Isigili Kanda (1)

ඉසිගිලි කන්ද

The fact that Sages had lived in Sri Lanka in most ancient times has not got any attention. But there are many who believe in that Sages had lived in India. Most of the people, who talk a lot about the history of the country where they live in, do not have any interest in showing a long standing history for Lanka. Being influenced by the thinking of the Brahmins, all of them are interested in seeing an unpleasant history in Lanka.

They are deadly against the statement that Gautama Buddha was born in Lanka too. If any particular book is written with a free mind, if it is based on proper researches and also is backed by relevant facts and information, hammering it only with the use of words but not by a proper investigation on the subject matter is nothing but an act of sin.  And it is also not a decent act which would tally with the ethics.

If the so called history which has been maintain all these times is a lie or not the truth, isn’t it a sinful thing to take it further to the future? And it is not an act which will tally with the Buddhist principles either.

The factor that the Tripitaka was written in Lanka itself is more than enough to understand that Gautama Buddha was born in Lanka. But, it is not necessary to make a special note on the reason for not generating a positive thought to their minds as their minds are fully corrupted by Raga (Lust), Dvesha (Anger) and Moha (Delusion). Let them say and write anything as they wish. These places are possessed with the energy needed to establish and build the real heritage of Sri Lanka. Because of that, working towards this matter, making a commitment towards this matter is considered ever as an honor made for mother Lanka.

There are many factors to prove that there had been great Sages in Lanka even prior to the time of Buddha who knew the Kalathraya(2) of the world. Here, it presents the information of some of them. “Isibassagala” in Madavachchiya is also related to an incident of Sages. That dates back to a period even prior to Buddha. Because of the lack of knowledge about this place, the historical value of this place has been restricted to the period of Arahant Mahinda Thero. What is indicated here as the Sages is Arahant Mahinda Thero and his group. Because of this two historical incidents related to “Isibassagala” has been given up and it has been limited to the Indian influence.

The place in the history that “Isibassagala” could have claimed as a place used to analyze certain important things and also as a resting place by the great Sages lived in Lanka, has been taken off from the history. Not only that. This is the place where Gautama Buddha preached his very first sermon and it has been totally taken out from the texts written by the Brahmins. It is very clear, hence, that two incidents which could have been used to show the significance of Lanka had been suppressed and Indian influence had been initiated.

There is a rocky mountain with caves called “Isigili Kanda”. This comes under the Udupila, Naaramwala region in the Gampaha district. When you visit there, you would realize that this mountain is an ancient place. This place is known as “Isigili Kanda” even to this date. The Atuwaa(3) says that this name was used for this place as it had been the season for the ‘sinking or dipping ‘of the Sages. (4)

The elders in the area say that this was popular as a place where Pachcheka Buddhas had lived in. When we combine all these three things together, namely, the name found in the Sutta, the description given in the Atuwaa and also the views of the elders, we can assume that the “Isigili Sutta” (6) found in the Pirith Potha(5) would have been preached in this place. This will not be an issue for the wise who has accepted Lanka as the birth place of Gautama Buddha.  One who visits Isigili Kanda can observe its naturally setting to enter in from the top of the mountain and disappear i.e. dip in or sink, in to the interior of the mountain.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 - The Peak of Isigili or Isigili Mountain (Sinhala : ඉසිගිලි  කන්ද).

2 - The Past, The Present & The Future.

3 - The commentaries.

4 - Sinking or dipping in Sinhala language is ගිලෙනවා or ගීලීම. ගිලි  in ඉසිගිලි  කන්ද has derived from this term ගිලෙනවා or ගීලීම. The word ඉසි is the abbreviation of ඉසිවරුන් (Rishis or Seers or Sages).

5- Pirith is the Sinhala word for paritta (in Pali), which means protection. "It protects one from all directions", is the traditional definition. This is the recitation or chanting of the words of the Buddha. Pirith potha is the book which contains pirith.

6 – Refer {Isi Ramana Vihara (ඉසි රමණ විහර)} - Part – XIX for Isigili Sutta

{The English translation of 'ඉසි රමණ විහර (Isi Ramana Vihara)} - Part - XIII 

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)