Buddhist revival in the North

Buddhist revival in the North

Priyanka KURUGALA

Dhamma school is a new phenomenon to the North but the Tamil Buddhist Association is not a new concept to Jaffna, Jaffna Naga Viharaya Viharadhikari Ven Meegahajandure Siri Wimala Thera said.

A child is enrolled to the first Dhamma School in Jaffna

He said the Maha Sanga who lived in Naga Viharaya, Jaffna served the Buddhists in the North from ancient time.

The thera said at that time, Buddhists included people of both Sinhala and Tamil communities.

“No one will forget the services of Most Ven Madihe Pannaseeha Thera and Uthtara Lanka Chief Sangha Nayaka Thera Ven Kadawedduwa Nandarama Thera. The first Tamil Buddhist Association was inaugurated in Jaffna in 1959. The founder of the Tamil Buddhist Association is Maruthar Vairamuthu,” he said at the opening of the Dhamma School in Jaffna.

Ven Siri Wimala Thera said step by step, Tamil Buddhists in the North gathered round the Tamil Buddhist Association and it was the centre for Buddhist cultural awakening in the North. “Around 15,000 members were involved in the activities centred around the Naga Viharaya,” he said.

Ven Siri Wimala Thera said until terrorist activities commenced in the North, the Tamil Buddhist Association was a major organisation in Jaffna helping Buddhists to conduct religious activities.

He said Tamil Buddhist Association members in Jaffna are grateful to the Naga Vihara and bhikkhus who directed them towards a peaceful life. The prelate said five Buddhist schools were established in the Jaffna district. He said of this, three schools are still functioning.

The schools are Puththur - Madihe Pannaseeha Vidyalaya, Achchuweli Vipassi Vidyalaya and Nelliadi Narada Vidyalaya. The LTTE influence spread in the area in 1984. However, the former Chief Incumbent of the Jaffna Naga Viharaya Ven Kadawedduwa Nandarama Thera stayed at the viharaya not withstanding threats. In 1985, they abandoned the Jaffna Naga Vihara, Ven Meegahajandure Siri Wimala Thera said.

Children following Dhamma classes in Jaffna. Pictures by Nissanka Wijeratne

He said what only remained was the Bo tree worshipped by Buddhists in Jaffna.

He said the LTTE also destroyed the viharaya site.

The prelate said after rescuing Jaffna in the Riviresa I and II operations in 1995, the Naga Vihara was reestablished by the Army under the guidance of Most Ven Meegahajandure Ghanarathana Thera.

“The Indian Mahabodhi Society with the world Buddhist community helped in this regard. Between 1996 –1998, they rebuilt the house where the statue was placed and wall around the temple. The Naga Vihara Rest House was opened in 2000. After my education, I came to Jaffna in 2007. I met former President Maruthar Vairamuthu. He was unable to conduct further activities as previously, as he was not well. The present president of the Tamil Buddhist Association A Ravi Kumar came to Naga Vihara one day and he agreed to join in the activities of the temple. We were able to establish a new office in 2010 again after about 51 years of commencing the Tamil Buddhist Association in 1959,” the prelate said.

He said Tamils participate in Katina pinkamas from 2002 while from 2009, around 500,000 people participate in the Naga Vihara Katina pinkama. It it only second to the Nallur Kovil procession,” he said.