Pallegama, the cradle for two leading bhikkhus

by Premasara Epasinghe

Pallegama is a hamlet, bordering Dambulla and Anuradhapura, in the Matale District. Most of the names of the island, became famous when that particular name of a village is linked with a name of a pious, outstanding and erudite scholarly bhikkhu.

Birth

There were a number of such well-known bhikkhus hailing from Pallegama. Most of them - Viharadhipathis of Atamastana, namely, Thuparama, Jayasrimaha Bodhi, Ruwanweliseya or Swarnamali Maha Chaitya, Lankarama, Mirisawetiya, Lovamahapaya - the Brazen Palace, Abhayagiriya and Jetavanarama.

Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Thera	Ven. Pallegama Hemaratana Thera

Therefore, Pallegama and Anuradhapura Atamastana are inseparable.The Viharadhipathis of Jayasrimaha Bodhi and Ruwanweliseya are the Most Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera and Pallegama Hemaratana Nayaka Thera. A sweet little baby boy was born on June 15, 1954, to Kiribanda, a farmer, and Karuna Kumarihamy of Karadagolle Walauwa. He was named K. W. Nandasena. He had his early education at Bulagala Junior School, Pelwehera Junior School, Kandalama and Pallegama Siddhartha Maha Vidyalaya. In the same village, another boy was born, elder to Nandasena, by about one and half months.

His name was Jayatilaka. The chieftain of Pallegama was Wijekoon. Nandasena addressed him fondly as Aracchi Atta.

Atamastanadhipati

He was a highly respected senior citizen of Pallegama. Wijekoon was a close associate of Atamastanadhipati of Anuradhapura, the most Ven. Pallegama Dhammarakkhita Thera.

Once, the Nayaka Thera, requested him to find four boys from Pallegama to be ordained at Mahavihara, Anuradhapura. Wijekoon selected four boys. Of the four, Ven. Dhammarakkita Thera picked two boys Jayatilaka and Nandasena.

Today, Jayatilaka is the Attamasthanadhipathi, residing at Jayasrimaha Bodhi - Most Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Nayaka Thera. Nandasena is the Viharadhipathi at Ruwanwelimahaseya – Most Ven. Pallegama Hemaratana Nayaka Thera. They are a beacon to Buddhism.”

Ven. Pallegama Hemaratana Thera is a dynamic bhikkhu. He is great social service worker, poet and a lyricist. He obtained his degree in archaeology from the University of Kelaniya.

Today he is the Chief Sanghanayake, Nuwara Kalaviya, Viharadhipathi of Ruwanweliseya and executive of Mahavihara Pirivena, Anuradhapura and a member of the director board of Mahavihara Project.

Ven. Pallegama Nayaka Thera, had his Pirivena education at the Vidyodaya Pirivena Maligakanda, Colombo. After completing his Pirivena education he obtained the degree in archaeology from the University of Kelaniya.

Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa and Pallegama Hemaratana Theras were ordained on the same day, May 9, 1968. They obtained their higher ordination (Upasampada) on the same day July 5, 1975.

Mahavihara in Anuradhapura is the epicentre of Buddhism. It enriched the lives of the people, culture, fine arts and architecture. As farmers they lived a pious life.

They were nurtured by the Wewa (tank) and Dagaba. During the time of Buddagosha Thera's arrival, at the Mahavihara, in the 5th century, Sinhala literature flourished under the able guidance of bhikkhus. Some of the books written by them were Maha Attakatha, Maha Paccheriya Attakatha, Kurundi Attakatha, Sinhala Dhammapadatta Katha, translations of Sutra, Sinhala Bodhivamsa and Sinhala Daladavamsa. Buddhagosha Thera says that he heard women singing melodious songs during the harvesting seasons.

Poets

During the reign of Agbo (601-604) there were (12) renowned poets (Dolosmahakaviyan) in Anuradhapura. From time immemorial, the great bhikkhus such as Mahawama, Sri Rahula, Vidagama Thera and Wettewe Thera, contributed enormously towards the promotion of Buddhism and literature. Ven. Pallegama Hemaratana Thera continues the great tradition.

Ven. Pallegama Hemaratana Thera, of Ruwanweliseya is not only a pious and learned bhikkhu, but also a leading creative poet and a lyricist. His books of poetry are “Pahana Nivi Dolosmahe” (1988), “Athithaya Sihinayak” (2004) and the collection of lyrics titled “Seethala Gangula Wagai” (2009).

Under the guidance, of Pallegama Hemaratana Thera there was a literary renaissance in the Anuradhapura District. Karunaratne Diuvulgane, was introduced to the music world by Ven. Pallegama Hemaratana Thera.

The late Swarnasri Bandara, Ranabanda Seneviratne, Mahinda Dissanayake, Mahinda Chandrasekera, Ranjit Rupasinghe, Karunaratne Jayatileke, artist K.M.I. Swarnasinghe, Gamini Bandara are some of the great lyric writers from Anuradhapura district.

Gautama Buddha's two chief disciples Sariputra and Moggallana Theras grew up and were ordained together as Upatissa and Kolitha. Similarly Ven. Sirinivasa and Ven. Hemaratana too were friends of Pallegama.They too entered the Order on the same day.