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Renowned Lankan-born Buddhist monk Ven. Galagedera Pannananda Thera passes away in Lucknow
The last surviving Sri Lankan- born Buddhist monk, who administered the pancha seela to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, independent India’s first Law Minister and architect of the country’s Constitution, at a mass rally at Lucknow on October 14, 1954, the Most Venerable Galagedera Pannananda Thera has passed away in Lucknow.
Religious dignitaries among others paying respects to the remains of Most Venerable Galagedera Pannananda Thera
His funeral will take place next Sunday (December 17) with full State honours conferred by the Central Government of India and the State Government of Uttar Pradesh in recognition of the monk’s long service to Buddhism in India.
Thousands of followers of Dr. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism at that historic rally in 1954 and thereafter. In recent years former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati also became a Buddhist 15 years ago under the tutelage of Ven. Pannananda Thera.
The Mahobodhi Society of India announced that the Thera’s funeral will be held on Sunday, December 17, opposite the Jethavanaramaya Temple in the town of Shravasti.
The Thera passed away on November 30. Underlying his status as a much respected Buddhist Monk in India, many prominent Indian personalities have already visited Lucknow to pay their respects to his remains. Among them were Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Governor Shri Ram Nayak, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and former Chief Minister Mayawati.
According to the Maha Bodhi Society of India, thousands have already arrived in Lucknow to pay their respects to the late Thera. At the time of his passing away, Ven. Pannananda Thera was a Patron of the Mahabodhi Society of India having earlier served as a Vice President and Trustee.
Ven. Pannananda Thera’s remains are currently lying at the Lucknow Buddhist Vihara and will be taken to Shravasti on December 15.
Mahabodhi Society General Secretary Ven. Pelawatte Seevali Thera said that Buddhist monks and laypersons from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand and Bhutan are due to attend the funeral. Uttar Pradesh State Police have undertaken to make arrangements for the event.
In a condolence message issued from Colombo, the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust chairman, Sudhammika Hewavitarne said that Ven. Pannananda Thera left for India at the age of 15 accompanied by Devapriya Walisinghe, secretary of Anagarika Dharmapala founder of the Mahabodhi Society of India and Ven. Mediwela Sangharathana Thera and was ordained as a monk in Lucknow. He had been engaged in Dhammadutha work teaching Buddhism in India for almost 75 years especially in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh where he was widely respected.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkhar addressing the historic conversion ceremony in 1954 (File pic)