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| Sunday, 30 May 2004 |
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Poson Poya falls on June 2 : Mihintale - the rocky citadel of Buddhism by Aryadasa Ratnasinghe **** "Samana mayam maharaja - Dhamma rajassa savaka, Thaveva anukampaya - Dambudipa idhagata." - Mahavamsa 14:8. (We are monks, O Great King, disciples of the Buddha. with compassion towards you all, have come hither from India.) *** The Mihintale mountain situated eight miles East of Anuradhapura, rises to a trignometrical altitude of 1089 ft., overlooking the verdant jungle extending far into the lowland country. According to the Bodhivamsa, the mountain was known as Devakuta, during the time of Buddha Kakusanda, Sumanakuta during the time of Buddha Konagamana, Subhakuta during the time of Buddha Kasyapa, and Missakuta alias Missaka pabbata, during the time of the present Buddha Gotama. It came to be known as Mihintale, after the arrival of Maha Mahinda Thera, the great apostle of Buddhism, on the Poson full moon day in 306 BC (2, 310 years ago). It seems to be a corruption of Mihindu-tala (Mount of Mahinda) Panoramic view In addition to the Mihintale mountain, three other mountains stand in close proximity to each other, adorning the beauty of the landscape. They are Etvehera-kanda, Anaikutti-kanda and Rajagirilena-kanda, and this cluster of mountains represents a panoramic view, reminiscent of the historic significance of the holy mountain. In those ancient days, the mountain wilderness was the abode of ungulates (hoofed animals), such as deer, elk etc. The wilderness was the hunting ground for King Devanampiyatissa (307-267 BC), whose sportive spirit did not brook the idea to kill, but to take them unawares.
It was atop this mountain, where the Ambatthala cetiya now stands, that King Devanampiyatissa confronted the Mahinda Thera, who had "come by air" (Mhv. 13:20) from Vedisagiri vihara in Sanchi, India, as bidden by his father Asoka, the great Emperor of India, who had by the time embraced Buddhism, as asserted by his own words: "Aham Buddanca dhammanca Sanghanta saranam gato, upasaka katam vedesim satya puttassa sasane". (I have taken refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. I have become an `upasaka'(lay-disciple) of the Sasana of the Sakyamuni). The Ambatthala cetiya (Maha Seya), atop the mountain, built by King Mahadhatika Maha Tissa (06-18), also known as Maha Deliya Mana, is reminiscent of the Mahinda-Tissa confrontation under a mango tree.
When the cetiya was completed, the King set up, at the four entrances, four bejewelled arches, which skilled artists had fasioned into things of beauty and which were said to have been resplendent with gems of every kind. A cover for the cetiya was made of red stuff decorated with golden balls and festoons of pearls. The headless and armless statue near the cetiya, and facing it, is said to be that of King Devanampiyatiissa, and to mark his own position when he is said to have confronted the Mahinda Thera. The statue has no ornaments on the chest or waist, and the sole clothing is a plain cloth from waist to the ankles. Later the head was found in the vicinity with a head-dress and ears adorned with pendent ear-rings and the neck with a jewelled ornament. On the occasion of the completion of the cetiya, the King held in its honour a great festival which was marked by features of a unique character. The ruins It was known as 'Giribhanda pooja'. First the King made ready, around the mountain, a tract of land about eight miles in length, and allowed traders to set up shops, adorned with flags and arches, and the area illuminated at night, with chains of lamps, while mimic dances, singing and music enlivened the place. When the fetival began, the King gave largesse (gifts) and promulgated a general pardon for the criminals languishing in prisons. In view of the numerous cetiyas that adorned the mountain, it came to be known as Cetiyagiri. The Ambatthala cetiya stands as one of the principal cetiyas at Mihintale, receiving the veneration of the devout Buddhists, who ascend the mountain to pay their homage to it. This chetiya is 136 ft.in circumference and 45 ft. in height. It is annually illuminated on the Poson full moon poya day, by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., as an act of merit. Among the ruins at Mihintale are the old hospital complex, the evenly built rocky steps numbering 1840, leading to the summit (a design nowhere found in Sri Lanka), the Kantaka cetiya (katuseya), the 'atasetalena' (68 caves), the Sinha pokuna, the Dana Salawa (refectory for bhikkus), Sannipata salawa (assembly hall), Vatadagaya, Aradhanagala, Mihindu guhawa (cave of Mahinda thera) Mahaseya, Nagapokuna or Nagasondi pokuna, Kaludiya pokuna (pond of blackish water) and others of archaeological interest. The Kantaka cetiya has a speciality. Although it is not known as to who built it, there is evidence to prove that King Lanjatissa alias Lemeni Tissa (119-109 BC), had enlarged the cetiya and improved it by building a stone mantle over it. (Mhv.33:25). King Katukanna Tissa (44 - 22 BC) built at the mountain a huge building for the `uposatha' of the bhikkus, a stone cetiya and planted a bo-sapling nearby. King Bhatika Abhaya (22 - 6 BC), lavishly offered gifts to bhikkus at Mihintale, and also provided for the offering of alms by the laity (Mhv.34:63). Kings Vasabha (65 - 109), Kanittatissa (164 - 182), Gotabhaya (248 -261), Jettatissa (261 - 275) and Sirimeghavanna (302 - 330) were among those devout kings who had rendered dedicated service to Mihintale and looked into the interests of the bhikkus living there. King Aggabodhi 1 (568 - 601) built the Nagapokuna (pond) and the Mihintalawewa (lake) to conserve water for use during the dry season. (Mhv. 41:30). King Aggabodhi V (711 - 717), Dappula 11 (812 - 828) and Kassapa 1V (896 - 913) showed keen interest to maintain the sanctity of the place. With the transfer of the capital from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa in 1058, Mihintale too fell into ruin, and its neglected state provided shelter to the wild beasts that roamed the jungles. Later kings who took more interest to protect their kingdoms and maintain their regal authority, did not show any enthusiasm towards the development of Mihintale. As a result the religious fervour and royal patronage shown towards the holy mountain began to wane. Maha Thera Mahinda preached the doctrine of the Buddha to the King and the people, and took residence at Mihintale where he continued to live until his death. People gathered to the mountain to listen to the discourses of the thera and his companions who took shelter in the caves built by the King. During the reign of the Tamil King Elara (145 - 101 BC), Mihintale held such an exalted position and he offered food and robes to the bhikkus living there. Alms Once when the King was returning from Mihintale after offering alms to bhikkus, his chariot knocked against a cetiya by accident and damaged it. When the charioteer informed the king of his mishap, he was so grief striken, that he placed his neck to the wheel and ordered the charioteer to drive past. The charioteer consoled the King, and told him that since Buddha was a compassionate being, no harm would come upon the King, and it would suffice if the damage is repaired. (Mhv. 21:24) Mihintale is within the Anuradhapura district and of its population, 88 per cent cent are Buddhists. Eppawala, Eliyadivulwewa, Maradankele, Netiyagama, Sivalakulama, Manankattiya, Meegodawewa, Senapura, Periyakulama, Maradankadawala and Ganewelpola are some of the villages within the Mihintale electoral district. Highlight of the pilgrim traffic to Mihintale is on the Poson full moon poya day, where devotees, in thousands, flocked to the sacred mountain to pay their homage. |
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