Sunday Times 2
The peerless Podi Hamuduruwo of Gangaramaya legacy
The Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera or Podi Hamuduruwo of Colombo’s Gangaramaya is a remarkable Buddhist prelate. He is in a league all of his own. He had the leadership in the temple forced on him as a novice at the tender age of 16 as his Nayaka Thera, the Ven. Devundara Vachissara Thera had virtually gone blind and disabled. The temple did not have many resources. It had already achieved a certain prestige though.
Around 1885, none other than the Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera was credited with the temple’s foundership. The temple was among the first to hoist the Buddhist flag under the revivalist movement spearheaded by Colonel Olcott. Well recognised monks such as the Ven. Devundara Jinaratana Thera, and later the Ven. Vachissara Thera had serenely managed the affairs of the temple during the colonial and post-colonial period. And when the young novice took over the temple affairs he had to scrape the till to collect Rs. 500 (a sum perhaps equivalent to about Rs. 15000 or more today) to meet the medical expenses of the ailing Nayaka Thera. The temple stood on a 60-perch land with the structures associated with a relatively humble Buddhist temple in simple surroundings.
The novice monk soon picked up all that his illustrious predecessor had accomplished. He had youth, perseverance, tremendous capacity for toil and a vision of how things should be.
A few decades later under his charismatic flamboyant and somewhat unconventional Nayakaship the Gangaramaya at Hunupitiya in Colombo 2 became a legacy and one of the most spoken of and vibrant and colourful Buddhist temples in the country and certainly the foremost in the Colombo city. And he like his first chief incumbent has been the chief Sanghanayake of Colombo Nava Korale since 2003. And until he renounced the position he was also the Sangha Nayake of Sri Lankan Temples in the United States.
The original 60 perches of the temple precincts have expanded into around three acres of prime property holding — more than 30,000 square feet (and still expanding) in lavish elegant buildings serving the country and its people in myriad ways. The temple now has a worth visiting museum which grew out of the artifacts and antique collecting habit of Sri Jinaratana Nayake Thera. Fascinating photographs of his master creation Seema Malakaya (designed by Geoffry Bawa) adorns every tourist pamphlet and brochure printed about Sri Lanka while Gangaramaya itself has become a must-visit destination for tourists.
When it came to development he set no limits. Former President J.R. Jayewardene once observed famously that if our Nayaka Thera had been a layman instead of a monk, he would not hesitate a moment to make him a cabinet minister. And it is said that JR went on to admiringly ruminate further what an efficient minister the monk would have turned out to be.
Podihamuduruwo’s development work has no limits indeed. Hunupitiya Gangaramaya now holds productive and community service oriented real estate over 1,500 acres in extent. The domain stretches into Kotte, Hambantota, Akuressa, Kataragama and Anuradhapura — all meticulously and caringly looked after by him for the benefit of those who are served by the institutions established in these areas.
The service area spills overseas as well. In Staten Island (New York), Birmingham (Britain) and Singapore there are temples nurtured by his tireless efforts.
The writer used to walk into Seema Malakaya every now and then and spend a little time. Once in a while, together with the family, the writer would visit the main Gangaramaya Temple. Occasionally, the writer would notice the reputed and much spoken about media favourite, the then handsome and charismatic young looking Nayake Thera briskly moving around with dignitaries and always on a mission like manner. Then in 1996 it just happened. There was this casual conversation one day on the introduction of a client of the writer and thereafter the Thera and the temple became a part of writer’s retinue.
The Thera’s energy and spirit of life became an added inspiration in the personal lives of all who came to know him. They were motivated to undertake various charities. His dayakas came from all hues and for varied causes. The philanthropists, the Moosajees, built the Seema Malakaya in memory of their son. The then Prime Minister Premadasa assisted him in promoting the legendary and world renown Navam Perahera which among other things sustains many an artiste who was neglected hitherto. The benevolent Bhadra Fernando family laid the foundation for the 800 acre Urumutta Estate where several villages exist comfortably while providing resources to the Gangaramaya temple towards its social services.
The Bawa architectured Pilgrim rest in a 15 acre land is a haven for regular pilgrims to Kataragama. There is also a separate section to house groups of tourists who come from rural areas which could accommodate 3,000 people at a time. The writer once witnessed the Nayake Thera washing and cleaning about a dozen toilets, setting an example to those who were supposed to keep them clean. He considers work and toil as a duty each one owes firstly to oneself.
He finds time to regularly deliver brief sermons which are generally based on the principles of Singalo Vada Sutta and Mangala Sutta and believes that the fundamentals contained in them are sufficient and good enough for a person to lead a successful lay life.
The writer has hardly come across a situation where he has publicly and openly taken any political side or expressed affiliation. It is his avowed policy to be (in public) noncommittal politically. However on public issues he would not hesitate to act and take sides and express views fearlessly and candidly irrespective of personal friendship he may have with any person or institution.
His influence with the powers that be is legendary. And he uses this influence for public benefit. One striking example is when he had a function organised to bless the President-elect of the United States and invited Ambassador Robert Blake to participate in a Bohdi Pooja. In a speech made afterwards, he advised the US not to meddle in the war efforts of Sri Lanka. That was a crucial time of the war against the terrorists. He admonished the surprised emissary stating, “Sir, ask your government not to interfere with our operations in the North. We respect and bless your country. And please do not interfere in our affairs,” he exhorted. The Nayake Thera supported President Rajapaksa unreservedly on the war effort. He once had a notice put up challenging Prabhakaran.
He has breathed life to the concept that 31st night and the dawn of New Year should be greeted by paying homage to the Triple Gem with one’s family in a temple rather than dance and revel and get drunk at a hotel. Thousands come to him for the pirith noola and the New Year coin. Believe it or not most often he ties the pirith noola himself for hours on end until the crowd leaves content that they were blessed personally by their favourite priest.
Come the National New Year in April, the feat is repeated. The pirth noola and the nakath ganu denu coin are distributed affectionately. On both occasions the dayaka public is fed as well.
And in between the two events the panorama of the legendary Navam Maha Perahera is held. The Incumbent war hero President and the former Prime Minister and gentle Opposition Leader jointly place the relic casket.
The Vesak celebrations sponsored by the temple has become a sought after event. What a magnificent spectacle the event has turned out to be.
Poson Poya brings out activities in the Kataragama Pilgrimage centre in addition to the usual Gangaramaya temple rituals associated with it. Thus throughout the year some customary event of a significant scale occurs. While all this happens Sri Jinaratana Training Institute produces hundreds of students trained and disciplined in numerous vocations. A brainchild of the first incumbent Thera (now lifted to a dizzy level by our Thera) , the centre has benefited society greatly.
Sathi Pirith, regular Saturday Bana Sermon, large and luxuriously organised frequent Dana ceremonies catering to the needs of thousands of bhikkus at a time and providing facilities to needy temples and such are too numerous to be mentioned and needs a special volume for the purpose. In fact the work of this great prelate of our era is well documented. Two elegant volumes under the titles ‘The Temple by the Lake’ and ‘Gangaramaya, a Legacy’ portray him accurately and in more detail.
The regular Katina Pinkama in its customary grandeur befitting Gangaramaya activities was held recently. Usually it is held to commemorate the eventful day of ordination of this charismatic priest on 8th November 1954. This article is written to coincide with another event celebrated by dayakas of the prestigious temple which is the birthday of the young novice who rose to dizzy heights of priesthood in creating institutions and traditions to perpetuate the glory and for the propagation of the most pacific and practical religious philosophy the world has ever known. The 71st Birthday of this highly respected priest fell yesterday – December 13. May our citizens make full use of the opportunities and institutions the peerless Gangaramaye Podi Hamuduruwo has helped to form with lifelong dedicated commitment!
(The writer is an Attorney-at-Law)