Holy Buddha Relics shrine at Waskaduwa
Being a holy place of worship to the sacred relics of the Lord Buddha of Kapilawasthupura, India, Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya in Waskaduwa occupies a prominent and prestigious place of worship, venerated by Buddhist communities the world over, founded by Pawaraneruththikachariya Mahavihavi The Most Venerable Rajaguru Waskaduwe Sri Subhuthi Nayaka Thero, a world renowned Buddhist monk. (1835-1917). The loving parents of the monk have resolved to put up a new temple at Waskaduwa by the name “Abhinawaramaya” exclusively for his convenience on the attaining his Higher Ordination in the month of Wesak 1856. The importance of this iconic place of worship is such that it was at this Rajaguru Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya (Abhinawarama temple) that the Most Venerable Subhuthi Nayaka Thero has spent most of his life since his higher ordination up to the time of passing away. This temple, under his able guidance and leadership, has become a main portal for the revival of national, religious, educational and literary affairs of much importance. The Nayaka Thero held the positions of chief incumbent for number of Buddhist temples including Deepaduththarama Thai Raja Maha Viharaya, Kotahena and thereafter, was designated as the Chief Prelate of the Amarapura Saddhammawansika Sect (Great Assembly) in 1893.
According to the remaining proof of evidence as of today his eloquent mastery of languages were not only limited to the western and eastern languages such as Pali, Maghadi, Sanskri, Prakrit and English but also in other subjects like Buddhism, Logic and Philosophy and his incomparable excellence in many fields has come in for high praise by world famous personalities like British national, Prof. R.C. Childers, Prof. Rhys Davids, Richard Morris, Hugh Nevill, Prof.T. Tansbole, Denmark National, Prof. V. Fausboll, Hermann Oldenberg, German national, Prof. Max Muller, American national, Henry Clarke Warren and Archaeologists, Sir Alexander Cunningham, historians – Vincent A Smith, William C Peppe (who pioneered in excavation works of Kapilavasthu Stupa of Relics) along with the illustrious academics, Prof. Wilhelm Geiger – German national, Prof. Minayeff – an academic of Russia who worked alongside whilst building a strong relationship with the Mahanayaka Thero.
In his endeavor to permeate the minds of Sri Lankan Buddhists with the benign spirit of devotion, the Most Venerable Subhuthi Nayaka Thero has relentlessly pursued the noble task of bringing in 21 relics of the Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka after being irrefutably discovered them as the original relics from the excavation works carried out on Piprawa Stupa by William C Peppe, a British civil engineer. By reading the old scripts in that era, the Most Venerable Subhuthi Nayaka Thero has proved that the Buddha’s relics were no other objects than the genuine and original objects of veneration by ascertaining the authenticity of evidence given in Brahmi inscription enshrined alongside the casket of relics, which of course was yet another commendable task carried out under his direction. These precious and ever venerating Kapilawasthu relics of Lord Buddha are securely preserved and protected from generation to generation up to this day at Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya, Waskaduwa. Today the present custodian of these treasures of Buddha’s relics is the Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawamsa Nayaka Thero, the current Chief Incumbent of the temple. Further more, some remnants of the bowl used by the Buddha, which was found by the excavation work on an ancient stupa (dagaba) at the valley of Supparaka in India, were also brought in to Sri Lanka. Also the Nayaka Thero pioneered to bring a branch of Sri Maha Bodhi in India with the diplomatic coordination of both Sri Lanka and India.
One of the most erudite and versatile follower of Buddha and Pali literature, the Most Venerable Thero has written a number of books and among those were “Abhidanappadeepika”, “Namamaala”, “Abhidnappadeepika Suchi”, “Siyam Pirith Potha”, which earned equal measure of praise and appreciation by the academics of Buddhism. In honour of the great literary acumen especially on his writing of “Namamala”, an honorific title of “Pavaraneruththikachariya Maha Vihavi” was conferred upon the Most Venerable Subhuthi Nayaka Thero by the Maha Sangha of the Amarapura Sri Saddhammawansa Sect.
A consummate lover of Pali literature, the Crown Prince of Siam Prince Prisdang Chumsai, having avidly read the many books written by the Nayaka Thero when he was in country and in England as well, has received ordination as a monk under the tutelage of the Mahanayaka Thero on 5th November 1896. It was on this occasion that the honorific title of “Rajaguru” was conferred on the Most Venerable Waskaduwe Subhuthi Nayaka Thero by the above great assembly of Sangha, due to the reason that the Thero became a teacher to a prince.
There is a valuable collection of various kinds of souvenirs, honorific offerings received from the heads of states of Great Britain, Japan, Siam, Cambodia and Burma which are still well preserved at the Sri Subhuthi Memorial Museum. Presently the Most Venerable Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Nayaka Thero is steering ahead with the legacy of the Waskaduwe Sri Subhuthi Nayaka Thero by the current Chief Incumbent of the Waskaduwa Sri Subhuthi Maha Viharaya in his capacity as the Maha Nayaka Thero of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Sambuddha Saasanodaya Great Assembly, whilst giving leadership as the Chief Incumbent of Deepaduththarama Thai Raja Maha Viharaya, Kotahena.
Dr. Damenda Porage
05/05/2020
