| This
article is part of a continuing series on the ‘Mahavamsa’,
the recorded chronicle of Sri Lankan history
King
Gothabhaya’s service to the Buddhist order
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The traveller went to the palace and met King Gothabhaya. He presented
King Sirisangabo’s head. The king immediately recognised
it, to be his former friend Sirisangabo’s head. He felt
ashamed of himself for turning against his friend. Tears came
to his eyes. King Gothabhaya collected his ministers and went
to Attanagalla. King Sirisangabo’s body was cremated. At
the place where the head was severed from the body, King Gothabhaya
got a Vihara erected. This Vihara came to be known as Attanagalla
Vihara.
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Historians put forward two theories about this Vihara. Some argue
that the Attanagalla temple, close to Nittambuwa is the place
where the head was gifted. According to others, the ‘Hattha-Kuchchi
Vihara’ close to Galgamuwa, is the exact spot. Though there
is a discrepancy about the exact place, this incident has taken
place in 249 AD. This was the turning point in the life of King
Gothabhaya. He became a better person and began to love his subjects.
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Like the kings of old, he too began to take an interest in religion.
He saw to the reconstruction and repair work of shrines all over
the country. He erected a beautiful gateway to the town and built
a chamber there. He invited a thousand monks to this chamber and
served them alms and robes. He built a hall for the Mahavihara,
erected a special entrance to the Sri Maha Bodhi and repaired
the Brazen Palace.
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King Gothabhaya also repaired the building at Ambasthala and erected
relic chambers at Manisomarama and Ambasthala. He built a new
Vihara named Meghavarna. On the day it was offered to the Sangha,
he had a big celebration. It is mentioned that about 30,000 monks
were invited for this function and robes were offered to all of
them. This king is said to have had grand celebrations for Vesak.
Offering of alms and other meritorious acts were done all over
the country on Vesak day.
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During this period, a few young monks of the Abhayagiri Vihara
tried to give a twist to the religious observances followed so
far. Their sect came to be known as Vaithulya. When the king heard
of this breakaway group, he wanted to investigate matters himself.
So he went to Mahavihara, where the monks were already disgusted
with the breakaway group. The chief priest of Thuparama, at this
time, happened to be an uncle of the king.
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He was Rev. Sanghapala by name. The king met this chief priest
and asked him about the Vaithulya belief. The chief priest explained
saying, “The monks who profess this theory, have altered
the practices followed by Buddhist monks, since the arrival of
Arhant Mahinda. They seem to be following the practices of the
monks of the Chola country. They do not respect Vinaya (discipline).
They practice some nonsensical precepts”.
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The king then asked him why they have named it Vaithulya. “That
is a term they use in contempt. Arhant Mahinda has preached to
us, to practice Vinaya first, and teach that to the pupil monks
as well. They do not respect the proper precepts. They have changed
the Vinaya (Laws of Discipline) to suit their purposes. O’
King, these priests are also called the Vajji-puttakas”,
explained Rev. Sanghapala. The king worshipped him with all respect,
touching the ground with five parts of his body (the two knees,
two elbows and the forehead).
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King Gothabhaya then went to the Abhayagiri and met the revolutionary
young monks. They did not respect the king. The king had to tell
them, “I am the king of this country. I am duty bound to
protect the Buddha-Sasana (the order). I cannot allow you to change
the precepts the way you want. You have to put a stop to this
nonsense immediately and start practising the old precepts”.
The revolutionary monks did not pay any heed to what the king
said. Instead they started to argue. The king was greatly offended.
By
Halaliye Karunathilake
Edited and translated by
Kamala Silva
Illustrated by
Saman Kalubowila
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