Madihe Pannaseeha thero
Encyclopedia
Madihe Pannaseeha Thero (Pali
: Paññāsīha) (June 21, 1913 - September 9, 2003) was an eminent Sri Lanka
n Buddhist monk, who was the head of Amarapura
sect from July 13, 1969 until his death on September 9, 2003.
district, as the youngest in a family of five. His lay name was Benson Wilmot.
Benson Wilmot had his education in the English medium at St.Thomas' College
, Matara
and later at Mahinda College
, Galle
. At the age of 13 years he entered the Buddhist Order.
His ordination was held at Devagiri Vihara, Kabmurugamuwa, on June 24, 1926. He was named 'Madihe Pannasheeha' at the ordination.
, to select the Maha Nayaka ( Great Chief ) Thera to succeed Ven. Palane Vagiragnana Nayake Thera. At the election 141 Bhikkus of the Nikaya
cast their votes, and Ven. Madihe Pannasiha received 109, while the other contender received 32 votes. Accordingly, Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was elected as the Maha Nayaka Thera of the Amarapura Sri Dharmarakkhita Nikaya by a clear majority vote.
The certificate for the appointment of Maha Nayaka was handed over at Vajiraramaya Bambalapitiya
, in the presence of a very large gathering of Nayaka Theras in Siam
, Amarapura
and Ramanna
Nikayas.
A few days after the appointment, Sir Cyril de Zoysa
and R.Premadasa
, the late President, an MMC Colombo at that time had called on the Maha Nayaka Thera individually and after conferring his good wishes had made a request which has come to effect and that was to incorporate all sects of the Amarapura Nikaya to one. The first Vinaya Karma was held at Maharagama on July 13, 1969. It has not only united the Nikaya, but also made him the head of the United Amarapura Nikaya
.
Sir Oliver Goonetilake
, the Governor-General appointed a Buddha Sasana
Commission on March 4, 1957 under the chairmanship of Ven. Kalukondayawe Pangnasekera Maha Nayaka Thera and Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was also a member of that Commission, which issued its report after visiting Buddhist countries abroad.
After this report was issued, Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayaka Thera took up the issues such as taking over all assisted schools to the government and making all Poya
days public holidays.
Thero
also visited Kathmandu in Nepal
for a higher ordination of Bhikahkus in 1951 and in 1954 to establish a Seema Malaka in Lalith Pura, Nepal
and he renamed the Buddhist Vihara there from "Young Sumangala Vihara" to "Sri Sumangala Vihara".
Ven. Thera visited Burma on January 4, 1954, and attended the Sixth Buddhist council
, and in 1956 during the 2500 Buddha Jayantiya he took part in the establishment of a Seema Malaka.
Maha Nayaka Thera left for America on 27 March, 1964 on an invitation from the Asia Foundation to gain an idea of the educational training prevailing there, ways and means of rural development, and also for the propagation of Theravada Buddhism in America
. He spent 5 months there and made arrangements to establish a Vihara in Washington in 1964. Other places of his visit were England, West Indies, Scotland, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore. On his return he established the Buddhist Information Centre at Greenpath, Colombo
, the first of its kind in order to furnish information to any one who is interested in Buddhism
. The World Buddhist Directory is published by this Information Center.
to organise and train the youths of Sri Lanka. Maha Nayaka Thera considered that the young generation in Sri Lanka should be directed in the correct lines. This movement attracted many youths and this resulted in a society called "Samma Ajeeva Sangamaya" in 1974. This was necessary to counter the increasing rate of drug addiction and alcoholism among the youths of Sri Lanka
. Ven. Maha Nayaka Thera played an important role in the rehabilitation of youths after the 1971 Insurrection.
from the University of Peradeniya
in 1987, and received the honorific title Agga Maha Pandita
from Burma in the year 1996. Most Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Thero passed away on September 9, 2003 at the age of 90.
Páli
- External links :* *...
: Paññāsīha) (June 21, 1913 - September 9, 2003) was an eminent Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n Buddhist monk, who was the head of Amarapura
Amarapura Nikaya
The Amarapura Nikaya is a Sri Lankan monastic fraternity founded in 1800. It is named after the city of Amarapura, Myanmar , the former capital of the Burmese kingdom...
sect from July 13, 1969 until his death on September 9, 2003.
Early life
Madihe Pannaseeha Nayaka Thero was born on June 21, 1913 in the village called Madihe in MataraMatara, Sri Lanka
Matara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...
district, as the youngest in a family of five. His lay name was Benson Wilmot.
Benson Wilmot had his education in the English medium at St.Thomas' College
St.Thomas' College, Matara, Sri Lanka
St.Thomas' College is a government school for boys in Matara, Sri Lanka which is located in the heart of Matara city. The College was initially founded as an English School in Wellamadama, Dondra, Sri Lanka in 1844...
, Matara
Matara, Sri Lanka
Matara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...
and later at Mahinda College
Mahinda College
Mahinda College is a Buddhist boys' school in Galle, Sri Lanka. It is a national school, which provides primary and secondary education. The school was established on March 1, 1892 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
, Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
. At the age of 13 years he entered the Buddhist Order.
His ordination was held at Devagiri Vihara, Kabmurugamuwa, on June 24, 1926. He was named 'Madihe Pannasheeha' at the ordination.
Elected Maha Nayaka
An election by secret vote was held on November 27, 1955, at Vajiraramaya, BambalapitiyaBambalapitiya
Bambalapitiya is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The area, numbered Colombo 4, spans about one and a half kilometres of the Galle Road in Colombo. The west of the city is bordered by the Indian Ocean while to the east Havelock Town town borders it....
, to select the Maha Nayaka ( Great Chief ) Thera to succeed Ven. Palane Vagiragnana Nayake Thera. At the election 141 Bhikkus of the Nikaya
Nikaya
Nikāya is a word of meaning "collection", "assemblage", "class" or "group" in both Pāḷi and Sanskrit. It is most commonly used in reference to the Buddhist texts of the Sutta Piṭaka, but can also refer to the monastic divisions of Theravāda Buddhism...
cast their votes, and Ven. Madihe Pannasiha received 109, while the other contender received 32 votes. Accordingly, Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was elected as the Maha Nayaka Thera of the Amarapura Sri Dharmarakkhita Nikaya by a clear majority vote.
The certificate for the appointment of Maha Nayaka was handed over at Vajiraramaya Bambalapitiya
Bambalapitiya
Bambalapitiya is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The area, numbered Colombo 4, spans about one and a half kilometres of the Galle Road in Colombo. The west of the city is bordered by the Indian Ocean while to the east Havelock Town town borders it....
, in the presence of a very large gathering of Nayaka Theras in Siam
Siam Nikaya
The Siam Nikaya is a monastic order within Sri Lanka, founded by Upali Thera and located predominantly around the city of Kandy. It is so named because it originated within Thailand...
, Amarapura
Amarapura Nikaya
The Amarapura Nikaya is a Sri Lankan monastic fraternity founded in 1800. It is named after the city of Amarapura, Myanmar , the former capital of the Burmese kingdom...
and Ramanna
Ramanna Nikaya
Ramanna Nikaya is one of the most orthodox Buddhist orders in Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1864 when Ambagahawatte Saranankara, returned to Sri Lanka after being ordained by the Neyyadhama Munivara Sangharaja of Ratnapunna Vihara in Burma.-Similar orders:Ramanna Nikaya is said to be similar to the...
Nikayas.
A few days after the appointment, Sir Cyril de Zoysa
Cyril de Zoysa
Sir Cyril de Zoysa was a Sri Lankan industrialist, Senator and a philanthropist. The President of the Senate of Ceylon from 1960 to 1965, he was a leader in the Buddhist revival movement in Ceylon in the 20th century...
and R.Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from February 6, 1978 to January 1, 1989...
, the late President, an MMC Colombo at that time had called on the Maha Nayaka Thera individually and after conferring his good wishes had made a request which has come to effect and that was to incorporate all sects of the Amarapura Nikaya to one. The first Vinaya Karma was held at Maharagama on July 13, 1969. It has not only united the Nikaya, but also made him the head of the United Amarapura Nikaya
Amarapura Nikaya
The Amarapura Nikaya is a Sri Lankan monastic fraternity founded in 1800. It is named after the city of Amarapura, Myanmar , the former capital of the Burmese kingdom...
.
Buddhist committees
In April 1954 a committee was appointed by the all Ceylon Buddhist Congress composed of members from Buddhist clergy and laity in order to ascertain salient facts about the conditions and ways of Buddhist life. Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Thera was among the members of that committee which issued its report on February 4, 1956.Sir Oliver Goonetilake
Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke
Sir Oliver Goonetilleke , GCMG, KCVO, KBE was an important figure in the gradual independence of Ceylon from Britain, and became the third Governor-General of Ceylon...
, the Governor-General appointed a Buddha Sasana
Sasana
Śāsana , is a term used by Buddhists and Shaivites to refer to their religion or non-religion. It has a range of possible translations, including teaching, practice, doctrine and Buddha Śãsana, which means "the teaching of the Buddha"...
Commission on March 4, 1957 under the chairmanship of Ven. Kalukondayawe Pangnasekera Maha Nayaka Thera and Ven. Madihe Pannasiha was also a member of that Commission, which issued its report after visiting Buddhist countries abroad.
After this report was issued, Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayaka Thera took up the issues such as taking over all assisted schools to the government and making all Poya
Poya
Poya or Poya Day is the name given to a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka which occurs every full moon day. The Full moon is important to Buddhists all around the world, who have adopted the Lunar Calendar for their religious observances...
days public holidays.
Propagation of Buddhism
Maha Nayaka Thera visited China in 1946 for the propagation of Theravada Buddhism.Thero
Thero
Thero is an honorific term for fully ordained Buddhist monks in the Buddhist monastic order. The term Theri is used fully ordained Buddhist nuns. The terms are derived from Pāli language and translate as 'elder and venerable'. These terms are used at the end of a monk or nun's other names...
also visited Kathmandu in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
for a higher ordination of Bhikahkus in 1951 and in 1954 to establish a Seema Malaka in Lalith Pura, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and he renamed the Buddhist Vihara there from "Young Sumangala Vihara" to "Sri Sumangala Vihara".
Ven. Thera visited Burma on January 4, 1954, and attended the Sixth Buddhist council
Sixth Buddhist council
The Sixth Buddhist Council was a general council of Theravada Buddhism, held in a specially built cave and pagoda complex at Kaba Aye Pagoda in Yangon, Burma. The council was attended by 2,500 monastics from eight Theravada Buddhist countries...
, and in 1956 during the 2500 Buddha Jayantiya he took part in the establishment of a Seema Malaka.
Maha Nayaka Thera left for America on 27 March, 1964 on an invitation from the Asia Foundation to gain an idea of the educational training prevailing there, ways and means of rural development, and also for the propagation of Theravada Buddhism in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He spent 5 months there and made arrangements to establish a Vihara in Washington in 1964. Other places of his visit were England, West Indies, Scotland, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore. On his return he established the Buddhist Information Centre at Greenpath, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, the first of its kind in order to furnish information to any one who is interested in Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. The World Buddhist Directory is published by this Information Center.
Thurunu Saviya
After returning from USA, Maha Nayaka Thera organised the "Thurunu Saviya" at MaharagamaMaharagama
Maharagama is a Town, Municipal Area in the Colombo District and a suburb of Colombo Sri Lanka. Situated on the High-Level Road about 15 km away from the centre of the commercial capital Colombo, Maharagama is the city with the third largest population , in Sri Lanka. It developed rapidly in...
to organise and train the youths of Sri Lanka. Maha Nayaka Thera considered that the young generation in Sri Lanka should be directed in the correct lines. This movement attracted many youths and this resulted in a society called "Samma Ajeeva Sangamaya" in 1974. This was necessary to counter the increasing rate of drug addiction and alcoholism among the youths of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Ven. Maha Nayaka Thera played an important role in the rehabilitation of youths after the 1971 Insurrection.
Dharma Vijaya foundation
The Dharma Vijaya Foundation established in 1979 under the patronage of the Maha Nayaka Thera has noble objectives to make Sri Lanka a Dharma Deepa or a country where righteous people live, to develop the economy and the culture of the country simultaneously and also to serve the poor in their social needs and education.Temperance movement
He succeeded Ven. Kalubondayawe Pangnasekera Maha Nayaka Thera as the president of the Sri Lanka Temperance Movement, to carry out the good work commenced during the early part of the 20th century.Honours and death
Thero was conferred an honorary Ph.D.Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
in 1987, and received the honorific title Agga Maha Pandita
Agga Maha Pandita
Agga Maha Pandita is an honorific title used in Theravada Buddhism in reference to Buddhists, usually monks, who are considered to be unusually wise, noble, and enlightened.- Usage :...
from Burma in the year 1996. Most Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Thero passed away on September 9, 2003 at the age of 90.
External links
- Lamp of Dhamma lit at Vajiraramaya by Aggamaha Panditha Kotugoda Dhammawasa Anunayake Thero
- Section on Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayaka Thero at Sakyamuni Sambuddha Vihara
- Facebook Commemoration Page