Na Uyana Aranya
Encyclopedia
Nā Uyana Aranya Senāsanaya (Sinhala: නා උයන ආරණ්ය සේනාසනය, meaning ‘Ironwood Grove Forest Monastery’) is a Buddhist forest monastery in Kurunegala
, Sri Lanka
, associated with the Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha. It spreads over more than 5000 acres of forest on the ‘Dummiya’ mountain range, and is residence to about 100 Buddhist monks. Na Uyana is so named because of the old Ceylon ironwood
forest that forms part of the monastery.
inscriptions as well as ruins of a small Stupa
complex have been found at Na Uyana which date back to 3rd century BCE. The new stupa of the monastery is built on the location of this complex. One inscription states that King Uttiya
has donated his pleasure grove to the Sangha. As Uttiya was the successor to King Devanampiya Tissa, during whose reign Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka, the ancient monastery at Na Uyana seems to have been one of the first in the country established outside Anuradhapura
.
The ancient monastery was rediscovered by Ven. Wigoda Bodhirakkhita Thera in 1954. Sayadaw U Nandavamsa and Sayadaw U Javana, senior Burmese disciples of Mahasi Sayadaw
, visited the monastery in 1956.
Ven. Angulgamuwe Ariyananda Thera moved to Na Uyana in 1997 with a group of monks and started a revival that has made it the largest monastery in the Yogasrama Samstha. It is also one of the main international monasteries in Sri Lanka, with about 25 foreign monks. Ven. Nauyane Ariyadhamma Mahathera
, the Spritual Director of Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha, also resides at Na Uyana.
hall, meditation hall, refectory, library and offices in addition to about 80 kutis (monks′ residences). ‘Mountain’ is the newly developed area on the main hill of the monastery, which has about 80 kutis and the main meditation hall. This area is being reforested. Matale section, which has about 20 kutis and a smaller meditation hall, is situated among grassy hills with less forest cover. Aandagala is a remote, densely forested area in the monastery which is not in direct contact with others, and is reserved for the most austere dhutanga
practitioners. There are 4 mud huts in this area, and the occupants must go on almsround to the nearby villages. Meals are provided separately for the first three sections, yet some monks prefer going for alms.
. The main meditation method taught is ‘Pa-Auk Samatha Vipassana’, and the senior meditation teacher is Ven. Ariyananda Thera. It is possible to have interviews with Ven. Ariyadhamma Mahathera, although he is less engaged in active teaching now. Practitioners may join the group sittings conducted in the two main meditation halls, or continue on their own in their individual kutis.
Ven. Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw undertook a long-term personal retreat at Na Uyana Aranya in 2007, staying in seclusion and suspending his teaching schedule throughout the year.
and Dambulla
) on the A6 highway
. At the Pansiyagama junction on the Madahapola road, take the road to Galewela. About 1km on this road is the Na Uyana road, which leads to the monastery.
Kurunegala
Kurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...
, 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...
, associated with the Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha. It spreads over more than 5000 acres of forest on the ‘Dummiya’ mountain range, and is residence to about 100 Buddhist monks. Na Uyana is so named because of the old Ceylon ironwood
Mesua ferrea
Mesua ferrea is a species in the family Calophyllaceae. The plant is named after the heaviness of its timber and cultivated in tropical climates for its form, foliage, and fragrant flowers...
forest that forms part of the monastery.
History
Ancient cave dwellings with BrāhmīBrāhmī script
Brāhmī is the modern name given to the oldest members of the Brahmic family of scripts. The best-known Brāhmī inscriptions are the rock-cut edicts of Ashoka in north-central India, dated to the 3rd century BCE. These are traditionally considered to be early known examples of Brāhmī writing...
inscriptions as well as ruins of a small Stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
complex have been found at Na Uyana which date back to 3rd century BCE. The new stupa of the monastery is built on the location of this complex. One inscription states that King Uttiya
Uttiya of Sri Lanka
Uttiya was an early monarch of Sri Lanka of the kingdom of Anuradhapura, based at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 267 BC to 257 BC.-External links :* *...
has donated his pleasure grove to the Sangha. As Uttiya was the successor to King Devanampiya Tissa, during whose reign Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka, the ancient monastery at Na Uyana seems to have been one of the first in the country established outside Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
.
The ancient monastery was rediscovered by Ven. Wigoda Bodhirakkhita Thera in 1954. Sayadaw U Nandavamsa and Sayadaw U Javana, senior Burmese disciples of Mahasi Sayadaw
Mahasi Sayadaw
The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw U Sobhana was a Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk and meditation master who had a significant impact on the teaching of Vipassana meditation in the West and throughout Asia...
, visited the monastery in 1956.
Ven. Angulgamuwe Ariyananda Thera moved to Na Uyana in 1997 with a group of monks and started a revival that has made it the largest monastery in the Yogasrama Samstha. It is also one of the main international monasteries in Sri Lanka, with about 25 foreign monks. Ven. Nauyane Ariyadhamma Mahathera
Nauyane Ariyadhamma Mahathera
Nauyane Ariyadhamma Mahathera is a Sri Lankan bhikkhu and a senior meditation teacher. He is the Spiritual Advisor of the Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha, and resides at the Na Uyana Aranya.- Early life :...
, the Spritual Director of Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha, also resides at Na Uyana.
Layout
Na Uyana has 4 main sections: Pansiyagama (or Kurunegala), ‘Mountain’, Matale and Aandagala, each about 30 minutes of a walk apart from the other. Pansiyagama section is the ancient monastery within the ironwood forest, and contains the uposathaUposatha
The Uposatha is Buddhist day of observance, in existence from the Buddha's time , and still being kept today in Buddhist countries. The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for "the cleansing of the defiled mind," resulting in inner calm and joy...
hall, meditation hall, refectory, library and offices in addition to about 80 kutis (monks′ residences). ‘Mountain’ is the newly developed area on the main hill of the monastery, which has about 80 kutis and the main meditation hall. This area is being reforested. Matale section, which has about 20 kutis and a smaller meditation hall, is situated among grassy hills with less forest cover. Aandagala is a remote, densely forested area in the monastery which is not in direct contact with others, and is reserved for the most austere dhutanga
Dhutanga
Dhutanga is a group of thirteen austerities, or ascetic practices, most commonly observed by Forest Monastics of the Theravada Tradition of Buddhism.-Description:...
practitioners. There are 4 mud huts in this area, and the occupants must go on almsround to the nearby villages. Meals are provided separately for the first three sections, yet some monks prefer going for alms.
Meditation
Na Uyana is one of the two principal meditation monasteries of the Yogasrama Samstha, along with Nissarana VanayaNissarana Vanaya
Nissarana Vanaya is a famous meditation monastery in Sri Lanka. It is located in western province close to the town of Kirindiwela.-History:Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya is a monastery in the strict forest tradition in Sri Lanka...
. The main meditation method taught is ‘Pa-Auk Samatha Vipassana’, and the senior meditation teacher is Ven. Ariyananda Thera. It is possible to have interviews with Ven. Ariyadhamma Mahathera, although he is less engaged in active teaching now. Practitioners may join the group sittings conducted in the two main meditation halls, or continue on their own in their individual kutis.
Ven. Pa-Auk Tawya Sayadaw undertook a long-term personal retreat at Na Uyana Aranya in 2007, staying in seclusion and suspending his teaching schedule throughout the year.
Directions
Take the road to Madahapola at the Melsiripura junction (between KurunegalaKurunegala
Kurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...
and Dambulla
Dambulla
The city of Dambulla is situated in the Matale District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, situated 148 km north-east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy....
) on the A6 highway
A6 highway (Sri Lanka)
The A 6 road is an A-Grade trunk road in Sri Lanka. It connects Ambepussa with Trincomallee.The A 6 passes through Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Ibbagamuwa, Melsiripura, Galewala, Dambulla, Habarana, Gal Oya, Alut Oya, Kantale and Thampalakamam to reach Trincomallee....
. At the Pansiyagama junction on the Madahapola road, take the road to Galewela. About 1km on this road is the Na Uyana road, which leads to the monastery.