Funday Times

The introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka – Part II
Arhant Mahinda arrives in Mihintale
The Mahavamsa records, that Arhant Mahinda when he decided to come to Sri Lanka on his mission of spreading the new doctrine, he first visited his mother, Vidisa Devi, who lived in Vidisa in India. He kept her informed of his intended visit.

Arhant Mahinda brought with him, four Theras’ (Arhants), a Sâmanera (a novice monk) named Sumana, who was Sangamitta’s son and a lay disciple named Bhandhuka, a son of Devi’s sister. All of them appeared on the Missaka mountain on a Poson full-moon day.

King Devanampiyatissa who was the king of Sri Lanka then, had arranged a water-festival on that day. He first set forth on a hunting spree. Attended by a crowd of his men, the king too went to the foot of the Missaka mountains.

It is believed that the ‘deva’ (diety) of the mountain, who desired to show the ‘Theras’ to the king, appeared in the form of a deer browsing in the forest. As the king made a sound, the deer ran towards the mountain. As the king gave chase, the deer drew closer to the ‘Thera’. When the ‘Thera’ came into the king’s view, the deity vanished.

The ‘Thera’ thought, “if the king were to see all of us here at once, he may feel afraid. Let the king see him alone.” The king, when he saw Thera Mahinda, stood terrified. Arhant Mahinda called him by name, saying, “Come here Tissa.” The king thought, it was a ‘Yakkha’ (a demon). By way of allaying his fear, the Thera said, “We are ‘Samanas’, great king. We are disciples of t he king of Truth. From compassion towards you, we have come here from ‘Jambudvipa’ .” As the king heard these words fear left him. He remembered the message of his friend Emperor Asoka. Believing them to be ‘Samanas’, he dropped his bow and arrow, approached the ‘Thera’ and exchanged greetings.

Then the ‘Thera’ made his entire crowd visible to him. The king was keen to know whether there were other ascetics like this in India. The Thera said there were a great number of them back in India and having mastered the three ‘Vedas’, they were gifted with miraculous powers and skilled in reading the thoughts of the others. The king was greatly Impressed.

Arhant Mahinda, then, wanted to test the intelligence of the king and asked a number of questions based on a mango tree. When the king had answered all the questions correctly, the ‘Thera’ realised that the king was a clever and thoughtful person.

So he preached the ‘dhamma’ from the famous ‘Chulla-hatthi-padopama sutta’. (the discourse on the simile of the elephant’s foot-print). At the end of the sermon, the king and his men sought refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha and became followers of the Buddha.

The king’s court followed. When the women of the royal household heard the virtues of the ‘Thera’, they too desired to see them. The king got a pavilion built in the city and invited the ‘Theras’. They who listened to the Theras also embraced Buddhism. Some of them, even asked for ordination. Among them was the Princess Anula.

Theri Sangamitta arrived in Sri Lanka with a branch of the bodhi tree, under which Buddha gained enlightenment. The Sri Mahâ Bodhi, you see in Anuradhapura today is that ancient tree which receives homage and respect of all Buddhists.

The eight bo-saplings that sprang from this tree were planted in different places, including even Kataragama. Gradually more men and women embraced Buddhism and large numbers sought ordination. For the increasing number of monks and nuns lodgings were necessary. Monasteries were built for both monks and nuns.

(Importance of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka – will be dealt with in Part III)

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