Who is calling me Tissa?
by Prof. R. N. de Fonseka
Sri Lanka is blessed with several mountain ranges, Sri Pada,
Piduruthalagala and the Knuckles range are just a few of them. Some
mountains are associated with deities and other supernatural beings
hovering above the clouds and these have being the admiration of humans.
Missaka Pabbata in Mihintale is about sixteen kilometres to the east
of Anuradhapura which was the capital of the island for over one
thousand and five hundred years.
After the Buddha’s parinibbana (death) the Bhikkhus in and around the
state of Bihar met to codify the teachings.
The monks took the teachings of the master throughout India. Further
with the patronage of the great Emperor Asoka several able and
knowledgeable bhikkhus went to several countries carrying with them the
message of the enlightened one and the Buddhist culture.
According to legend the mountain of Missaka Pabbata was sanctified by
the Buddha three centuries before the advent of Arahat Mahinda.
Although the Buddha is supposed to have visited this country thrice,
Rev. H. Sumangala states that Buddhism was not introduced to Ceylon till
about 250 years after the demise of the great teacher. A vast expansion
of Buddhism took place during the regime of Emperor Asoka (268-239 BC),
whom H. G. Wells calls “one of the greatest monarchs of history. Emperor
Ashoka’s son was Mahinda.
This according to Hindu and Buddhist mythology it is derived from the
Indian name Mahendra meaning great India, Lord of Heaven.
Accompanied by a few bhikkus, Arahat Mahinda arrived in Ceylon. They
saw king Devanampiyathissa (who the Mahavansa describes as the foremost
among all his brothers in virtue and intelligence) who had with a party
was deer hunting, the favourite sport of the king. Arahath Mahinda
arrested the kings attention saying Tissa.
The king was terrified that somebody was addressing him as Tissa. He
looked around and saw Arahat Mahinda with his retinue. Arahat Mahinda
said, “O great king we are disciples of the king of truth.
From compassion towards thee we come from Jambudepa”. After a series
of questions that Arahat Mahinda asked Tissa which historians, consider
the first recorded intelligent test in history Arahat Mahinda had the
following message for king Devanampiyatissa “O great king the birds of
the air and the beasts have an equal right to live and move about in any
part of the land as thou. The land belongs to the people and to all
other beings and thou are only the guardian”.
He added that the Buddhist ruler in called upon to provide not only
for the security of the people but assure safe living for the birds and
beasts of the land. But where do the birds and beast live if not in the
jungles, forests and waters.
A short discourse took place and Arahat Mahinda preached the Cula
Hathipadopama Sutta to the king and his retinue, hearing which they all
sort the refuge of the three jewels or the triratne, the Buddha the
teacher, the dhamma, the teachings and the sangha is the buddhist order
founded by the buddha.
Taking refuge means that a Buddhist declares his reliance in these
three things for release from the sufferings inherent in life. The three
jewels (tritatne) are central to Buddhism and are the corner stones of
Buddhism.
Arahat Mahinda’s mission was a tremendous success bringing not only
the Buddhist religion but also the Buddhist culture. Buddhism became a
state religion at a much later stage. To act or go against Buddhism was
regarded as treason.
Prof. J. B. Disanayake in his book on “Mihintale” states that since
the arrival of Arahat Mahinda, the mountain came to be known as
Mihintale, plain of Mihidu, the Sinhala name of which the great apostle
is known. The mountain was also known as Cetiya Pabbata and Cetiya giri,
mountains of Cetiya’s of sacred relics. Disanayake adds “after the
conversion of the Sinhala king to Buddhism large numbers of men and
women from all walks of life left there homes to don the yellow robes.
The yellow robed monks who dwelt on the hill sides of Mihimtale were
committed to an ascetic way of life. Simple, were their needs and
austere their discipline, with the begging bowl in hand they begged for
food in the neighbouring villages at the foot of the mountain. They
possessed only a couple of robes which they themselves washed. The caves
that provided them shelter from sun and rain are found among the natural
boulders that cover the hill sides.
A drip - ledge was cut along the brow to prevent rain water from
flowing into the cave. In the shade of these caves and sylvan boughs the
monks spent their times in deep meditation”.
However the picture of Mihintale changed and by about the eighth
century. There were monastic complete with assembly halls, refectories
and danasala. A stupa was built at the sight where Arahat Mahinda met
king Devanampiyatissa and the Cula Hatthipadopama Sutta was delivered.
It is here that Buddha himself spend some time in meditation.
According to Ven. Gnanapala of the Vajirarama Temple the sacred
cities had pleasure gardens.
The Sinhalese were well versed in horticulture, agriculture and
irrigation technology. Beautiful public parks once adorned ancients
cities for both kings and commoner. Vast glades of forest reserves were
maintained for the protection of monks and ascetics as well as for the
protection of the fauna.
The Agni Purana states that trees provide endless joy to gods,
gandharvas, asuras, kinnars, nagas, birds, animals and all human beings.
And long before the westerners thought of ecological balances these
good practices had come down from ancient Aryan times, upto the Asokan
era.
Sri Lanka’s historical record shows that the first conservation park
was set up some two thousands years ago.
The chronicles and inscriptions contain numerous references to parks,
gardens and growing of medicinal herbs. Flowering plants were grown for
offerings to the Buddha. |