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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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Tribute to Ven. Ellawala Nandisvara Nayaka Thera by Bhikkhu Bodhipala Some are born great Late Ven. Ellawala Nandisvara Thera, the then Director of Maha Bodhi Society, Chennai Centre and the Secretary General of Indian Maha Bodhi Society, Kolkatha, comes under these first two models "born great" and "achieve greatness". Now the question is "who is great"? The great Tamil poet Thriuvalluvar says, to assess the greatness of a person "It can be seen by their remaining". Those who leave this world leaves something behind which triumph their greatness. They are born great so they could achieve greatness. Thus Ven. Nandisvara Thera deserves these two adorations, first for his dedicated service rendered in India as a missionary worker. The Buddha Vihara in Egmore, Chennai Center of Maha Bodhi Society is his 'Brain Child' and a good model Buddhist Temple, constructed in a non-Buddhist environment. Not only this he leaves good disciples along with literary works too. It was 1976 I had just finished my graduation and started my law studies, I met him personally. My spiritual quest had already been conduited through Mahayana especially in Tibetan Yoga. I am born a Christian, started my life as a Buddhist, now eventually a Theravada Buddhist Monk. If it is considered as "greatness" this credit truly goes to our beloved Nayaka Thera because he was the first monk who administered me Tisarana and Panchaseela in 1977. In 1982 a group of Tamil speaking people led by a Tamil Buddhist scholar Pournami D. Kuppusamy in the city of Vellore embraced Buddhism under the perceptorship of our Nayaka Thera who had been already honoured with the title of Chief Sangha Nayaka of South India by the Malwatta Chapter. Nayaka Thera used to visit the World Headquarters of Theosophical Society as a guest as well as a resource person for the seminars and workshops. He periodically gave talks on Buddhism in the Theosophical premises. He was also the President of the Kilpauk Lodge of the Theosophical Society and he held this post till he left Chennai. During his tenure in the capacity of chief incumbent of Chennai Maha Bodhi Center our beloved Nayaka Thera constructed three storeyed building in which there are a shrineroom and stupa. Since its inception the Vihara has been striving in expounding of Buddha Dhamma in Southern part of India. He started a home for destitutes and a rehabilitation centre for mentally handicapped children. He was able to get about 14 acres of land for this project from the Government of Tamil Nadu during the first tenure of Thiru M. Karunanidhi as the Chief Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu. Free Homeopathic Clinic at the Chennai Centre of the Maha Bodhi Society is also an example of his compassion towards the poor suffering people. Finally it is not a usual thing that an individual's name is mentioned in a dictionary. But late Ven. Nandisvara Nayaka Thera has been honoured by mentioning his name in a voluminous dictionary (English - English - Tamil) published by a reputed Company 'Little Flower Company Ltd'., under the entry "Statue" for erection of 18 Buddha Statue in standing posture (Abhya Mudra) in the main hall of Maha Bodhi Society at Chennai. His disciples like Ven. U. Ratanapala Thera still continue his Dhammaduta activities especially in Tamil Nadu by publishing Buddhist literatures in Tamil, in the name of "Nandisvara Granthamala", thus reminding the greatness of late Ven. Ellawala Nandisvara Nayaka Thera. As a great poet Thiruvalluvar told "greatness may be seen by their remainings, the remainings of Nayaka Thera, his service, constructive works, his disciples, all such still triumph his achievements as a monk as well as human being forever. The third month religious ceremony will be held on May 4 and 5 at the International Buddhist Centre, Gangodawila, Nugegoda with a Dhammadesana by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera followed by a dana ceremony on May 5. May Ven. Ellawala Nandisvara Nayaka Thera attain Nibbanic Peace. |
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