Bellanwila pageant enriches Lanka's perahera culture

By Premasara Epasinghe

Culture can be defined as an understanding and application of art and literature. Sri Lanka is proud of its rich culture and civilisation which it inherited from Buddhism which was the greatest gift to Sri Lanka from India during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa in Anuradhapura. Following the advent of Buddhism there sprang up temples, dagabos and also a perahera culture.

A landmark in history is the bringing of the Buddha's Sacred Tooth Relic to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Shrimeghavanna (301-328 C.E.)

The great scholar, German physicist Wilhelm Geiger (1882-1945) who translated Chulavamsa, throws light on the reign of Perahera culture in the following words:

“In the 9th year of this King Sirimeghevanna, a Brahamin woman brought hither to Anuradhapura from the Kalinga country (India) the Tooth Relic of the Great Sage Buddha. In the manner set forth in the chronicle, the Tooth Relic was received with reverence, and brought it to the building called “Dhammachakka” built by Devanampiyatissa. The King, his tears swelling with joy, spent 900,000 Kahetanas and arranged a festival of the Tooth Relic. He declared that it should be brought every year to the Abhayauttara Vihara and that the same ceremony should be conserved.

Accordingly, the perahera culture came into being in Sri Lanka. The peraheras are mostly held in the month of Esala. The Bellanwila perahera is one of them.

Location

The Bellanwila Shri Rajamaha Vihara is located in a peaceful environment in Boralesgamuwa. The Sacred Bodhi is considered as an off-shoot of the Sacred Jayashrimahabodhi of India.

The Bellanwila temple is one of the most venerated places of worship in Sri Lanka. Daily thousands of devotees pay their respect and homage and hold bodhi poojas at the Sacred Bo-Tree which has many miraculous powers. In the Bodhi premises, one finds the Devalas of Vishnu, Kataragama, Saman, Vibhishana, Ganadevi and Eeshvara. Not only Buddhists, but others too visit this temple. The shrine room stands magnificently on a side and it has some of the best Buddhist paintings in the country.

According to Ven. Vilgammula thera's, Sinhala Bodhiwansaya, Bellanwila was one of the places where a sapling of the Sacred Jayashrimaha Bodhi was planted. During the reign of the Parakramabahu VI, it was considered an epic centre of Buddhist education and literary activities. Pepiliyana Sunethradevi Pirivena was also a place where Bhikkhus were trained. It is situated close to the historic Bellanwila Temple.

Invasions

At the end of the 17th century, following the foreign invasions, the Sinhala kingdom was shifted to the hill country and Bellanwila went into oblivion. In mid-1800 under the stewardship of Ven. Tengodagedera Thera of Attidiya Maligawatte Vihara, the Bellanwila Bodhi was re-discovered.

When Tengodagedera Thera was on his way to Kotte from Kalutara along ‘Katu Ela’ which flowed by the Bellanwila temple, he heard the sound of beating drums. Being inquisitive to find where the sound of the drums came, he cleared the area and discovered the sacred Bo-Tree of Bellanwila. The rest is history today.

The revival of Bellanwila began in the 1940s, under Ven. Bellanwila Somarathana Nayaka Thera, the chief incumbent of the Bellanwila Sri Rajamaha Vihara. Some of the past chief incumbents of the Bellanwila temple were Ven. Udugampola Ratnapala Thera, Ven. Udugampola Dhammakkanda thera, Ven, Weboda Sangharathana thera and Ven. Asgiriya Devarakkhita thera.

Social services

Today the Dayaka Sabha and Kulagana Samitiya conducts many social service activities, health camps and assists the deserving people in various ways, under the guidance of Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana thera, the chief incumbent of the temple and the Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Ven. Bellanwila Dhammarathne Thera and other residential Bhikkhus.

The panoramic Bellanwila annual Esala ceremonies this year commenced on August 14 and will conclude on August 31.

The 7 days pirith chanting will be conducted from August 17 to 23. It will wind up with Dorakada-Asna, Anusasana and Kumbal Perahera on August 23. The Mal Perahera will be held from August 24-27 and the Pavada Perahera and Ransivili Perahera will be held on August 28 and 29.

The highlight of the Bellanwila festival will be the parading of Randoli Perahera on August 31. There will be about 100-150 dancers and drummers low-country, up-country and Sabaragamuwa in addition to about 25-30 elephants including the majestic tusker who will carry the sacred casket of relics which will be the cynosure of all eyes.

The temple premises and the perahera route will be gaily decorated with Buddhist flags and illuminations.

People from all walks of life, Buddhists, and others the government and local bodies, print and electronic media, the police and the forces will extend their fullest co-operation, to make this year's Bellanwila festival a great success.