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Shining acts of piety

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

What it looks like
It is a large crystal, ranging in hue from white to off white. It is not a precious stone. These crystals are used to crown pinnacles of temples as they have a special translucent quality.

The crystal at Somawathi is 14 1/2 inches in height and weighed 3 1/2 lbs at the time of crowning the pinnacle. The unique polygon which is 24 inches in circumference has 144 sides created by the cutting.

As the historic Somawathi temple in Polonnaruwa shines in pristine glory following its restoration on Poson Poya, the story of a pious and generous man's silent deed of merit shines along with it.

The valuable crystal crowning its pinnacle was a quiet offering to the Buddha sasana by M. A. Punchi Mahattaya, a philanthropist in the Pelmadulla area.

Though most of his charitable deeds were a source of spiritual inspiration to many, they were also largely unrecorded, and unsung. When the Somawathi was restored this June, the donor of the uncut stone that crowned the pinnacle, the late Punchi Mahattaya was a forgotten man.

Story of the Somawathi crystal
The crystal at the Somawathi chaitya has had a chequered history. Originally used to crown the pinnacle, with increasing LTTE activity in the area, the temple was abandoned and the chuda manikaya disappeared. It was five years ago that the chuda manikya made news when it was discovered in the thickets near the temple.

Villagers claim that the LTTE militant who removed it was bitten by a poisonous snake that killed him. But archaeologists claim that the crystal would have come off due to corrosion. With the completion of the restoration project, the crystal was returned to Somawathi in June after recutting.

It is perhaps not only a rare distinction but also a record for someone to have offered 36 crystals as chuda manikyas for various temples during one's lifetime - a rare act of merit.

Punchi Mahattaya, according to family members, donated these crystals simply for the accumulation of merit. An owner since 1954 of a few gem pits in the gem-rich Pelmadulla area, he had donated a few crystals without fanfare before he discovered the massive unpolished stone in a pit known as 'Batuge assedduma'.

His son, M.A. Thupakumara recalls his father's words on how life took a new turn after the discovery of the massive crystal that was given to the historic Somawathi chaitya. Punchi Mahattaya offered the uncut stone to the late Kolitha Ratnayaka, the then Chairman of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, who was searching for a suitable crystal, and life changed for the better for this gem pit owner.

There was much prosperity, and more precious stones were discovered in his pits. The pious man decided that he would never ever consider selling a single crystal.

"This stone is supposed to have been pure, without blemishes. It was so heavy that four mining boys had to carry the stone home in a gem sorting basket, the 'gerum wattiya' and the entire village gathered to see it," recalls Maheshika Mathotaarachchi, his daughter.

Their father, a long-standing Village Council member who developed his village with his own resources, neither believed in photographing the crystals he donated or maintaining records.

Shunning publicity, he did not allow his name to be announced, despite having offered as many as 36 crystals to various temples.

As a result, his children only know of a few temples and a few individuals who collected the stones from their father.

Punchi Mahattaya has donated crystals to temples in Mahiyangana, Kadawatha, Kalutara, Badulla and Kegalle. A beautiful crystal was offered to the famous Devahuwa Raja Maha Viharaya in Anuradhapura and another to a temple belonging to a monastic complex in Kegalle.

Meanwhile, the late Kolitha Ratnayaka had been searching for a suitable crystal to crown the Somawathi pinnacle with a chuda manikya to signify the completion of the restoration process. Crystals were sought from Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka to no avail.

Delighted when the Somawathi Chaitya wardhana Committee approached him for the crystal, Punchi Mahattaya offered the rough stone free of charge.

It took three months for the Eheliyagoda branch of the State Gem Corporation to complete the cutting and polishing of the stone which was done at a cost of Rs. 35,000. On July 4, 1981, President J. R. Jayewardene unveiled the pinnacle with the chuda manikya.

Punchi Mahattaya's entire family travelled to Somawathi along with the chief incumbent of the village temple Idangoda Sri Khettaramaya, Pelmadulla, Ven. Weragama Rahula Thero to participate in the ceremony that was like a 'punchi magul-ge' (small wedding).

The then treasurer of the committee Albert Edirisinghe, now Ven. Siri Devamitta Thero offered a silver tray and a specially designed bowl as a gift to Punchi Mahattaya, which remain with the family as a tangible symbol of their father's meritorious deeds.

The newspapers carried extensive reports of the ceremony, where many are said to have experienced the phenomenon known as the 'Budu res wihideema', or the observation of the rays of the Buddha in the skies. It is said to take place when acts of great religious significance are performed. The family retains an uncut stone, carefully kept with the intention of offering it to the Nedun Raja Maha Viharaya in Kiriella, in fulfilment of their father's wish. They await the completion of the chaitya restoration to hand over the crystal they have preserved for over two years. They have no wish to attach a monetary value to their crystals which they are ready to offer only for merit. "An uncut stone of this size could be easily sold for over Rs. 200,000," says Thupakumara who adds that the thought is abhorrent to the family.

"We all want to continue his practice of offering them for merit."

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