Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera :

The vibrant Buddhist prelate

by W.T.A. Leslie FERNANDO

The 95th birth anniversary of Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera, the vibrant Buddhist prelate will be celebrated in all the institutions he set up all over the country on July 17. The late Anunayaka Thera of the Ramanna Nikaya, he has made an indelible stamp on the contemporary religious, educational, social and cultural scene in our country.

Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera was born to a Christian family on July 17, 1914 at Yodagama, Rambukkana. He had his early eduction at the Rambukkana Christian School, but later joined a Buddhist Temple. He was ordained a Buddhist priest in 1928 as a pupil of Udunuwara Sri Saranananda Nayaka Thera.

In 1930, he joined Sirinivasa Pirivena, Kadugannawa and was later educated at Wijewardenaramaya in Eriyagama, Peradeniya. In 1935, Sri Gunaratana Thera received Upasampada or Higher Ordination at Kelani Ganga Seemamalakaya. After passing the Pundit Examination, he served as teacher in Sirinivasa Pirivena, Kadugannawa.

Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera set up the Sri Sarananda Pirivena in 1952, on a few perches in an undeveloped land in Peradeniya in honour of his teacher Udunuwara Sri Saranananda Thera. At that time pirivenas were backward institutions without any State aid except a nominal grant. Both monks and poorest of the poor who could not benefit even under free education were students in the pirivenas.

However, with sheer determination, hard work and sincerity of purpose, he developed Sri Sarananda to become a leading educational institution in the Kandy District. By 1960 it was so advanced, it qualified to be affiliated to Vidyalankara University.Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera expanded his educational activities from Sri Sarananda Pirivena, Peradeniya. He got his pupils to set up, Sri Seelawathie Pirivena, Narammala, Sri Sarananda Pirivena, Karavitagara, Chilaw, Sri Sarananda Pirivena, Anuradhapura, Sri Gunaratana Pirivena, Thismada, Kothmale, Sri Pada Pirivena, Nawalapitiya and Sri Gunaratana Pirivena, Maraka. Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera was a popular preacher. In a poll conducted by `Lankadeepa' in 1953, he got 14,000 votes and was declared the most popular Bana preacher in the Central Province. It was he who introduced `Kavi Bana' or sermons in verses. Although `Kavi Bana' was much criticised at the beginning, in his introductory verses he dismissed all accusations made against it. His `Kavi Bana' was so popular, he has held over 15,000 `Kavi Bana' sessions all over the country.

That is not all. He has set up a Samadhi Budupilimaya of 88 `riyan' in height at Sri Sarananda Pirivena, Anuradhapura. He has also set up a centre there to train Bhikkus to propagate Dhamma in Tamil, Hindi and English. He also set up a two-storeyed pilgrim rest at the same place with 105 rooms.

Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera has ordained 351 pupils. It is said that no other Thera since Arahath Mahinda Thera has ordained such a large number of pupils. And rarely a Bhikku ordained by him left the Sasana.

Ven. Siyamabalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Nayaka Thera was appointed to the Karaka Sabha of the Ramanna Nikaya in 1969 in appreciation of his outstanding services. After serving the Nikaya in so many high positions in 1979, he was elected an Anunayaka of the Ramanna Nikaya. I came to know Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera in 1963. I was a recently passed out graduate teaching in a government school. I wanted to be close to Peradeniya University to read for the law degree as an external student. There was a vacancy at Sri Sarananda Pirivena, Peradeniya and a friend of mine teaching there introduced me to the Nayaka Thera.

I could vividly remember our first acquaintance. I told the Nayaka Thera that I am a Catholic. He replied that my religion did not matter, he had made inquiries and he was prepared to take me to the staff. I had to resign from the Government service to join the Pirivena. His noble personality, holy outlook and serene manners so impressed me, that on his word I sent my resignation papers from a permanent and pensionable post to join the Pirivena.

For four years from 1963 to 1967, I taught Sinhala and government for the University Entrance classes at Sri Sarananda Pirivena, Peradeniya. I consider those years as the happiest period in my life. It is recorded in the annals of the Pirivena that it was the time that Sri Sarananda had the best university entrance results. About 70 to 80 per cent of the students who sat for the examination from the Pirivena succeeded in entering the university. We celebrated the results with cultural shows with many items specially pertaining to Kandyan area.

At that time our Nayaka Thera had over 40 pupil monks. In addition, a considerable number of Bhikkus and lay students from far and wide took up residence in the Pirivena. For all of them board and lodging were provided at a nominal rate within the reach of the poor.

As the `Kavi Bana' of Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera was much in demand, almost every night he had to go to temples in various parts of the country for his sermons. But on the following day we could see him enthusiastically attending to the work in the Pirivena. All his life and energy were dedicated to the betterment of mankind.

As a practising Catholic, once or twice a week, I attended the services at St. Theresa's Church, Peradeniya, which was just in front of Sri Sarananda Pirivena. In my career at Sarananda, not a single word was uttered to hurt my religious susceptibilities by the Sangha or others in the Pirivena. They always respected my religious life.I was informed by the Nayaka Thera that as a young Bhikku, he was a sympathiser of left politics. In 1940's he had joined the progressive Bhikkus who mobilised public support in favour of free education.However in 1960s he was a supporter of the UNP.

In 1965, when Dudley Senanayake came to pay homage to Dalada Maligawa in Kandy after taking his oaths as the Prime Minister, on his way back he came to Sri Sarananda Pirivena to see the Nayaka Thera as well. Nevertheless most of the young graduates on the staff of Sri Sarananda were Leftists. When recruiting teachers Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera never considered their political affiliations, nor were they over victimised for their political leanings.

As a young graduate teacher, I was an active member of a Leftist party. Once our leader came to Peradeniya University for a lecture.

Our Nayaka Thera was always annoyed when teachers took leave on flimsy grounds. I frankly told him that I wanted a half day's leave in the evening to attend the lecture. His reply was "If Dudley Senanayake were to come to Kandy I too would be there somehow or other" and allowed me leave. That was his broad outlook, tolerance and gentlemanliness.

I always preferred to wear the national costume for special occasions. Our Nayaka Thera was overwhelmed with joy, that while being a Catholic I wore the national dress for the functions in the Pirivena.

When Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera was elected the Anunayaka of Ramanna Nikaya, the Act of Appointment was presented by then Prime Minister, R. Premadasa on February 9, 1980 at the Magul Maduwa, Kandy, I too was invited for the occasion. I was a newly appointed Magistrate and I attended the ceremony in the European costume as judicial officers were not seen in the national dress. Our Nayaka Thera expressed that he expected me there in the national costume.

Even after I left Sarananda I kept in contact with Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera and sought his advice on various matters. He also encouraged me to join the judiciary. Although I was away in person from Sri Sarananda in mind I always felt that I was close to the Nayaka Thera and the Pirivena.

I have met past students of Sri Sarananda Pirivena and sometimes my own pupils when I served indifferent parts of the country. I feel proud and happy to see that most of them have attained high positions in life

When Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera passed away on March 8, 1989, I was serving as the District Judge, Bandarawela. Being far away and in the height of turmoil in the county, I was not in a position to attend his cremation held at Rambukkana. Had I got the chance I would have attended it in the national costume. When I think of Ven. Siyambalangomuwe Sri Gunaratana Nayaka Thera, his magnetic and serene personality stands before me like a colossus.

Ven. Siyambalngomuwe Sri Gunaratana Thera dedicated all his life and energy for the service of humanity. By his indomitable courage and determination he achieved success in everything he ventured.

His pupils have followed in the footsteps of their master and have set up various religious and educational institutions all over the country. People from all walks of life have benefited from the vision, initiative and commitment of Ven. Siyambalangomuwe sri Gunaratana Anunayaka Thera.

(The writer is a former High Court Judge and Vice President of the Newman Society Alumni Association).