Chief Sangha Nayaka of UK passes away

The Head Monk of the oldest Buddhist Temple in the West, the London Buddhist Vihara, Most Ven. Dr. Medagama Vajiragnana, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, passed away on Friday at the Hammersmith Hospital in London. He was 78.

Most Ven. Dr. Vajiragnana Thera was born in Sri Lanka in 1928 and ordained as a novice monk in the village temple of Hippola on March 23, 1943 at the age of 14 years. He received his higher ordination at the Malwatuvihara in Kandy on May 11, 1949 at the age of 20 years.

He received his initial monastic education at Hippola, before proceeding to the Pratiraja Pirivena in Agalawatte for two years of further studies, followed by nine years at the Vidyodaya Pirivena in Colombo.

In the New Year’s Honours List 2006, Most Ven. Dr. Vajiragnana Thera was given the O.B.E. for his services to inter-faith relations. This was in recognition of the many years of service he had devoted to improving the understanding between followers of all faiths, and spreading greater tolerance and harmony between all communities.

In 1955 The Ven. Thera attained the degree of Pandit from the Oriental Studies Society. He then studied for two years at the Pirivena Teachers’ Training College in Ratmalana, after which he was offered the post of principal at the Parama Dhamma Cetiya Pirivena in Ratmalana.

In 1961 The Ven. Thera continued his education in India, completing a two-year diploma course at the Sanskrit University of Benares, and an M.A. in Sanskrit at the Jadavpur University of Calcutta.

The Ven. Thera returned to Sri Lanka to continue to teach at the Pirivena Teachers' Training College in Ratmalana.

In 1966 Dr. Vajiragnana Thera came to Europe for the first time, when he was appointed as Assistant Head of the London Buddhist Vihara, by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, which is the oldest Buddhist monastic institution in the West.

In 1974 The Ven. Thera became the religious director of the British Buddhist Association. In 1980 he was invited to return to Sri Lanka as the principal of the Pirivena Teachers' Training College in Ratmalana. Then in 1984 he went back to the United Kingdom as Head of the London Buddhist Vihara.

For 20 years The Ven. Thera has represented the Buddhist faith at the annual Commonwealth Day Observance in Westminster Abbey.

He has also been asked to represent the community at Royal functions, such as the celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee and the 100th birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

The Ven. Vajiragnana Thera was a guest at the enthronement of the Rt. Rev. George Carey as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1991, the opening Service of the 13th Lambeth Conference in Canterbury in 1998 and had many, informal meetings with Dr. Carey to discuss interfaith matters.

The Ven. Thera was also invited by Prime Minister Tony Blair to attend an emergency meeting of religious leaders to discuss matters relating to the religious and political disturbances arising from the destruction caused in America on September 11, 2001. He has represented the Buddhist community at the annual Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

The body of Ven.Vajiragnana will lie in State in the main hall of the London Buddhist Vihara from 4.30 p.m. Wednesday December 20 to 1.30 p.m December 21.

The cremation will take place at the West London crematorium at Kensal Green, Harrow Road, London W10 4RA at 2.30 p.m. on the same day (Dec 21).