Revival of Buddhism with arrival of Upali Maha Thera from Siam
The monument for Ven. Upali Maha Thera in the Asgiriya temple, Gedige viharaya
Esala Full Moon Poya is significant in the Buddhist calendar with many important events in the life of the Buddha: the conception of the Bodhisattva in the womb of Queen Mahamaya, Prince Siddhartha Gautama’s renunciation of his lay life in search of the ‘Truth’, the birth of Prince Rahula, the yamaka Maha Prathiharya (Twin Miracles) by the Buddha and the preaching of the Abhidhamma in the Tavatimsa heaven.
Yet another important annual event is observing vas (the rains retreat) by monks staying indoors for three months without going on the usual alms round. This begins with Esala Full Moon Poya and ends with Vap Poya.
In Sri Lanka, many important events took place on Esala Poya. Prince Arittha, a nephew of King Devanampiya Tissa was the first to be ordained as a Buddhist monk along with others in Anuradhapura.
The Nayakkar kings of Kandy who succeeded the last Sinhala King, Veera Parakrama Narendra Sinha, embraced Buddhism. At that time the Buddhist Order was in a state of decay and Velivita Saranankara Thera was keen to revive upasampada (higher ordination) for monks.
On a request made by King Kirti Sri Rajasinha of Kandy, Upali Maha Thera from Siam (Thailand) arrived in Sri Lanka with a delegation to revive the upasampada ceremony in 1753. They were provided with accommodation at Pushparamaya, now known as Malwatte Viharaya. This was very significant for the survival of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The first ceremony was conducted to confer upasampada on novices (samanera) from Siam who arrived with Upali Maha Thera, which helped the local monks to be aware of the rites and to get an idea as to how an upasampada ceremony should be conducted.
The following day was an Esala Poya and King Kirti Sri Rajasinha visited the Malwatu Viharaya and offered a vatapatha (fan made with ola leaf) to Upali Maha Thera, requesting the Thera to conduct the upasampada ceremony in Sri Lanka. Kobbekaduwe Unanse, still a novice monk and senior to Velivita in the Order, was first conferred upasampada.
“Thereafter Velivita Saranankara, Hulangamuwe samanera, Bambaradeniye samanera, Tibbatuwawe samanera and Asgiriya Vihara Navinna samanera were conferred upasampada” (Kandakkulame Dharmakirthi Himi in Velivita Saranankara Sangharaja Pranamaya).
The ceremony was held at the Malwatte Vihara ‘Sima’ poyagé (consecration hall) and the higher ordination of monks which had become extinct in Sri Lanka was re-established. Thus the Order Siyamopali or Siam Nikaya, the fraternity of Upali Thera of Siam was established. The two viharas – Malwatte and Asgiriya came to be known as Shiyamopali Maha Nikaya Malwatu Parshawaya (Malwatte Chapter) and Shiyamopali Mahanikaya Asgiri Parshawaya Asgiriya Chapter).
The Asgiriya Chapter started their own upasampada ceremonies many years after the Malwatte Chapter. Upali Maha Thera also stayed at the Gedigé viharaya within the Asgiriya Temple to guide monks in their upasampada ceremonies. A monument has been built with writings in Thai, Sinhala and English in the Gedigé viharaya premises in memory of Upali Maha Thera.
“The two chapters or divisions were headed by a Maha Nayaka Thera (prelate) with a deputy (Anu Nayaka Thera) appointed by the King. The prelates were advised by a committee of monks numbering 21 (to be identical to the number of Siamese monk delegates) selected from each of the main monasteries. The two chapters worked independently of each other.” (Kandakkulame Dharma Keerthi Himi).
Every year the two Maha Viharas – Malwatte and Asgiriya, take turns in performing the ‘Thevava’ religious duties associated with the Sri Dalada Maligawa. The handing over of duties from one Chapter to the other annually is on the Esala Full Moon Poya day.
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