Divirum Bodhiya and its many legends

Dhamma lessons are in progress at the Divurum Bodhi Viharaya in Ampitiya with white-clad children intently listening to the gentle voice of Viharadhipathi Ven. Kolabisse Tilakasiri Thera. As the name suggests, this is an ancient viharaya about three miles from Kandy and was also called the Deveni Maligawa as the King used to patronize it often.

"Originally the viharaya belonged to two sects, the Ramanya Nikaya and the Siyam Nikaya. Later, the Siyam Nikaya handed over its part to the Ramanya Nikaya and the first Viharadhipathi was Ven. Matale Dhammissara Mahanayaka Thera," says youthful Ven. Tilakasiri, the fifth Viharadhipathi.

The viharaya is special, according to him because the Bodhi tree there has a remarkable characteristic - there are very tender leaves on one branch, mature leaves on another while all the leaves have been shed from still another. Pointing to a large rock near the Bodhi tree, the Viharadhipathi explains that it is the Divurum Gala with the Moon and the Sun, which may have resulted in the viharaya being named such.

This Bodhi tree is about 650 years old, says Chandrasekera Bandara, a Dayaka, recalling how his grandfather had related many stories in connection with it. "Many years ago some Thapasas who had come from Dambadiva and were on their way to Hanguranketa, had rested at Ampitiya one night, leaving 12 Bo saplings which they had brought along with them on a mound. When they woke up next morning, they had found that three had taken root. So, they left with only nine saplings."

From them on the villagers had looked after the young saplings and offered flowers and worshipped at the Bodhi tree, he said, adding that the Bodhiya has Haskam (miracles). "The Budhu Ge was built only in 1914." Divirum Bodhiya is also believed to be the place where the King meted out punishment to prisoners who were found guilty of crimes. "This was the courts," states Ven. Tilakasiri Thera.

Prisoners had been brought up to the Bo tree and requested to offer flowers and worship there, after which they had to touch the Divurum Gala and swear that they did not commit the crime they were accused of. If they lied, within three days a cobra would bite them and kill them, The Kandy Times was told.

Chandrasekera had heard how a woman carrying a bucket of cow dung was killed by a cobra, while another woman who had taken a bundle of soiled clothes to be washed at the Polwatte Pihilla (spout), not heeding the warnings of the villagers, on her return home was bitten by a cobra.

The Divurum Gala with the sun and the moon engraved on it is believed to have been made during the Dambadeniya period, he said. There is a belief that a gold coin was thrown into a cauldron of burning oil and prisoners had to remove them with their bare hands! If the hand did not get burnt, he was released as it indicated that he was not guilty, said the Viharadhipathi, smiling that even Andare, the court jester, had once been brought there from Hanguranketa because he was accused of stealing a 'waraka fruit'.

Now, people come from all parts of the island to make vows at Divurum Bodhiya while every poya full moon day more than 200 Upasaka and Upasikas observe Sil. The Kulangana Samitiya members provide the heel dana and the daval dana.

Villagers from Meekanuwa, Udagama, Kongahapitiya, Semeneriyawatte, Pallegama, Polwatte, Wewatenne, Digatenne, Gangahawela, Dambawela para, Thune Kanuwa Ampitiya, Talatuoya, Alhena, Dilenagama come to the Bodhiya to worship. Every Saturday evening from 5.30 to 7.30, there is a Bodhi Pooja to which hundred of devotees come from many villages, said Chandrasekera.

At present, Ven. Ketawala Saranasiri Thera, Ven. Illukmodara Vajirasiri Thera and three samaneras Nepalaye Viduddhi Thera, Nepalaye Dhammaruchchi Thera and Atimale Udithasiri Thera are residing at the viharaya.

Retired Principal K.D.K. Wijekoon who has lived all her life in Ampitiya said that when she was a child all the children in the village never lied because they had been told that they would be taken to the Divurum Bodhiya. "We had heard about the cobra biting all those lied! We were really scared to utter any lie, not even a white lie," she smiled.

When a branch of the Bodhi tree breaks, Chandrasekera added: "Kandayamak davas hathak pirith kiyala aththa adahana karanawa." (A special group from the village bury the branch after chanting pirith for seven days.)

Although this Purana Divurum Bodhi Maha Viharaya has such a rich history, the Cultural Affairs Ministry has only helped us once by providing 'Pethi Ulu', lamented the Viharadhipathi.