An age-old tradition and a most rare type of offering was revived a few days ago to commemorate the Sambuddhathva Jayanthi marking the 2600th anniversary of Buddha's Enlightenment. The offering is called the 'Giribhanda Pooja' which literally means 'offering of goods to the height of a mountain' – a 'badu kanda' - a practice dating back to the days of King Mahadathika Mahanaga who ruled from Anuradhapura from 9-21 AC.
 |
| Tiricunamale Ananda Anu Nayake Thera hands over a Buddhist statue while Chandakitti Thera (right) looks on |
It was the idea of the energetic young monk, Talalle Chandakititi Thera who, with the help of the members of the Dharmadeepa Foundation of which he is the patron, and those who attend a Dhamma class he conducts on Thursdays at the Narada Centre planned to donate the requirements of six temples in remote areas off Anuradhapura.
The temples located in the Tantirimale area had suffered much during the war when they were the target of LTTE attacks. Situated in what was then termed the border villages, the people have still not recovered from the tragic days. Due to the courage shown by these villagers in those difficult times they have begun to identify them as 'abheetha gammana' – 'fearless villages'.
"The monks still talk of the days when the entire village used to seek shelter in the jungles the whole night in fear of attacks by the Tigers," Chandakitti Thera says. "The villagers are so poor that they can hardly feed the temple monk. Very often it's an old monk who is in the temple. Young monks don't seem to stay under those trying conditions. They give up and get back to lay life."Chandakitti Thera was aware of the difficulties that monks faced in these temples. But he had two problems. One was how he could select the most deserving temples. The other was how he should help them. Having identified the area, he sought the advice of the secretary of the Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya who had records of all the temples in his charge. He was given a list of the most deserving temples and he visited each one to see for himself how he could help.
"The conditions were appalling. The monks lived in dilapidated huts. The toilets were shocking. In most temples, the 'bana maduwa' was a ramshackle shed. But the monks were a determined lot. They tried their best to teach the basics to the children and guide the people to lead good lives," Chandakitti Thera said.
Realising what a hard life these monks led, he decided to supply them with their needs. When he prepared the list for each temple, it added up to over a hundred items. It was so exhaustive. From needle and thread right up to a wheel barrow, the list included beds, tables and chairs, cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery sufficient to offer alms to ten monks, robes, mosquito nets, sheets and pillows, a gas cooker, a blender, a lantern, dry rations – the list was virtually endless. Mammoties, knives and other agricultural implements were among the items. Each temple got a bicycle – a most useful item as the monk could send someone to pick up whatever he needed.
 |
| Meeting diverse needs: Some of the items offered |
 |
| Better facilities: The newly built toilets |
Six temples were given their needs. Each one got 141 items worth Rs. 180,000. Participating in the ceremony as chief guest was Venerable Tiricunamale Ananda Anu Nayaka Thera.
Among the temples was the Saliya Aranyaya in the Mahawilachchiya Section six in the heart of the Wilpattu national park which was at one time infested with LTTE terrorists. Here, in addition to the materials to the temple, desk and chairs were provided for the 'daham pasela' and the students were given uniforms, books and stationery worth Rs. 200,000. "The children were so happy. Some of them had come wearing their fathers' sarongs," Chandakitti Thera recalled.
Four well equipped tiled toilets were built at the Pemaduwa Sri Sumangala Pirivena where 25 monks are resident but toilet facilities were shocking. They cost over a million rupees. A computer was gifted to the head monk who is conducting classes for the student monks under severe hardships.
The monk at Ashokaramaya, Bandaragama had been trying to get electricity for six years without success. Chandakitti Thera met the CEB officials and arranged to bear the cost of 14 electric posts and wiring up to at and inside the temple at a cost of Rs 700,000.
At Tantirimale where he wound up the day's proceedings with an 'aloka pooja' and by chanting the Dhamamachakkapavattana sutta, 150 Buddha statues were distributed among the villagers.
During the year, Chandakitti Thera will visit remote villages, preach the Dhamma and distribute 2600 Buddha statues among the villagers.
"We didn't have much time. Everything was done within two months. The response was amazing. In fact, four individuals came forward to bear the cost of the items for four temples. We could then spend on other necessities," Chandakitti Thera said greatly appreciating the generosity of the participants.
Encouraged by the tremendous enthusiasm for the 'giribhanda pooja' the other activities, Chandakitti Thera is now planning are to provide proper toilet facilities to temples in rural areas and launch a programme of distributing the needs of 'daham paselas'. Those interested in participating in a Sambuddhatva Jayanthi 'pinkama' can contact him at the Narada Centre at Sarana Road, Colombo 7.
|
E-mail
