Walisinghe Harischandra
Encyclopedia
Brahmachari
Walisinghe Harischandra (Sinhala:බ්රහ්මචාරී වලිසිංහ හරිශ්චන්ද්ර)
( 09 July 1876 - 13 September 1913 ) was a social reformer, historian, author and revivalist of Sri Lankan Buddhism. He was a follower of Anagarika Dharmapala
, who gave leadership to the Buddhist revivalist movement, after the lead given by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
. Walisinghe Harischandra is also regarded as the saviour of Sri Lankan sacred city Anuradhapura
.
on July 09, 1876. His birth name was Edward de Silva. Edward started his primary education under a Buddhist scholar monk and then attended St. Mary's College, Negombo. Later he was entrusted to a lawyer uncle in Colombo
, to continue his studies in English
and Law
. He was a student of Wesley College, Colombo
from 1889 to 1895. After the school education, he attended the Law College.
Edward developed a keen interest in Buddhism
and gradually began working as a true nationalist, while he was a law student. He changed his name to E.de S. Walisinghe and started teaching at the Sunday Dhamma school at Ananda College
, Colombo. Sri Lanka was then a British colony known as Ceylon. Young E.de S. Walisinghe gave up his legal career and adopted the name Walisinghe Harischandra. He decided to be a Brahmacharya
, which meant he would remain a bachelor
, devoting his time to religious and national work. He believed that he would be able to serve his motherland in a more meaningful manner by getting involved in nationalist and religious activities.
Walisinghe Harischandra joined the Mahabodhi Society, which had been established by Anagarika Dharmapala
, a prominent figure of Sri Lankan Buddhist nationalist movement. He worked first as the assistant secretary and later as the secretary of Mahabodhi Society. In 1899 he went across to India
and was involved in the construction of the Maha Bodhi Vihara in Sanchi
. He spent some time in India and participated in the campaign 'Save Buddhagaya'.
Walisinghe Harischandra was also interested in Temperance Work
and addressed many meetings of the Sri Lankan temperance society. By constantly addressing various meetings, he soon became a powerful orator. He wrote many books in the areas of Sri Lankan history and Buddhism and was also the editor of the magazine ‘Mahabodhi’. He was the prominent figure of making ancient city of Anuradhapura
, a sacred city and was the founder of the Ruvanveli Dagoba Improvement Society. He did a great service for the restoration of ancient Buddhist shrines in Anuradhapura and Mihintale
.
Walisinghe Harischandra kept a diary of daily activities making notes regularly. Among the entries towards the latter part of his life was one on 'The best die young'. Walisinghe Harischandra died on September 13, 1913 after a short illness. He died at relatively young age of 37, with the satisfaction of being able to be a part of the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Brahmachari Walisinghe Harischandra is regarded as a National Hero of Sri Lanka.
In his book The Sacred City of Anuradhapura, he included a section titled The best way to see the ruins, to guide the newcomers to the city.
Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya is one of the four stages of life in an age-based social system as laid out in the Manu Smrti and later Classical Sanskrit texts in Hinduism. It refers to an educational period of 14–20 years which starts before the age of puberty. During this time the traditional vedic sciences are...
Walisinghe Harischandra (Sinhala:බ්රහ්මචාරී වලිසිංහ හරිශ්චන්ද්ර)
( 09 July 1876 - 13 September 1913 ) was a social reformer, historian, author and revivalist of Sri Lankan Buddhism. He was a follower of Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
, who gave leadership to the Buddhist revivalist movement, after the lead given by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott
Henry Steel Olcott
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott was an American military officer, journalist, lawyer and the co-founder and first President of the Theosophical Society....
. Walisinghe Harischandra is also regarded as the saviour of Sri Lankan sacred city 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...
.
Biography
Walisinghe Harischandra was born to the family of Walisinghe Hendrick de Silva and Pehandi Marthnanda de Silva Gunasekera in NegomboNegombo
Negombo is a town of about 121,933, approximately 37 km north of Colombo, in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, about 7 km from the Bandaranaike International Airport...
on July 09, 1876. His birth name was Edward de Silva. Edward started his primary education under a Buddhist scholar monk and then attended St. Mary's College, Negombo. Later he was entrusted to a lawyer uncle in 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...
, to continue his studies in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He was a student of Wesley College, Colombo
Wesley College, Colombo
Wesley College, Colombo is a Methodist educational institution in Sri Lanka.In 1858 Rev. Joseph Rippon wanted to establish a superior educational institution for the Wesleyan Methodist Mission in South Ceylon. On March 2 1874 Wesley College, Colombo is a Methodist educational institution in Sri...
from 1889 to 1895. After the school education, he attended the Law College.
Edward developed a keen interest 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...
and gradually began working as a true nationalist, while he was a law student. He changed his name to E.de S. Walisinghe and started teaching at the Sunday Dhamma school at Ananda College
Ananda College
Ananda College , Colombo which is considered as the leading National school in Sri Lanka, was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
, Colombo. Sri Lanka was then a British colony known as Ceylon. Young E.de S. Walisinghe gave up his legal career and adopted the name Walisinghe Harischandra. He decided to be a Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya is one of the four stages of life in an age-based social system as laid out in the Manu Smrti and later Classical Sanskrit texts in Hinduism. It refers to an educational period of 14–20 years which starts before the age of puberty. During this time the traditional vedic sciences are...
, which meant he would remain a bachelor
Bachelor
A bachelor is a man above the age of majority who has never been married . Unlike his female counterpart, the spinster, a bachelor may have had children...
, devoting his time to religious and national work. He believed that he would be able to serve his motherland in a more meaningful manner by getting involved in nationalist and religious activities.
Walisinghe Harischandra joined the Mahabodhi Society, which had been established by Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
, a prominent figure of Sri Lankan Buddhist nationalist movement. He worked first as the assistant secretary and later as the secretary of Mahabodhi Society. In 1899 he went across to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and was involved in the construction of the Maha Bodhi Vihara in Sanchi
Sanchi
Sanchi is a small village in Raisen District of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, it is located 46 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar and Vidisha in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd...
. He spent some time in India and participated in the campaign 'Save Buddhagaya'.
Walisinghe Harischandra was also interested in Temperance Work
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
and addressed many meetings of the Sri Lankan temperance society. By constantly addressing various meetings, he soon became a powerful orator. He wrote many books in the areas of Sri Lankan history and Buddhism and was also the editor of the magazine ‘Mahabodhi’. He was the prominent figure of making ancient city of 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...
, a sacred city and was the founder of the Ruvanveli Dagoba Improvement Society. He did a great service for the restoration of ancient Buddhist shrines in Anuradhapura and Mihintale
Mihintale
Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka...
.
Walisinghe Harischandra kept a diary of daily activities making notes regularly. Among the entries towards the latter part of his life was one on 'The best die young'. Walisinghe Harischandra died on September 13, 1913 after a short illness. He died at relatively young age of 37, with the satisfaction of being able to be a part of the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Brahmachari Walisinghe Harischandra is regarded as a National Hero of Sri Lanka.
Survey of writings
Walisinghe Harischandra wrote and published a considerable number of books. Most of his books were written in English and Sinhala languages. Description of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, Great Story of King Dutugemunu, Lumbini, Mahabodhi, The Significance of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and Life of King Devanampiyatissa are some examples for his written work.In his book The Sacred City of Anuradhapura, he included a section titled The best way to see the ruins, to guide the newcomers to the city.