Friday, 2 May 2008

SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS: WE REVEAL FOR YOU TO REVEL

SRI LANKA HOLIDAYS: WE REVEAL FOR YOU TO REVEL

OUR LAND, OUR NATION & OUR FAITH WILL PREVAIL
by B. Upul N. Peiris (
bunpeiris), Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

On the day of his passing away, the Buddha preached the Dhamma in the city of Kusinara to the gods & Brahmas of the ten thousand worlds. He said, “My dispensation has capacity to last for five thousand years. The Bodhi by the name of Mahari of the Buddha Kakusanda who had attained Buddhahood in the past was planted in the island of Sri Lanka & his dispensation established;Bodhi Udumbara was planted & the dispensain of the Buddha Konagama was established; Bodhi Nigrodha was planted & the dispensation of the Buddha Kasyapa was established. And presently a Thera by the name of Mihindu would plant my Sri Maha Bodhi & establish my dispensation to last for five thousand years. So saying the Buddha called to his side from among the ten thousand Sakras, the Sakra who looked afer this blessed world & entrusted Sri Lanka into his care. Further the Buddha gave God Upulvan Pirit threads & Pirit water to be given to Prince Vijaya & having entrusted the guardianship of Sri Lanka to that God, attained Parinirvana.
Rajavaliya, A Comprehensive Account of the Kings of Sri Lanka
Translation into English by Dr. A. V. Suraweera IBN 955-599-210-X

Besides the Dipavamsa & the Mahavamsa narrating the unbroken civilization of the island of Sri Lanka since 543BC written in Pali Language, there have been numerous ancient & medieval works written in Sinhala too. Rajavaliya, meaning ‘line of kings’ or ‘genealogy of rulers’ is one of those chronicles. It is a historical narrative of rulers of this country beginning from the earliest times up to about the end of reign of King Vimaladharmasuriya the second. (1687-1706 AD)

“Not for the joy of sovereignty is this toil of mine, my striving (has been) ever to establish the doctrine of the Sambuddha.”
Mahavamsa, The Great Chronicle of Ceylon by Thera Mahanama translated by Dr. Wilhelm Geiger, PH. D. ISBN; 955-8540-83-8
“This effort of mine is not for the joy of sovereignty; it is for the establishment of the Faith of the Buddha forever.”
The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, Mahavamsa Chapters one to thirty seven. An annotated new translation with prolegomena by Dr. Anada W. P. Guruge ISBN-955-20-8963-8
“My effort is not for the joy of sovereignity; it is for the establishment of the Faith of the Buddha forever.”
The Mahavamsa, The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka by Mahanama Thera. Modern text & historical commentary by Douglas Bullis ISBN 955-1266-09-9
“I am fighting not with any greed for a kingdom. I want to destroy the enemies & achieve victory for the sake of illuminating the Buddha Sasana that would last for five thousand years.”

Rajavaliya, A Comprehensive Account of the Kings of Sri Lanka
Translation into English by Dr. A. V. Suraweera IBN 955-599-210-X

King Dutugamunu during the epic battle of Sri Lanka against the marauding Dravidian invaders from Southern India.



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