Mihintale: the cradle of Buddhism

Sri Lankans again celebrated the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Home fronts and roadsides were lit with oil lamps; and pandals were built and alms-givings were organised. Temples were beautifully lit up, with hundreds of oil lamps by devotees seeking merits from aloka pooja, symbolic of dispelling darkness and ignorance.

In the 3rd century B.C 2315 years ago, Arahant Mahinda Thera, the son of Emperor Asoka of India, established the Dispensation of The Buddha in Sri Lanka. Various foreign invasions were incapable of wiping out this cultural or religious identity. Consequently it is a Poya that has a specific significance for Sri Lankans. It marks a turning point in the history, which brought a cultural revolution.

The Buddha is said to be the first conservationist. And it was this 'Avihimsa' that was reflected in Arahant Mahinda Thera's words to King Devanampiyatissa which not only saved the stag that fled from the royal hunting party in the direction of Silakuta (the northern peak of Mihintale) but transformed the people whose survival was based on hunting, into a beacon of Theravada Buddhism.

This is reflected in the words he spoke to King Devanampiyatissa many centuries ago.

"O great King! the birds of the air and the beasts on the earth have an equal right to live in this land as thou. The land belongs to the people and all other beings and thou art only the guardian of it."

- Arahant Mahinda Thera

Arahant Mahinda Thera was accompanied by Arahants Ittiya, Uttiya, Sambala, Baddasala, Sumana Samanera son of Arahant Sanghamitta Maha Theri and Upasaka Bhanduka who had attained Anagami or the third of the four stages leading to Nibbhana.

After questioning King Devanampiyatissa in order to test his intelligence the Arahant Mahinda Thera delivered the Cula-Hatthipadopama Sutta, 'The parable of the Elephant Foot Print', at the end of which he and 40,000 of his retinue took refuge in the Triple gem. Cula-Hatthipadopama Sutta was the first sutta delivered by the Arahant Mahinda Thera.

After the ordination of upasaka Bhanduka, later on that day, Arahant Mahinda Thera delivered 'Samacitta Pariyaya Sutta'. The following day the missionaries were conducted to the palace. Arahant Mahinda Thera delivered Suttas pethawattu, vimana wattu sacca sanyutta. Where five hundred women including the King, Mahanaga's Queen Anula Devi attained sovan, the first of the four stages to Nirvana. At the elephants' kraal, which was arranged due to lack of space for the crowd who thronged to see the arahants, Arahant Mahinda Thera delivered Devaduta Sutta and more than one thousand attained sovan it is said.

Upon hearing the sermon delivered at Nandana Uyana - 'Bala Panditha Sutta' - more than one thousand women attained sovan.

King Devanampiyatissa with the intention of offering Maha Meuna Uyana to the Maha Sangha, where the missionaries spent the night, inquired of the merits and demerits of such a deed, upon which the great Arahant delivered Veluwanarama Puja Katha. Anula Devi attained Sakurdagami stage upon hearing the sermon. Arahant Mahinda Thera delivered the Aggikandopama sutta, after the Mahameuna was offered to the Maha Sangha and more than ten thousand people attained various stages in the path to Nibbana. Thousand more who listened to Asivisopama sutta on the third day entered the paths to Nibbana. It is said that at important sermons the Devas far outnumber the humans. On Poson Poya Buddhists make pilgrimage to Mihintale and Ahuradhapura, for this is where Arahant Mahinda converted King Devanampiyatissa, and his court to Buddha Dhamma. Mihintale, considered to be the 'cradle of Buddhism' which was the abode of Arahant Mahinda and 3000 monks, is the centre of attraction in Poson with rocky outcrops, including the great Meditation Rock and 1,840 stone steps leading to the Ambasthala stupa.

During June many devotees make their way to Mihintale to pay respect to Arahant Mahinda Thera. During poson Mihintale becomes vibrant with thousands of Buddhist flags and earthen oil lamps.

The Stupa is said to contain relics of the Buddha and Arahant Mahinda Thera. One of the Buddha's collarbones as well as the urn aroma, a hair that grew between the eyebrows of the Enlightened One, which is significant of a Great being, is believed to be enshrined in the Stupa. Ambasthalawa derives its name from the riddle that Arahant Mahinda Thera posed to King Devanampiyatissa. Other key places of worship in the complex include the Sela Cetiya, the Kanthaka Cetiya and Maha Seya. Pilgrims also visit the Atamasthana, eight sacred places in Anuradhapura during the Poson season.The introduction of the Buddha Dhamma to Sri Lanka resulted in such decrees as the Magatha, in later days. As a nation whose kings governed the country based on ethics drawn from Buddha Dhamma for many centuries we should all attempt to act with Avihimsa.

- SP