Kiliweddi Bōdhi tree is a sacred object which can claim a relationship which dates back to the period of Buddha

කිලිවෙඩ්ඩි බෝධිය බුද්ධකාලීන ඉතිහාසයට නෑකම් කිවහැකි පූජ්‍ය වස්තුවකි

It is indeed a sad situation of forgetting the great chain of destructions experienced by the most ancient Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) in Kiliweddi by the ones who claim that Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) is not conventional to Heladiva. This historical sacred Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) was situated there on the roadside, was surrounded by a rocky wall and was destroyed by the traitors. Once Mr. Sivanada Sundaram, the deputy government agent (1) in Muthoor realizing the significance of this tree informed about it to the main government agent (2) on 1950-09-08.

The first step of taking off this most sacred great Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) from the land of Lanka which survived more than two thousand and five hundred years, which was not a burden to anyone, which was a sacred object for everyone, was taken in 1970. The second step was taken in 1976. All the leaves and the branches which made gentle sounds were cut off and it was turned in to a mere log. But still Sinhala Buddhists were patient. Were they not? That was not the end for these vicious executers, the uprooted this sacred great Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) totally in 1977. They sealed up the place with concrete and built a Hindu temple. What a shameful act of testing the tolerance of the Helaya in this manner?

Mr. Cyril Mathew(3), the minister who could not stand further on the destructions of the sacred Buddhist articles of this nature voiced out against them. The echo of his great voice was not pleased by the ones who were born with the genes driven for the destruction of this country, they worked for the ‘expel’ from his ministry. Someone once said that this Christian person born with the genes which worked for the destruction of our heritage had given his helping hand to the enemies of the Buddhists and once had supported for the destruction of the Dagabos and monasteries in the north-east regions.

Following the facts of the Dhāthuvamsa, the Sulu Bodhivamsa (Bōdhivamsa) says that this Kiliweddi Bōdhi tree was planted by King Kawanthissa (Kāwanthissa). We too can agree with this opinion as he was contemporary of the Buddha. We have discussed and proved this in our book Apita Ahimikala Ape Urumaya – 3.( A.A.A.U. Page 21,22). Not only that, this will be further confirmed as he is supposed to take the Vivarana (4) from the Gauthama Buddha as the father of the Maithriya Buddha.

And also the inscription in Sangakkapaliya and the inscription in Kalkulam, we can observe some similarities between the two names Girimalaka Vihara (ගිරිමලක විහාරය) and Girimahalaka Vihara (ගිරිමහලක විහාරය). Girimalaka Viharava was built by Giribadhra (ගිරිභද්‍ර), the chief commander of the army. That is explained in the Vargapoornikawa (Vargapoornikāwa). The name ‘ගරිමහලක කුමරු - Prince Garimahalaka’ is mentioned in the inscription found in Kalkulam. The word ‘ගරි - Gari ’ found here gives the meaning ‘ගිරි - Giri ’ . Based on this information it can be assumed that these two Viharas (5) were built by the father and the son. Therini Kavilaasha Agnipaali was the Queen of Girbadra, the chief commander of the army. It can be assumed that based on the request made by her King Kawanthissa (Kāwanthissa) may have planted this Bodhi tree (Bōdhi).

1 - Upa Disaapathi in Sinhla language.

2 - Maha Disaapathi in Sinhla language.

3 - Kaluwadewage Cyril Mathew (c. 1912 – October 16, 1989) was a Sri Lankan politician and a writer.

4 - The Buddha in the present will announce or name another one, a Buddha Aspirant - Boddhisatta, as the next Buddha.  Or one Buddha would announce his prophecy over another Noble One who will be the next Buddha. This act is called Vivarana Ganeema in Sinhala Language. In this case the Buddha in the present would announce the father of the next Buddha as well.

5 - The Vihara is the residing place of the Buddhist monks.

{The English translation of 'බුද්ධෝත්පත්තිය හෙළදිවයි' (Buddha was born in  Heladiva) - Part – 4}

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)