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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Durutu Poya is tomorrow : The month of peace by Danister I. Fernando Durutu Poya, which falls tomorrow, is of very great significance to Sri Lankan Buddhists.
It had been customary of the Buddha to make use of His 'Divine Eye' ('Dibba Cakkhu' - one of the six higher powers (Abhinna) possessed by a Buddha) to help those in distress. On one such occasion He saw a friction between two Yakkha clans which was taking place in Sri Lanka. It should be noted that there are a number of historical facts to indicate that Buddhism and Buddhist rituals were not completely alien to the people of Sri Lanka, even before the Buddha set foot on Sri Lankan soil. Close contacts between Lanka and Southern India would have existed probably on account of their close proximity. When Shakyamuni the Buddha alighted at Minipe, the hostile Yakkhas who had pitched their camps on the banks of the River Mahaweli in the Mahanaga Vana were furious to see Buddha occupying their park by sitting on it in a carefree manner, but in such composure and brilliance. They arose against Him and showed signs of aggression. But the Buddha, calm and complacent, possessed of supernormal powers and wrapping Himself in His dazzling Buddha rays, addressed them in extreme comforting words making the Yakkhas to be surprised and flabbergasted at His mighty stance. Having brought their wrathful minds under control, The Buddha successfully subdued them to become innocent converts in perfect humility. The Yakkhas were completely subdued, and peace was thus established. At this instance Sumana Saman Deva, living on the summit of Samanala Kuta (Mount Samanala) who was also present at that unique occasion, having listened intently to the convincing 'Dhamma' was reported to have attained the first step to final liberation, the state of 'strem-winner' (sotapatti). At his fervent request the Buddha presented him with a handful of hair as a holy relic, an object for veneration. Sumana Saman Deva most respectfully received the 'hair-relic' in a golden casket with great honour and adoration, teeming with happiness. The Deva built a 'stupa' (dagoba), seven cubits high, enshrining the holy relic on the very same spot of land where the Buddha sat when preaching to the congregation of Yakkhas and where the Buddha spent a considerable amount of time in deep meditative contemplation. The Miyuguna Maha Seya or the Mahiyangana Maha Cetiya thus erected stands majestically to this day, but with vast and far-reaching development in its stature, its religious value and national importance. Mahiyangana Cetiya situated approximately 185 kilometres from Colombo is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and in the whole world. It was built in the very first year of Buddha's Enlightenment. As mentioned above the Cetiya was originally only seven cubit feet tall but as time went on it has undergone development in its stature, on several occasions. Just after the 'Parinibbana' (demise) of the Buddha, an Arahat Bhikkhu by the name of Sarabhu (supposed to be a pupil of Maha Thera Sariputta) having come into the possession of Buddha's 'Throat-relic' (griva dhatu) had deposited it in the Mahiyangana Cetiya itself and had reconstructed it to a height of 12 cubits. This is possibly the first occasion when an Arahat monk had undertaken the re-construction of a dagoba. After this, Prince Culabhaya, a brother of King Devanampiya Tissa (307-266 B.C.) developed the cetiya to a height of thirty cubits. Subsequently King Dutugemunu (161-136 B.C.) reconstructed it to a gigantic height of eighty cubits. It is historically recorded that in later years too occasional repairs had been attended to by kings such as Vohara Tissa, Dhatusena and Vimaladharmasuriya. In recent times, about the middle of the twentieth century, on seeing the precincts of the cetiya over-grown with shrubs Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, renovated it to give a better look. Later on with the intervention of Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake and assistance rendered by the Caitya Vardhene Society, Mahiyangana Cetiya has received marked fostering and it has attained the present majestic look and thousands of happy devotees flock to the Cetiya premises every year to make their offerings and pay their respects reminiscent of its religious excellence and its lofty position as our citadel of peace! I consider it positively relevant to reflect on the condition of Sri Lanka at the present times. As many of us are aware, the condition is extremely crucial and 'peace' has become the byword among the present Sri Lankans of the island. People are anxiously looking forward to the establishment of a lasting peace during the current month of Durutu which has been taken for granted as the month of peace. Therefore it is worthwhile to go in large numbers to the precincts of Mahiyangana Cetiya and invoke the blessings of the mighty Cetiya to provide the country with permanent peace without delay. Let the Mahiyangana Cetiya continue to be our citadel of peace for all time! |
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| Produced by Lake House |
According to the chronicles, Mahavamsa, Dipavamsa, and Samantapasadika,
Buddha had visited Sri Lanka for the first time, in the ninth month after
He attained enlightenment about 2548 years ago, to quell a conflict
between two Tribes and establish peace.
