From temple walls to homes of devotees

“A Buddha is not a God, but He is the wisest, noblest and most holy being, who has developed Himself in the course of countless births far beyond all other beings”. This is Colonel Henry Steele Olcott’s explanation of the word ‘Buddha’.

The one who has resolved to become a Buddha strives in each of his births to become better and wiser till at last he becomes perfect, he becomes illuminated, he becomes a Buddha; for the Buddha means the ‘Perfect’, ‘All-wise’, the ‘Enlightened’. Before he reaches this high state of perfection, he is called the ‘Bodhisatva’, he who is on the road to perfection. So writes Marie Museaus Higgins in ‘Jatakamala’, a collection of Jataka stories.

Jataka stories or tales of the former births of the Buddha have been told and retold by monks during their Dhamma sermons, by grand parents to their grand children and by parents to their sons and daughters. The tradition goes on. These stories also adorn the walls of temples where the skilled artists have related them in their own style for the devotees to see, study, absorb and develop their ‘Shardha’.

Art was a medium through which an exemplary life could be taught to the sinner and the sacred knowledge revived in the memory of the saint. It was primarily an attempt to present the spirit rather than the form of religion - a story rather than an idea. But this story was told in as attractive a way as possible.”

As cave shrines gave way to elaborate man made temples of masonry, large spaces were provided for pictures. “The walls were covered with Jataka stories.

The use of temple paintings for Vesak stamps over the years have brought popular Jataka tales seen in well known temples to the homes of devotees.

The Vessantara Jataka, one of the most popular Jataka tales is seen in many a temple. The interpretation of the story by a 3rd century artist is seen at the Arattana Raja maha Vihara in Hanguranketa. The artist’s work has been captured in detail in the Vesak stamps issued in 1982 depicting different episodes of King Vessantara’s life. The giving away of the white elephant which is said to have possessed the power of making rain, the trek of the king and queen to Vankagiri forest by foot carrying the two children after giving away the chariot, the son and daughter Krishana and Jaliya being given to the brahmin Jujaka who drags them away beating them, and the royal family being reunited and brought back to the city in the royal chariot were selected for the stamps.

Another famous temple down South is the Wewurukannala RajMaha Vihara in Dickwella, which also dates back to the time of King Rajadhi Rajasinghe (1782 - 1798). The temple walls are adorned with episodes from the life of the Buddha.

Among them is the Chulla Dhammapala Jataka which relates the story of how King Maha Prathapa of Varanasi on entering the palace and finding the queen cuddling her seven month old child and ignoring him felt slighted and ordered the prince be executed and the body being thrown into the air.

Sri Subodharama in Karagampitiya, Dehiwela has been established during Dutch rule as a place where there had been a devale in the time of King Parakramabahu VI of Kotte. Several Jataka Stories are among the paintings, which were selected for Vesak stamps in 1991. The Kattahari Jataka showing Prince Kastavahana, son of King Brahmadatta sojourning with his retinue is seen in one.

The Mahajanaka Jataka forms the theme of two stamps. One shows Aritu Janaka, the elder son of King Janaka of Miyulu, who ascends the throne and imprisons his brother, Polo Janaka, the Vice Regent after listening to the tales of a minister. The other shows the pregnant queen being sent away and God Sakra appearing as an old man leading her to a safe place. The fourth stamp shows the two traders, Tapassu and Bhalluka offering a meal prepared with honey to the Buddha in the seventh week after His Enlightenment, watched by the guardian deities.

The Kottimbulwala Raja Maha Vihara in the Atakalan Korale in Ratnapura district is believed to have been in existence in the time of King Valagamba (89-77 BC) and is regarded as one of the foremost cave temples with ancient paintings. Later kings had renovated and restored the paintings, among which is the Sama jataka selected for the Vesak stamps issued in 1992.

It is the moving story of Sama leading a secluded life with his blind parents in the forest until the king while on a hunting expedition intrigued by the beauty of Sama shoots an arrow and wounds him in a bid to know his identity. The blind parents’ trek to the forest, the family leading a peaceful and happy life in the forest, Sama leading his parents to the hermitage, and the parents hearing that the son is wounded near the river approaching the scene of the incident are depicted in the stamps.

The famous murals at Gotami Vihara in Borella done by reputed artist George Keyt in 1939-40 depict scenes from the life of the Buddha. The four Vesak stamps issued in 1983 featured the dream of Mahamaya Devi, the birth of Prince Siddhartha, his disgust with worldly life having observed the dancing girls sprawled on the floor, and his leaving the palace to be confronted by Mara.

Commenting on the Keyt murals, Professor Anuradha Seneviratne writes: “The new style in the Gotami Vihara murals can be traced to the fact that the original black and white line drawings were later transformed into coloured murals. When the originals were drawn, many decorative curve-lines were used to draw the flat figures. The resultant vivid contrast after the colours were applied made the murals more brilliant and extraordinary. The small curve-lines then added additional depth and weight to the paintings which are the largest scale of drawings Keyt has attained”.

Vesak is the time for giving

Tomorrow is a very sig nificant day in the Buddhist calendar. Many Sri Lankans will be partaking in the traditional and holistic rituals of Vesak Poya. The temple bells will ring, lamps will be lit, flowers offered and gathas chanted with much conviction.

The night will be lit with the beautiful creations of the talented and excited faces of little children. The gardens will be aglow with the lights of lanterns.

However, this should also be the time for some generous giving. For those hundreds of orphans and lost or destitute children, this is yet another day of sadness and despair.

Last year, during the merry months of Christmas, The Sunday Times appealed to its readers to give generously towards a worthy cause. A roof over the heads of some very needy children at the Sri Lankadhara Home for orphaned girls.

The response was tremendous and the donations came with much gratitude. From a princely sum of Rs. 100 from a little old lady to bigger contributions from overseas saw the roof slowly covering the heads of these unfortunate girls.

The Committee of the Society started on the repairs to the roof without much delay in order to avoid the upcoming monsoon.

However, the roof is not complete as the estimated sum of money has not been collected in full.

The Society is in need of another Rs. 500,000 to complete its work. It is with this thought in mind that The Sunday Times appeals to its readers to contribute towards this worthy cause.

All cheques or money orders should be forwaded to the: President, Sri Lankadhara Society, 95, W.A. de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 6.

Let the aged live in dignity

By Bernie Wijesekera

This is the month of Vesak, when the Buddha-Dhamma or the life and teachings of the Buddha, should be uppermost in our minds.

It is useful at this time to reflect on caring for the elders in our society. Instead of having pandals and illuminations, etc. let us divert these resources to a long term programme to help the ‘aged’ to live in dignity. As the saying goes, “Mother is the Queen of my heart”. But it is sad to note many apparently tend to forget their parents, who brought them into this world under stress. For parents to bring up their children it is not always a “bed of roses”. Most of these elders don’t enjoy a pension unlike the present-day politicians in Parliament, who are elected by the people, but in the process are afforded a lucrative pension for the rest of their lives after serving for just five years.

They should divert their attention to start homes for the elders in their own electorates even with a personal sacrifice of their salaries, so the elders live in dignity to the end rather than expose them to the elements in the open.

Time was when older people were described as ‘aged’ and the institutions for their care called “Homes for the Aged”. That was not an inaccurate description, but we are sure most people will far prefer the word “Elder” as both a more dignified and a more appropriate way to describe our fathers and grandfathers.

Life expectancy in our country today may be higher than even in some of the developed countries. But along with these favourable developments, we are confronted today with the inability to properly care for many of the increasing number of elders in our society.

We need personalities like Mother Theresa or Princess Diana in our midst. Mother Theresa, made an indelible mark in Calcutta for her selfless contribution to alleviating suffering. Princess Diana also reached out to the sick and suffering. Both didn’t believe in caste, race or colour. This is what the Buddha preached.

Homes for elders for those with and without means of their own, are available in some limited measure here in Sri Lanka. But the demand far outstrips the supply. It will be not out of place here to pay tribute to those dedicated volunteers, who sacrifice their valuable time and money to properly manage some of the existing homes for the elders. It’s always easier to give some money and get away from the burden of dedicated hard work that is required for running homes for the elders. More volunteers is the need of the hour. Those who serve the needy serve the Buddha.

A sober thought for this Vesak month

By an Observer

Five inmates from the Galapatha Sukhita Lama Niwasa, children’s home for the mentally handicapped were in for a pleasant surprise recently. They were invited for tea at the Tangerine Beach Hotel, Kalutara where CTC Eagle field force were holding their annual convention.

Three hundred and fifty sales persons who had performed well last year were attending the residential convention. It was devoted to a working session on how they could be useful citizens in society.

Here was a band of men and women who were highly successful in their profession. Through continuous training they had gathered knowledge and sharpened their selling skills.

At the working session they were told that improving their own lot was not enough. They had a responsibility by the society they live in. There were many who were not so fortunate as they were the physically handicapped, the mentally retarded, ones who were losing their limbs by trying to protect their motherland. The more fortunate had a duty to take a caring look at the less fortunate. The need to develop human values was stressed. Be grateful for what you have gained, they were told. The five helpless children were an example of what a sorrowful life they were leading until they leave this world. And then they turned their attention on the innocent children of the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to save the country.

Within minutes a handsome collection of 35,000 rupees was made. By evening, last year’s best performers had contributed the balance 15,000 rupees to make it a round figure of fifty thousand rupees. Eagle management decided on another 50,000 rupees on Company account. Part of the money will go to the Galapatha Home and part to the Ranaviru Doo Daru Rekavaranaya Trust.

More Plus * Rare treasures on display for Vesak festival

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