Weligama Sri Sumangala
Encyclopedia
Venerable Weligama Sri Sumangala Thera (1825-1905) was an outstanding scholar bhikkhu
with many important publications -Hitopadsesa Atthadassi, Hitopadsesa Padarthavykanaya, Upadesa Vinischaya, Siddanta Sekaraya. His work Siddhanta Sekharaya of 700 pages was printed at the Government Press in 1897. He established Saugathodaya Vidyalaya at Rankoth Viharaya in Panadura
.
He was a close associate of Sir Edwin Arnold
the author of ‘Light of Asia’.
serious illness compelled him to relinquish the plan, while the suffering he experienced at the time led him to abandon wealth and ease and give his life to the service of humanity. He entered the Buddhist priesthood when only twelve years of age, and received his education under the High Priest Bentota
who was one of the most famous Sanskrit
scholars of his day.
The Rev. Sumangala belonged to the Amarapura sect
of Buddhist priests,and in 1894 liis colleagues in Ceylon unanimously elected him as their ChiefHigh Priest, at the same time bestowing upon him a distinguished title. He lived and dressed as did the Buddhist monks at the time of Buddha
more than twenty centuries ago , and was a noble representative of the religion of "The
Enlightened One" in its original and purest form. His whole life has been characterized by a single-minded devotion to the uplifting of mankind, and he was beloved and appreciated by high and low, Buddhist and Christian
. Reports of the impressive ceremonies at his cremation state variously
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
with many important publications -Hitopadsesa Atthadassi, Hitopadsesa Padarthavykanaya, Upadesa Vinischaya, Siddanta Sekaraya. His work Siddhanta Sekharaya of 700 pages was printed at the Government Press in 1897. He established Saugathodaya Vidyalaya at Rankoth Viharaya in Panadura
Panadura
- History :The historic debate 'Panadura Vadaya' was held in this place which is a milestone of the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka with the initiative of the ven. Migettuwaththe Gunananda Thera.- People and Culture :Panadura is home to about 100,000 citizens...
.
He was a close associate of Sir Edwin Arnold
Edwin Arnold
Sir Edwin Arnold CSI CIE was an English poet and journalist, who is most known for his work, The Light of Asia.-Biography:...
the author of ‘Light of Asia’.
Biography
Rev. Weligama Sri Sumangala, a Buddhist High Priest of Ceylon, and a distinguished Oriental scholar whose place it will be hard to fill. He was in his eighty-second year and had led a life of remarkable usefulness. He came of one of the oldest and most respected families of the southern provinces. His father intended him to follow the medical profession but aserious illness compelled him to relinquish the plan, while the suffering he experienced at the time led him to abandon wealth and ease and give his life to the service of humanity. He entered the Buddhist priesthood when only twelve years of age, and received his education under the High Priest Bentota
Bentota
Bentota is a Sri Lankan coastal city located on the southern tip of the Galle District of the Southern Province, about south of Beruwala on the A2 highway. Its population is estimated to be between 25,000-50,000...
who was one of the most famous Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scholars of his day.
The Rev. Sumangala belonged to the Amarapura sect
Amarapura
Amarapura is a former capital of Myanmar, and now a township of Mandalay. Amarapura is bounded by the Ayeyarwady river in the west, Chanmyathazi township in the north, and the city of Innwa in the south...
of Buddhist priests,and in 1894 liis colleagues in Ceylon unanimously elected him as their ChiefHigh Priest, at the same time bestowing upon him a distinguished title. He lived and dressed as did the Buddhist monks at the time of Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
more than twenty centuries ago , and was a noble representative of the religion of "The
Enlightened One" in its original and purest form. His whole life has been characterized by a single-minded devotion to the uplifting of mankind, and he was beloved and appreciated by high and low, Buddhist and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. Reports of the impressive ceremonies at his cremation state variously
Schools named after
- Sri Sumangala College,PanaduraSri Sumangala CollegeSri Sumangala College, in Panadura, Sri Lanka, was founded on March 3, 1909 at in memory of Ven.Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero, who played an important role in Sri Lankan Buddhism. It is one of the oldest schools in the country. It is a national school, i.e., it is controlled by the central...
- Sri Sumangala Girls College,Panadura
- Sri Sumangala Boys College ,Weligama
- Sri Sumangala Girls College,Weligama