Giving life to an ancient science

by Ranmalie JAYASINGHE

Travelling along the A6 route towards Dambulla from Kurunegala, eight kilometres off Ibbagamuwa is the village of Polgolla. To the right of the road, a massive and magnificent Buddha Statue can be sighted, indicating to the passers by, the location of the ancient Pingalpoththa Raja Maha Vihara. The surrounding paddy fields and the gigantic Kaya tree which towers the pandal at the entrance to the temple adds a picturesque touch to the landscape in which our story unfolds.

In 1740 during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, the premises of the temple and the perimeters were handed over to the Ven. Walpola Sri Siddhartha Thera as an offering to the Maha Sangha. Since then the Vihara has been the nurturing ground for many educational and religious activities.

Most importantly, the preservation and the practice of indigenous as well as Ayurvedic Medicine has been continued here by scholars for more than two centuries. Particularly, the Polgolla Pirivena has been well-known for its treatment of catarrh and eye infections. Nevertheless, 36 years ago it was decided by the then Chief Sanghanayake of the Upper 12 Sectors, the late Ven. Udathammita Wimalasara Thera, to initiate a training facility for traditional and Ayurvedic doctors, making way for a more refined and accurate medical education.

It was registered officially as the “Shasthraravinda Ayurvedic Medical College” in the Department of Ayurveda in 1987, with the approval of the former Speaker of the Parliament and Minister of Indigenous Medicine and the present Governor of the Sabaragamuwa Province.

W.J.M. Lokubandara, the students of the Faculty currently follow a government recognised Diploma in Ayurveda; which includes a study period of three years in which the students will face three examinations conducted by the Department of Ayurveda at the end of each year. This will be followed by a practical and oral test. The successful completion of all the tasks entitles a student to use the title “Ayurveda Shastrhi DA” and be registered as an official Ayurvedic practitioner in the Ayurvedic Medical Council of sri Lanka.

Developments

The fresh developments that took place in the college were accomplished with the blessings of the Chief Sanghanayaka of the Upper 12 Sectors Rajakeeya Panditha Most Ven. Rambukwelle Pannasara Nayaka Thera who inducted as the Chief Incumbent of the Pingalpoththa Raja Maha Vihara in 1973. Until his sudden demise in 2008, the hard work of the bhikkhu, paved the way for the standards of the institute to grow by leaps and bounds. Not only was the quality of education uplifted, but also the study environment underwent major changes. It was during this period in 2002, that the premises of the Ayurvedic Medical College was shifted to a new two-storeyed building complete with a lecture hall, a Panchakarma Unit with new equipment and a dispensary to treat villagers.

During the same time, a new herbal garden was also cultivated and as of now, it contains many rare medicinal plants such as Red Sandal Wood (Rath Handun), Ceylon Leadwort (Rathnitul), Claw Flowered Laurel (Ankenda) and Java Galangal (Inguru Piyali).

The garden has been a valuable aid for the students to learn how to recognise and use medicinal plants correctly. Adjoining the Medical College is the Sri Wimalasara Ayurvedic Library which was opened in 1989. At a time where many manuscripts associated with Ayurveda and traditional forms medicine are hard to find, the collection at this library is of great value and service to the students and teachers alike.

In the same year, a new Ayurvedic drugs manufacturing process was started, and with it, a new outdoor patients department was opened, which to this date is functioning and catering to the health needs of the residents of the surrounding area and beyond.

Products

1996 was the year that the Polgolla Ayurvedic Drugs Manufacturing Facility was registered as a company with the complete recognition and sponsorship of the National Institute of Traditional Medicine in Nawinna, Maharagama. Today, many products which include medicinal oils, balms, creams, tooth powders, medicinal wines (Arishta) are being manufactured and sold under the name “Polgolla Ayurvedic Medicinal Committee”. All products are quality tested and can be safely used under the prescription of a medical professional.

The current Chief Incumbent of the Pingalpoththa Vihara Ven. Dankudeniye Kusaladhamma Thera has been the main patron of the Shasthraravinda Avurvedic Medical College from 2008, as well as being the principal of the “Shasthraravinda Pirivena Vidyayathana” which consists of an International School, an English Medium Nursery and Primary Section, the Devapala Vidyalaya, the Shasthraravinda Boys College and the Prachina Piriven Section.

Today 28 students call Shasthraravinda Ayurvedic Medical College their alma mater as they study here under the supervision of its six staff members headed by the combined efforts of the registrar of the college Dr. D.M.R. Bandara and the sectional head is Dr. Madhura Paranawithana. In addition to the six main subjects, English and Tamil languages as well as Astrology are taught at the college.

Voluntary work

Together with the staff members, the Active Students Committee of the college engages in many religious, social and voluntary work for the benefit of the neighbourhood. They have also made many contributions towards the health sector and one of the most noteworthy one is the cholera emission project conducted in the Pollonnaruwa district in 1998.

On the request of the Commissioner of Ayurveda and the guidance of senior lecturer at the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Dr. Devapriya Abeywardhena, the students and staff members volunteered to venture into the cholera stricken remote villages of Gallella, Sevanapitiya and Weligalla to bring about awareness to the villagers on who to control the spread of the disease.

Together with them the team took steps to inform people of the importance of using sanitary waste disposal systems to get rid of the disease. The affected patients were treated and cured using Ayurvedic medicine. This was at a time when the other health authorities had tried and failed to control the epidemic.

The combined efforts of the Ayurvedic Doctors and students resulted in the complete eradication of cholera in the areas within 10 days. Another social services project that was much appreciated by the residents of Polgolla was the Korean acupuncture clinic and the free distribution of 1,000 pairs of spectacles that was held in 2011 with sponsorship of the Minister of Indigenous Medicine Salinda Dissanayake. This is the 25th year of existence of the Sasthraravinda Ayurvedic Medical College and many charitable projects will be launched to celebrate the event.

The inaugural project was held on March 7 which include the unveiling of a special logo for the silver jubilee, a lecture on medicinal plants by the chief guest, senior lecturer Dr. Devapriya Abeywardhena and planting of “Na” trees beside the driveway to the temple and the new road leading to the Devapala College.

The Shasthraravinda Ayurvedic Medical College has always strived to protect and promote the traditional and Ayurvedic forms of medicine as well as give insight into the pubilc on the importance of preserving it to the future generations. The task has come to a triumphant standing as more and more students enrols each year at the academy in the hope of fulfilling their thirst for the discovery of the ancient sciences. Therefore, indubitably it is clear that true to its literal meaning, Shasthraravinda is a real ‘Lotus of Knowledge’ blooming with attainment amidst all other medical colleges in Sri Lanka.