හෙළය හටගත්තේම පුණ්ය භූමි සංකල්පනයෙනි
Throughout the history, Sri Lanka had used different
names such as Heladeepa, Jambudeepa, Ojadeepa,Varadeepa and Mandadeepa. The Lord Buddhas
such as Kakusanda,
Konaagama, Kashyapa and Gautama who came to these Deepas
(3) had gone back to Jambudeepa, the Mahavamsa records. (Mahavamsa, Classical Sinhala
Edition, pages from 43 – 47). The ones who do not know about this Jambudveepa,
linked this idea with India.
It seems that this term found on Pela Dhamma was
taken as Pali and interpreted as “Dambadiva”. But still
it does not see any connections with India. It is only here in Lanka that there
are terms similar to this word and still in use.
When the characteristics of the usage of names
such as Dambadeniya,
Dambavinna, Dambulla and Dambakola Patuna are compared and analyzed, it is understood
that the term Dambadiva does not have any relationship with India.
Based on the arrangement of the Hela signs
of sounds, “Jambudeepa” cannot
be a name. The meaning of the signs of the sounds of this, which is not a name,
should be analyzed based on Nirukthi.
Jambudeepa should be analyzed based on Dhamma.
ජ (Ja) + අ (A) is
acquiring a ජම්ම (Jamma) i.e. a
birth.
ම්
represents
the meaning of crowning and acquiring an egoism (මමත්වය). “බූ” (4) gives the meaning of becoming (උප්පත්ති) which is the result of being biased to the egoism
in this relationship. It is the existence of Samsara explained by this. Or in other words it is the
Thipariwatta.
This represents the extinction as well. According
to this, it is visible that ජ + අ (5) stands for the Deepa which has
taken off a birth, has taken off the flagging of the egoism and has uprooted
the surrounding nature of the features of Bava such as Raga (Lust), Dvesha (Anger) and Moha (Delusion). Hence it is very clear
that a sign of sounds like “Jambudeepa” had been
used only in Lanka.
From the very ancient times, Lanka, which had
many different names, was the dwelling place for the Hela people, Helayo.
It’s a fact accepted by the scholars that
there had been four Helas in this land called Helaya. But, up
to this date the formation of these four Hela is a matter of science taken
for the discussions.
Another aspect can be added to the available scientific
aspects of these four Helas. And it is not an old aspect which is already
presented by someone and has become outdated. It should be analyzed by all as it’s
a fresh aspect. The Buddhist should use the wisdom-eye on this.
හෙළේ
නගිං දෝං
පුතා
අග්ගල
කං දෝං
පුතා
{Hele Nagin Don Puthaa Aggala Kan Don Puthaa – “Oh son ! Are
you climbing the Hele (the hill or the mountain)? , Oh son! Are you
eating Aggala (a type of sweet)? }
This poem is sung when the time we go on
pilgrimage to worship the Sri Pada,
(6) the sacred footprint of the Buddha. (7) It is not
difficult to understand that the හෙළය - Helaya mentioned in this “The downhill or the slope”.
A term used by our forefathers for ages is included in this. According to this,
the deep slope from the Sri Pada Peak is this “Helaya” – the
hill).
Four rivers originated from the Sri Pada
Peak run through this Helaya and fall in to the sea. Hence Sri
Lanka is divided in to four parts,four regions. These four parts were known as
the four Helas in this Deepa. And the people lived in this land
used the title “Hela” for them. The language used by them too was known
as Hela Basa i.e the language called Hela. Because of this the
island which had four parts was popular as Siw Helaya.(8). The ones who wanted to show an Indian
origin for this ancient name Siw Helaya, replaced it with “Sinhala”
and it is clear that it is a very wrong interpretation. The lion is also not
the national emblem of Hela Deepa. It was
an Indian emblem. That is why lions are sculptured on the top of the rocky pillars
made by King Ashoka.(9)
The lion is an animal whose characteristics do
tally with the thinking of Brahmans and Jatilas. The
lioness goes on hunting. The lion by forces, enjoys the pray and leaves only
the remnants for the lioness and the cubs. And it is clear that it is a lazy,
lethargic animal who does nothing for the survival. This quality is symbolized
by the Brahmins. King Ashoka too accepted these thoughts of the Brahmins
and it was the reason for him to sculpture the lion.
The Hela community in the Siw
Hela was free, independent and creative in
their thinking, in their will power. They are not the descendents from the lion
family. A history of that nature was presented to the Hela person by the
writers of the Indian origin. The creativeness of the Hela persons is
represented in their emblem as well. That emblem is nothing but the dragon
emblem. That can be seen at Rajagala Thanna. The
Indians tried to change this situation strategically. As a result of this
heritage only, we still can see the building of a Makara Thorana (10) at the
entrance of any Buddhist monastery.
Sri Lanka was called Punyabhoomiya because of the blessings of the meaningful
incidents. The concept of Punyabhoomi has been used for Sri Lanka from ancient times
following the incidents of the most sacred Noble ones such as Buddhas, Pachcheka Buddhas(11) , Arahats
and Bosaths. (12)
For their betterment, many nations who invaded
Sri Lanka used subtle strategies to suppress the great identity of the people
in Lanka. In working on the plans for the educational system in Sri Lanka, one of
the key strategies adopted by the westerners was compiling the system of education
of the schools.
Restricting the system of education in this
manner for some limited incidents and for certain circumstances, was the main
reason for the slave mentality. This situation was used not only for the
schools but also for the local educational institutes such as Pirivenas(13) making
serious damages to the Buddhist philosophy.
The institutes catering to the higher
education which were originated following the western thinking too worked
towards the encouraging this slave thinking by executing the strategy of influencing
the people to embrace more and more physical wealth, worldly things. Because of
this background, it was not possible to produce any intelligent mindsets with the
wisdom-eye in them and they did not have the ability to realize the importance
of the Buddhist history and the Buddha Dhamma. The
result of this is the lack of the birth of a nation which is independent,
creative and possessed with free thinking mind sets.
Even the educated and scholarly lay people and
the clergy who were the results of this educational system did not have any
strength to identify the creations of the ancient Hela people. Most of
them had a mentality of this nature and because of that the history of Hela
civilization was not properly analyzed. This same crowd was very narrow-minded
and they attacked the creative people in many ways who go beyond their limits.
The creativeness of the citizens was not
developed as the most powerful communication networks such as newspapers,
televisions and radios were run and controlled by a certain group of this nature.
Because of this, the history of Heladiva which dates back to the most ancient times was
restricted to the visits of King Vijaya(14)
and
the Arahant Mahinda Thero and became a stagnating history. All these
things resulted the vanishing the concept of Punyabhoomi in Sri Lanka.
The rituals and customs practiced by the
people in Lanka are the evidences for them to claim the heritage of Bosath and Buddha. The most ancient customs practiced
at the wedding ceremonies prove that Lanka had the ownership for these
heritages. The most fundamental real understanding is the knowledge about the land
of the Buddha which was closed up and misinterpreted for all these times and
also the disclosing of the heritage of Bosath. When this situation is
explained once for the blessed ones who practice Paramithas,(15) they
can understand it well. And also they show keen interest in knowing Dhamma when it is disclosed and analyzed. What
explains by this is the fundamental awakening of the second rise of the Gautama
Buddha Sasana.(16) Now, this awakening can be seen in Lanka and
the reason for it is the claim that Lanka can make over the right of the land
of Buddha.
පොරණ
දීපංකරව මුණි රජ
එදා විවරණ දූන් බෙලෙන්
දෙරණ
පවතින බුද්ධ පූජා
නිතර පැවතුන
අනුහසින්
කරන
සටනට පැරදි
වසතු ගියේ
දස පෙරුමන්
බෙලෙන්
සරණ
දහමේ අනුහසින්
වෙයි මොවුන්
හට ජය
මංගලම්
(මංගල
සිරිත 113 පිට,කොටහළු උපත,පෝරුවේ සිරිත් 51 පිට)
Porana Deepankarawa Muni Raja Eda
Viwarana Dun Belen
Derana Pawathina Buddha Poojaa Nithara
Pawathuna Anuhasin
Karana Satanata Paradi Wasthu Giye Dasa
Peruman Belen
Sarana Dahame Anuhasin Wei Mowun Hata
Jaya Mangalam
(Mangala Siritha (17) – page 113, Kotahalu Upatha (18) , Poruwe
Sirith(19) – page
51)
{May this couple be blessed with the powers of
the Vivarana (20) given
by the Deepankara(21) Buddha
in the past and the charisma of the offerings made in this land on daily basis
and also the powers of the ten Paramithas which made the running away of the Maara(22) }
This poem is a classic example to prove that
the longstanding tradition had gone in to the time period which is beyond our
thinking. The Hela person had such a deep vision to memorize an incident
occurred in a very long time period of Deepankara Buddha and to bless for the betterment of the
newly wedded couple with this most sacred spiritual energy.
The conception of the knowledge over the
incidents of this nature occurred in my motherland, they will train themselves
to attend to their day today life well and it will be backed by the virtues. Anyone
who knows the world will agree with me that a particular nation who had led a
life style of this nature cannot be discovered in India. It would be a genuine
truth if I mention that a virtue of Buddha, a virtue of Bosath powered by Dhamma can be seen only in this land, Lanka. The ones
who are not aware of this may come out with all those nonsense, jargons through
the public media. But, their sayings are just conventional views of the slavery
which are influenced by the hate and the anger and there isn’t anything important
in their statements. Even though they live in this Punyabhoomi, the
sinful thoughts originated outside the sea had come in to their minds as
something is pulled by a magnet. Isn’t it because of their habits cultured in
their past lives? (23)
Converting his vision about sacred Bosath who went in to Wanga Gira for meditation in to the serenity was the
habit of the Hela person. It shows the heritage of Hela culture.
Taking that energy in to the life of the Hela person is the serenity. It
shows the directions to an important situation in life as follows.
වංග
ගිරියේ තපස් රකින්ට
නික්ම ගිය අප
බෝසතුන්
නැංග
රථයත් අසුන් දෙදෙනත්
අතරමගදී පිනට
දුන්
රන්ද
රිදියෙන් මුතු මැණික්
සහ සියලු
වස්තුව පිනට දුන්
සංඝ
රත්නේ අනුහසින් වෙයි
මොවුන් හට ජය
මංගලම්
(මංගල
සිරිත)
Wanga Giriye Thapas Rakinata Nikma
Giye Apa Bosathun
Nanga Rathayath Asun Dedenath Atharamagadi
Pinata Dun
Randa Ridiyen Muthu Manik Saha Siyalu
Wasthuwa Pinata dun
Sanga Rathne Anuhasin Wei Movun Hata Jaya Mangalam
(Mangala Siritha)
Our supermundane Bosth went to Wanga
Gira for his meditations. The supermundane Bosths are born in Punyabhoomis.
This Punyabhoomi where this Wanga Giriya is located had not been identified correctly
by anyone. Most of them believe that it
would have been situated in India. India does not have any features of Punyabhoomi.
It is only by the Bhikkus who are linked to the generations of non Sri
Lanka ‘noise making’ Bhikkus such as Mahanama, Buddhagosha and whose
origination is claimed to be in India attempt to prove this which does not
really exist in real life. Even to this date, this is done by them with the
same interest and passion.
Lanka has become a Punyabhoomi based on certain factors. They will be describe
by this gradually. There are no any limitations to anyone to know about this,
to get this knowledge by anyone who is really interested in this. “Wanga
Giriya” is not a
place or a region situated in India. The “ Wanga- වංග ” finds
here is not “ Waanag- වාංග ”. This means “The
bends”. It also suggests the meaning “ Giri - ගිරි”, the mountains or
the rocky area. “ Wangu Sahitha Kandu - වංගු
සහිත කඳු, The mountains which
has bends” are situated in the Mahanuwara (24) - Mahiyangana route. “Dahaata
Wanguwa – 18 bends” is found in this route.
This place Wanga
Giriya must come under the above mentioned region. That
can be understood by the second line of the poem. According to it, the chariot and the two
horses had been given for charity. Then, when these two horses are released
from the chariot, they would have stayed at one particular place. The place
where these two horses stayed was known as "හුන් + අස් + ගිරිය"(25). Isn’t it a reason
for the holiness of this land to be used this name even to this date which was derived
from an incident occurred in the past?
There are some
evidences which can be used to identify the city of Kimbulwath, the birth place
of Prince Siddhuhath, can be highlighted. The wrong judgment
which linked this place to India for all these days will be thrown away by
this. “කිඹුල්වත - Kimbulwatha” is “The body of the crocodile”. This city got
its name so as its location was resembled with a body of the crocodile. This
structure can be seen in the central hills in Lanka. Anyone goes to the Center
of Mahanuwara (26) it is possible to observe and experience this nature. The Center of Mahanuwara
represents the “Madya Mandala”.(27) Our forefathers
knew about this. This is proved by the poems used in the ritualistic practices
performed in the weddings (28). That is explained
in the below mentioned poem.
සුද්ද
සුන් නිරිඳුන්ට
දාවූ එසිද්ධත්
කුමරුන් උතුම්
මැද්ද
මණ්ඩල කිඹුල්වත් පුර
නුවර ඉපදුනු
අනුහසින්
යුද්ධ
කරලා පැරදි
වසවතු ගියේ දස
පෙරුමන් බෙලෙන්
බුද්ධ
රත්නේ අනුහසින් වෙයි
මොවුන් හට ජය
මංගලම්
Sudda Sun Niridunta Daavu Esiddhath Kumarun
Uthum
Madda
Mandala Kibulwath Pura Nuwara Ipaduna Anuhasin
Udda Karalaa Padadi Vasawathu Giye
Dasa Peruman Belen
Budda Rathne Anuhasin Vei Movun Hata
Jaya Mangalam
(Mangala Siritha)
{May this couple be blessed with the charisma
of the birth of the Noblest Prince Siddhartha whose father is King
Suddodana, occurred
in the Madya Mandala in the city of Kimbulwath and also with the powers of the ten Paramithas by which the Vasavarthi Maara was chased out eventually}
Mada Mahanuwara(29) was the city of Kimbulwath. This “කිඹුල්වත - Kimbulwatha” is clearly
indicated in Ptolemy’s map. Ptolemy(30)
may be or
may not be known this truth, but he had indicated it in his map. Following its due
heritage the most sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha resides in the Punyabhoomi, The Dalada
Maligawa at this dawn of the second rise of the Sasana of the Gautama Buddha. If someone says that it
is not right then he must me a non believer such a Brahmin or a Jatila.
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1 - The land of Hela people. i.e
Lanka.
2 - The sacred lands, The Holy land.
3 - Deepa is the Sinhala word for
Island.
4 - The Sinhala alphabet ' බූ ' is pronounced
as ‘Booyanna’.
5 - The Sinhala alphabets ජ + අ ' are pronounced as ‘Jayanna + Ayanna’.
6 - Sri Pada (also Adam's peak;
Sinhalese Samanalakanda - සමනළ කන්ද "butterfly mountain", Tamil Sivanolipatha Malai - சிவனொளி பாதமலை), is a 2,243 metres (7,359 ft) tall
conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka.
7 - i.e. the pilgrimage to Sri Pada
Peak.
8 -Siw Helaya. ‘Siw’ in Sinhala
language is used for Four and ‘Helaya’ is the land.
9 - The pillars of Ashoka are a series of
columns dispersed throughout the northern Indian subcontinent, erected or at
least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the
3rd century BC.
10 - The Makara Thorana or The gateway
or The Stone Pandol. Among the numerous motifs that adorn the crafts of Sri
Lanka, the mythical figure of makara stands out as one of the most fascinating
configurations.
11 - A Pratyekabuddha (Sinhala : Pase Budu or
Sanskrit: प्रत्येकबुद्ध) or Paccekabuddha (Pāli: पच्चेकबुद्ध), literally "a lone buddha",
"a buddha on their own" or "a private buddha", is one of
three types of enlightened beings according to some schools of Buddhism.
12 - The term “bosath or
"bodhisatta" (Pāli language) was used by the Buddha to refer to
himself in his previous lives and as a young man in his current life, prior to
his enlightenment, in the period during which he was working towards his own
liberation.
13 - Pirivena - A Pirivena (plural: Piriven in
Sinhala language) is a monastic college (similar to a seminary) for the
education of Buddhist priests in Sri Lanka. These have been the centers of
secondary and higher education in ancient times for lay people as well. Today
561 Piriven are founded and maintained by the Ministry of Education. Young
priests undergo training at these pirivenas prior to being their Ordination.
(Source-Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
14 - The Indian invader to Lanka whose reign is traditionally dated to 543 BC – 505
BC.
15 - The Paramitas are the perfections of the
heart to cultivate in one's practice of the Dhamma. There are ten of them.
16 - Śāsana (Sanskrit), (Pali: sāsana)
is a term used by Buddhists and Shaivites to refer to their religion or
non-religion.
17 - The customs practiced in a
wedding.
18 - Kotahalu, this Sinhala term is
used for the female puberty, attaining puberty of a girl. Upatha is the birth.
Sri Lankan tradition gives an important place for this incident and considers
it as a ceremony. Many customs are practiced on pre-determined auspicious
times. Here what it meant by this is the rise of this particular event.
19 - The rituals and the customs
practiced in the Poruwe ceremony . (Read the Appendix for more details).
20 - 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
propercy over another Noble One who will be the next Buddha. This act is called
Vivarana Ganima in Sinhala Language.
21 - Another Buddha who was living in prior to
Gautama Buddha, the most recent Buddha.
22 - Literary this is the Demon or
Maara, the Evil. These are actually the defilements which were eliminated by
the Buddha at his Enlightenment. The writers, the poets presented them as a
person, the Demon or Maara, the Evil.
23 - The Buddhist believes in rebirth. Things
we practiced, experienced in our past lives are taken to this life as well.
24 - The new name given by the British for
Mahanuwara is Kandy. Mahanuwara was known as ‘Kande Nuwara’ Sinhala language.
It means ‘the city situated in the mountain’. The British pronounced ‘Kande’ as
Kandy.
25 - "හුන් + අස්
+ ගිරිය". හුන් is to say ‘Stayed’. අස් is to
say ‘Horses’ and ගිරිය is to say ‘the mountain or mountain area’. Hunasgiriya
is a town located in the central region in Sri Lanka (156 Kms from Colombo).
Closest town is Kandy and it is situated at a distance of 41 kms.
26
- මැද මහනුවර
‘Mada Mahanuwara’
is the center of Mahanuwara.
27
- මධ්ය මණ්ඩලය the “Madya Mandala” is the center point or the place in the
center.
28
- මංගල ශාන්තිකර්ම
- Mangala Shanthikarmas.
Shanthikarmas can be termed as ritualistic practices, certainly based for the
blessings of different deities, performed for a particular reason, especially
for healings or for the wealth, prosperous status in crops, using many articles
such as traditional drums, songs, costumes, food etc. Here it means such
practices performed at a wedding ceremony.
29 - The central Mahanuwara or the
Center in Mahanuwara, a synonym for the Kandy city.
30 - In Ptolemy’s maps ‘a very big
size’ is given for Lanka. There should be a reason for giving a very big size
for Lanka compare to the other very big countries in the world.
{The English translation of 'ඉසි රමණ විහර' (Isi Ramana Vihara)} - Part - X
Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)
Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)
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