හින්දු ආභාෂය හෙළදිවට ගෙනාවේ කවුරුන්ද?
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| Picture credit - 1 - Source - www.buddhanet.net |
The methodology adopted for the protection of the Bodhi tree
(Bōdhi) which was sent to Heladiva was not something practiced in
India. Sometimes, there would have been only a position in India held by a
Brahmin who was engaged in ritualistic performances in front of the Bodhi tree
(Bōdhi). It can be guessed that all other positions would have been raised
based on the needs of India. These men involved in the protection of the Bodhi
tree (Bōdhi) had created a negative destiny for the king. This
situation is explained by the Bodhivamsa (Bōdhivamsa) as follows.
“Those men of different clans of sixteen nations who were headed
by Prince Bodhiguptha (Bōdhiguptha) were adorned in jewelry costumes and
dressed up as the king. The king was dressed up as the gatekeeper.” (Sinhala
Bōdhivamsa, Page 187). A story of this nature is found in our
history. It is suspected whether this is a precedent of that incident. Whatever
it is, this says that the powers of the king had been declining gradually.
After twenty years of bringing down the branch of the Sri Maha
Bōdhi tree to Heladiva, the parental Bodhi tree (Bōdhi)
in India was destroyed by the queen of King Ashoka, the Mahavamsa (Māhavamsa)
records. (Ma.Chap.20.1-6 Stanzas). According to this, it is evident that there
had not been a proper system for the protection of the parental Bodhi
tree (Bōdhi). One may argue that she had that capability as she was the
queen in the kingdom. There isn’t single evidence about the involvement of King
Ashoka over this matter and about any minor punishment given to her by the king.
When we look in to the incidents such as the assassination of the elderly Theros
for the offence of Poya
Kireema (3) (Pōya Kireema), taking
off the robes and chasing out of sixty thousand Bhikus and the employment
of the spy service and the aggressive control of Bhikkus, we feel that
there is another hidden side of this incident. (Ma.Chap.5.240-270 Stanzas).
We can assume that the system adopted for the protection of the Bodhi
tree (Bōdhi) would have been considered as a subtle conspiracy by
the Bhikkus, they would have worked against that, then they would have
been accused over Poya
Kireema (Pōya Kireema), assassinated the elderly Bhikkus and
chased out other Bhikkus. The secret tunnel which was used for this task
is still available as evidence. Because of this, it weakens the statement that
one may make that there wasn’t a hidden, secret agenda here. The Bhikkus
in India would have been opposing to the decision of sending the Bhikkus
and the branch of the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) to the birth place of
Buddha, to Helbima which has the sacred Dhamma. It is not unfair
to think that this opposition itself would have been the reason for the
suppression of Ashoka.
Ashoka wouldn’t have ever been a Buddhist as
indicated in the Mahavamsa (Mahāvamsa) and also he did not have
any knowledge about the subtle teachings in Buddha Dhamma, ‘The
Wonder that was India’ records. Professor A. L. Basham mentions
about it as follows.
“Actually speaking, he had only little understanding over the
subtle teachings found in Buddha Dhamma. Or in other words he had a
little consideration over them. He does not speak anything about Buddhist Nibbana
(Nibbāna) and he always mentions about the heaven.”(Asirimath Indiyawa,
Page 69). (4)
The learning of this is that Ashoka did not have a great
interest in Buddha Dhamma. He did not even ‘touch’ any Brahmin, but assassinated
Buddhist Bhikkus. This shows the nature of his character as a ‘Pious
Buddhist’. According to the statement of Professor Basham we can think
that he had ever been a Hindu ruler who always planned to live as a god in this
world enjoying all the sensual pleasures. Professor Basham’s statement
to explain this situation is as follows.
“He never gave up his interest in expanding his empire. Instead,
he compared his thoughts with the virtual qualities found in Buddha Dhamma.”
(Asirimath Indiyawa,Page 67) (5)
It is clearly seen here that Ashoka had tried to expand his
empire as he wished by showcasing the virtues found in Buddha Dhamma.
For the further growth of his empire he had used the Buddhist robe and the
branch of the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi). A classic example to be
highlighted for that is Sri Lanka.
When it is critically analyzed, it is realized that following the
instructions of the Brahmins, Ashoka had executed different systems to
expand his empire. The act of coming in to the Order of Sanga by Mahinda
Thero also had been done with an intention of coming to Lanka, Professor
Basham explains this in his book as follows.
“The Paaramparya very clearly says that Ashoka’s son
Mahinda who became a Buddhist monk had converted Lanka in to Buddhism.
According to some other source books he is Ashoka’s brother.” (Asirimath
Indiyawa, Page 69) (6)
According to Vargapoornikāwa (Vargapoornikāwa) and
inscriptions found in Lanka it is clear that when Mahinda Thero
visited Lakdiva, (7) Buddha Dhamma was in the
status of pure and flawless. If the inscriptions spread all over the island
could speak up, then they would explain well that Heladiva of that time
was well developed in all the ways and was self sufficient. All these incidents
had been subsided on the intention of conquering Lanka. This situation
is explained in ‘Asirimath Indiyawa’ as follows.
“The note once made over a particular incident by the chronicle of
Lanka which has a sympathetic birth cannot be untrue. That is the
incident where it accepts, with a hint of course, that Thissa was
slightly subjugated by Ashoka” (8). Doesn’t
this explain that Ashoka’s expectation was fulfilled and he was
successful?
The reality of the methodology adopted for the protection of the Bodhi
tree (Bōdhi) which was planned out by the philosophy of Kauṭilya
is explained by the Bodhivamsa (Bōdhivamsa) as follows. It was a
discussion held between Mahinda Thero and the king.
The king: Venerable Sir, does the ancestry of the both secretaries who is
involved in the protection of the sacred Maha Bodhi (Maha Bōdhi) place
in this Lankadeepa?
Mahinda Thero: Oh, great king, yes, the ancestry is placed.
But, the roots of that ancestry are not yet strongly established.
The king: When will the roots of that ancestry are established?
Mahinda Thero: Oh, great king, when will those two secretaries
pay their homage with their children and grand children one day? Then the roots
of their ancestry will be established.
The king: Venerable Sir, from where will they get noble women for
them?
Mahinda Thero: Great king, they themselves know about the
noble women for them.
(Sinhala Bōdhivamsa, Page 194)
It’s a fact that throughout the Buddhist history we found oppressive
precedents for a particular incident of establishing a long lasting system for
the protection of the Bodhi tree (Bōdhi) headed by a prince-ancestry.
But what we can observe are the incidents which were executed by the force of
the Indian influence. The incident where Sunandha Mehini becomes a lay woman
again and wedded to Prince Bodhiguptha (Bōdhiguptha) was initiated by Therini Sangamiththa (Sangamiththā)
(9) based on a requirement of the Bodhiguptha (Bōdhiguptha)
clan is not something to be accepted by Buddha Dhamma. Throughout the
entire history (10), finding
a precedent for this within the time period of Buddha is impossible. This
particular act too, it can be understood, had been executed based on the
rituals and the customs of the Hinduism. In order to get an understanding over Heladiva
in the time of the Buddha, it is necessary to take off the mythical masks and
stand on the true Buddha Dhamma.
1 - The doctrine of the Buddha.
2 - Therini or the female non-lay disciple of
the Buddha. Therini Sangamiththa is supposed to be the sister of Arahanth
Mahinda Thero.
3 - This can be explained as a custom to be
seen among the society of Bhikkus where a Bhikku who has attended to the higher
ordination performs an act of not ‘good’ and he accepts it in front of the
chief Bhikku and seeks ‘pardon’ from him.
4 - This is an English translation
given for the extract of Asirimath Indiayawa and it is the Sinhala translation
of ‘The Wonder That was India’.
5
- This is an English translation given for the extract of Asirimath Indiayawa
and it is the Sinhala translation of ‘The Wonder That was India’.
6
- This is an English translation given for the extract of Asirimath Indiayawa
and it is the Sinhala translation of ‘The Wonder That was India’.
7
- Another name given for Sri Lanka.
8
- This is an English translation given for the extract of Asirimath Indiayawa
and it is the Sinhala translation of ‘The Wonder That was India’.
9
- Sunandha Mehini and Therini Sangamiththā were the sisters of Mahinda Thero.
10
- This is the history prior to the visit of Mahinda Thero.
{The English translation of 'බුද්ධෝත්පත්තිය හෙළදිවයි' (Buddha was born in
Heladiva) - Part – 2}
Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)
Translated by Amal Meemanage (amalmeemanage@gmail.com)
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