Upasampada rites: A continuing ritual
The ‘ Wahala Nagayas ‘ (King’s Samanera ) returning from the Sri Dalada Maligawa and proceeding to the Maha Vihares of Malwatte and Asgiri
On Vesak Day (May 10 ), two Samaneras or novices from the two Maha Vihares of Malwatta and Asgiri were taken into the fold as fully fledged monks. Ven. Horana Soraha from Weweldeniya and Ven. Weliwita Saranankara from Malwatta Maha Vihare were bestowed the rites of Upasampada. Both were “Wahal Nagas” which means the monks of the King.
Upasampada was conducted during Buddha’s time and the Buddha himself conducted the rite of conferring Upasampada which is “ Ehi Bhikku’ Higher Ordination. The present Upasampada is the eighth form out of these rites , which is “ Gnatrtichatthasaupa Upasampada”.
Before he can reach this state of Higher Ordination, the Samanera performs the essential rites within the Temple where he has been ordained and is educated at a Pirivena, where he gets a grounding in the doctrine of the Buddha. Sometimes if there is no pirivena, the elder monk who has been invested with High Ordination teaches the Samanera the precepts and rites of the ‘Buddha Sasana. In fact if he attends a Pirivena it takes about seven to eight years. In this process, he goes through the ‘Sasanika Charithra’, the ‘Samprdayika’ and the’ Sathra Sanwara Seelaya’.
The Samanera memorizes the requisite stanzas that is needed for Upsampada or to be a fully fledged member of the Sangha. Before he goes through the rites of Upasampada the Novice Thera is tested on the essentials of Dhammapada to ascertain whether the Thera could go among the people to attend to their needs and also preach the Dhamma.
In this process, there must be three mentors, one is the ‘Upadyaya’ (a teacher ) and two ‘karmacharyas’. They form the core of the initiation ceremonies. At the beginning of the ceremony, a begging bowl and the worshipping cloth or ‘Pathkada’, are tied around the samanera, indicating that these two are his only worldly possessions.
To be conferred High Ordination or Upasampada the applicant must be 20 years old. If the age is less, the Mahanayake has the right to refuse him. The process begins with the coming of age, the teacher or the head of the temple where the Samanera resides informs the ‘Lekam’ or Secretary of the Maha Viahre, the intention to present the Samanera for Upasampada between Vesak and Poson. For this purpose all documents – pertaining to age, educational qualifications, his family background are forwarded with his application to the Lekam of the Maha Vihare. Then a date is fixed and the applicant and Teacher come to the Maha Vihare. The Teacher or the Head of the Temple and the Samanera , then go around the Maha Vihare and inform the Karaka Sangha Sabha ( the Executive Committee of 23 ) members that he has come to be invested with the rites of Upasampada.
If there are many samaneras on each Poya Day to be bestowed the rites of Upasampada, a decision would be taken as to who would be the “ Wahal Nagaya” or the King’s Samanera. This situation arises only on the four Poya days of the period between Vesak and Poson. But throughout this period Upasampada ceremonies are performed in both these Maha Vihares. Normally there are only four Wahala Nagayas or Samanera of the King. Once the Samanera has been accepted to be a Wahal Naga, the Thera has to go to the Sri Dalada Maligawa to be ‘crowned’ by the Diyawadana Nilame or the Kariyara Korale ( the second in command at the Dalada Maligawa). At this stage the Samanera is in the garb of a Kandyan Chief without the coat, with only a string across his chest. He also has no name either as a layman or a Samanera. It is only after he is conferred Upasampada that he informs the Maha Nayake that he would use his former name or that he would change his name. Normally, they prefer to continue with the names they had earlier.
A Samanera being administered the precepts
On Vesak Day, the Mahanayake of Asgiri Ven. Panditha Warakagoda Gnanaratne Thera conferred upasampada on Ven. Horana Sobitha Thera of Weweldeniya and the Mahanayake of Malwatta Venerable Tibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera on Venerable Weliwita Sarankara Thera of Malwatta Maha Viahare.
From, the time the Samanera enters the Poyage until he is conferred Upasampada, the Thera is in the hands of the two Karmachara. At least ten or more members should be present for the rites to be performed. Once the Sangha Sabha accepts the Samanera, then the ‘Karmacharya’ (Mentors) repeat the acceptance in a loud voice for all to hear, including the laymen or the relations of the Samanera gathered in the Poyage.
The last act is for the presiding monk, usually the Mahanayake or the Anunayake to deliver a sermon on the lines as to how he should behave and also serve the people for their deliverance and their life.
During the four Poya Days where the Wahal Nagayas receive Higher Ordination, this Thera receives an “Atapirikara” from the Royal Household, but today the Diyawadana Nilame of the Sri Dalada Maligawa sends a ‘Atapirikara’ ( the four robes, begging bowl and a razor – which are the worldly possessions ) for the Wahal Nagaya or King’s Thera.
The rites conducted at both Asgiri and Malwatta Maha Vihares do not differ from the original rites brought into the country by Upali Maha Thera in 1753.