara in
Kandy. During the Uposatha ceremony, he presented some
Sanskrit slokas composed by himself. But the presiding
bhikkhus were doubtful. They did not accept that such a
small Samanera could compose Sanskrit slokas in that
manner. It was a challenging matter to him. In order to
dispel their doubts, he in their presence made some
Sanskrit slokas within a short time. It was indeed an
astonishing incident that they had ever experienced.
The tremendous negative impact of the English education
on Sinhala culture and civilization was unjustifiable.
At that time, there was not a single press where he
could print and publish at least a magazine. The
magazine he wanted to publish was especially written
with regard to regain Sri Lanka’s identity as a nation
and to restore the lost prestige. It cannot be said that
there were no presses. There were but they were
controlled by the British rulers. But, he did not shrink
back. He was daunties in his courage. He imbued himself
with a great self-determination and dared to establish a
press called Lankopakara in Galle in 1862. It was there
where he printed a significant and influential magazine
named “Sudarshana”.
Ven. Bulathgama Siri Dhammalankara Sumanatissa Thera
including other bhikkhus and lay people ventured to
contribute their support for the publication of this
important issue. It brought forth a lot of inspiration
and enthusiasm in him. As a result, there appeared in
1863 “Buddha Vag Saraya”, in 1873 Magazine of Doctrinal
Studies appeared. It was published with the profound
hope to challenge the irresponsible propaganda work,
foreign missionaries and thereby, to reassure the
dynamic and inherent strength of Sri Lankan ancient
culture and civilization.
It is not notable that during his struggle for the long
life of Buddhism, he did not forget to render literary
service. He would have published countless books in
various languages if he had not had to devote his time
to revise and amend Thripitaka and Sinhala arts and
literature to serve society. There was literary
significance not only in his books published but also in
his articles published in several languages such as
Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and English. There is no doubt
to say that his numerous issues were published in order
to challenge the British power. This great deal of issue
was compiled together and considered as one as
“Brahmadharma or Anusasana Sangrahaya”. In 1887 appeared
a Sinhala grammar book called Warnaritiya. In 1847,
there appeared Sinhala translation of Mahavamsa, which
could win the hearts of many and it was considered as
one of his best literary publications, “Sidathsangraha
Sannaya, Simawibhagaya, Kavsekara Sannaya, Sandhi
Sangrahaya” were some of his publications which
reflected his multi-skilled qualities.
Amidst all his publications, the commentary of
Balawatara or Balawatara Tika is the most appropriate
and explicit witness for the reflection of his immense
scholastic knowledge. Apart from these, when he was
residing in Galle, he published Ladbhitulawa,
Atmaparikshawa, monthly publication-Sudarshana, in 1862
Lankaloka, Samaya Sangarawa with his tremendous effort.
Under the approval of Robert Robinson, the post of
leadership in “Sri Pada or Adams Peak” was conferred to
him in 1864. It was the time when the foreign rulers
were imposing various techniques, where Buddhists were
deprived of religious liberty. Despite the risk to his
life, his services, rendered for the sake of the nation,
religion, art, architecture and literature, were
unforgettable and remarkable.
The great hope spreading the light of education was
aroused in the hearts of Buddhists. He too had a great
desire to inculcate the Buddhist education in the
Buddhist society. But, the one and only problem he had
was that there was no place where he could do so. So, he
popped on to Colombo and worked to sort out a congenial
and accessible place at all. Being subjected to love,
reverence and gratitude of the devout Buddhists, he
could set up an educational centre, Vidyodaya Pirivena
by name, at a holy place at Maligakanda Road in June
1873. Moreover, he held a council in the Pelmadulla Sri
Sudharshana Dhamma Hall to protect and fortify the
Sasana. On May 17, 1880, there arrived in this colony,
an American Theosophist Col. H. S. Olcott. He was at
once attracted by Ven. Sumangala Nayaka Thera and joined
in his movement. With great courage, Olcott started to
work with Ven. Sumangala Nayaka Thera for the revival of
Buddhism, Buddhist culture and education.
Furthermore, he was appointed as the chief of Siam
Nikaya. Simultaneously, he became Viharadhipathi of the
Paramadhamma Cetiya Pirivena. Later, he went to
Paramananda Temple in Kotahena on the request of the
citizens of the place. There upon, he founded by
Vidyadhara Sabha at Maligakanda. Still, this Sabha is
doing a good service to the Buddhist Society. At this
critical moments, Ven. H. Sumangala Nayaka Thera and Ven.
Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera, both erudite theologians,
challenged the Christian missionaries to an open debate
on the merits of their respective religions. The
debating skills of both overwhelmed their opponents.
As death is inevitable and common to all, Ven. H.
Sumangala Nayaka Thera, after his several years of
social, educational and religious work in Colonial
Ceylon passed away on April 20, 1911. It was an
irrevocable loss to the Buddhist world. Ven. Hikkaduwe
Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera, the eminent scholar, with a
wide knowledge of Buddhism and the Buddhist philosophy,
contributed a lot for the welfare of humanity. His noble
services not only influenced the literature, art and
architecture of people wherever he went but also helped
them to be more compassionate and tolerant. He helped in
redeeming the privileges of this nation and the Buddhist
religion if not in the government service at least in
the estimation of society.
In this regard, every year, we commemorate the
anniversary of the passing away of the late Most Ven.
Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera on April 29 at the
Vidyodaya Pirivena to show our due respect and gratitude
to him. This year, the 98th anniversary of the Nayaka
Thera is going to be commemorated at the Vidyodaya
Pirivena under the patronage of the Principal of the
Vidyodaya Pirivena, the Most Ven. Balangoda Sobhitha
Nayaka Thera.
පුර අටවක
පසෙලාස්වක
අව
අටවක
අමාවක