The Bodhigara in Nillakgama

නිල්ලක්ගම බෝධිඝරය

 This Nillakkama B0dhigara (Nillakkama Bōdhigara)  (1) is situated near Nitalawa in the forty five east Korala in the Vanni Hathpatthuwa in the Kurunegala district. One can come to this place by turning to the right way from the Galgamuwa junction in the main road which goes from Kurunegala to Anuradhapura.  There is a small tank near this. And also a very ancient Kōn tree situated near this Bodhigara (Bōdhigara).

By the year of 1895, the villagers near this place knew this place as Daladha Ge (a chamber for the sacred tooth relic) and a Paththirippuwa (an octagon). The initial discovery of this place was done by Mr H.C.P. Bell. After him, no one had paid any interest in executing any research about this place for more than sixty years. His report released on this place says that Mr. H.C.P. Bell had failed to identify this as a Bodigara.(ASCAR, 1895,P 13)

In the past, the villages of this place believed that this sacred place is guarded by a poisonous serpent and a deity called Kambili. Professor Paranavithana had mentioned that the treasure hunters had made a 10 feet deep pit in the middle of the mound found there. And also he mentions in his report that the Uluwassa (2) in eastern entrance had been destroyed by a fall of huge branch of a kōn tree.

The line of the elephant figures carved in the Pahatha Maluwa (3) had been in danger due to the fire set for the jungle by the villagers in the process of Chena cultivation (4). The villagers had worked towards another fire and he had stopped that attempt. He says that he could identify this place as a Bodhigara (Bōdhigara) with the aid of an inscription found at the premises.

The reason for the building of this Bodhigara (Bōdhigara) could be the initial plantation of one of the main eight Bodhi trees (Bōdhi), he says. But, based on the information in the Bōdhivamsa, this opinion will be disregarded, Mr. Paranavithana he himself says. The annual report of   the commissioner for archeology for the year of 1954 reports that he was surprised over the creative craftsmanship of this Bodhigara (Bōdhigara). The attempt made by someone to highlight the significance and the creative richness of the craftsmanship of this Bodhigara (Bōdhigara) had been combined with the Indian traditions and hence the independence of the artist in Helabima had been seriously damaged.

According to the administrative report of the commissioner of archeology for the year of 1954, the inscription found here at this Bodhigara (Bōdhigara) is as follows.

මොනරගල් බුද්මි මේ දස ඇතුන් කරවා මහ බොහි පිදූ පිනින් අනුත්තර සම්මා සම්බු........."(දූ වෙම්වා)
“ monaragal budmi me dasa athun karawaa maha bohi pidu pinin anuththara sammaa sambu ……” ( du wemvaa)
(The administrative report of the commissioner of the archeology for the year of 1954. Pages 18,19,20,21)

The greatest aspiration that a Buddhist, Budmi, can make is stated in this inscription. Following this aspiration, its only someone who is intelligent can understand the greatness of this Bodhi tree (Bōdhi). We should think about the reason of making this noble aspiration of becoming a Buddha in front of this Bodhi tree (Bōdhi), but not in front of the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) in Anuradhapura. And doing that should be done based on the free thinking taught in Buddhism.

It is indeed very rare to think of someone who had done a research to find out the reason to make a great aspiration of this nature in front of this Bodhi tree (Bōdhi). Also it is serious to think for the less consideration paid by the ones who actually had all the capabilities and the responsibilities in doing a research for this matter. If someone is not bound by a special feeling when he thinks about the facts such as calling this Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) ‘Mahabō - මහබො’ (5) and offering elephant figures for the aspiration of becoming a Buddha, he cannot be a Buddhist. By adding another historical incident for this matter, the greatness of this sacred place gets elevated further and reaches to its zenith. Isn’t this the most sacred place for all of us who live in the Buddhist world as this place is known as ‘The city of sacred Jaya Siri Maha Bōdhi  - ජය සිරි මහ බෝ පුරය ’ by Vargapoornikā, by calling  this place as “Mahabo” by Monaragal Budmi and also by the act of making the aspiration of achieving the Biddhahood at this place?

1 - A wall or a chamber built around the Bodhi tree for its protection.
2 - The frame made around the door and the door is fixed in to this structure. In the ancient times these frames were made in rocks\stones.
3 - The lower terrace. Generally a Bodhigara  (Bōdhigara) is having few terraces.
4 - A system of cultivation in the land. Intially a plot of the jungle is selected, place is cleared up by cutting off all the trees, setting up fire for all the vegetations and seeds are planted in the ‘fresh’ soil. Generally this is done in prior to the rainy season.
5 - The greatest Bodhi tree.

{The English translation of 'බුද්ධෝත්පත්තිය හෙළදිවයි' (Buddha was born in Heladiva) - Part – 9}

Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)