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Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero (19 June 1698 – 18 July 1778) was a Buddhist monk, who was the last Sangharaja of Sri Lanka. He was the pioneer in the revival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, after the decline of the religion in the 17th and 18th centuries. Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero was bestowed with the Sangharaja title by king Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe in 1753, the same year he received the Upasampada (higher ordination of Buddhist monks) and re-established the Upasampada in Sri Lanka with the help of Mahasangha in Thailand.〔 He is also credited with the establishment of ''Silvath Samagama'' (pious group), a union of monks who lived in accordance with the Buddhist monastic discipline.〔(Buddhism regained ), Sunday Times〕 ==Early years== Welivita Sri Saranakara Thera was born on June 19, 1698 to the Kulathunga family of Welivita in Tumpane, about 24 km from Kandy. His father was a chieftain and was a descendant of an influential family.〔(Sri Sangharaja perahera of Kandy ), Samarasinghe, Nirmala, Daily News, 3 July 2012,〕 His lay name was Kulathunga Banda and he had a brother by the name of Kulatunga Patabendige Mudiyanse. Though his parents initially opposed his idea to enter the Buddhist monastic order, later he was granted permission by the parents and was ordained as a 'samanera’ at the age of 16, under the scholar monk, Suriyagoda Rajasundara thera, who was the incumbent of Sri Narendraramaya at Yatinuwara. After the ordination as a novice monk, young boy Kulatunga was known as Welivita Sri Saranakara Samanera. His teacher, Suriyagoda Rajasundara thera, who had received upasampada ordination from the Arakanese monks (Burmese) in 1679, exercised considerable influence within the Kandyan Kingdom and had the patronage of King Vira Narendrasinghe (1707–39). He was the last Sinhala king, after whom Nayakkar dynasty succeeded to the throne of Kandyan kingdom. In 1715, Suriyagoda thera was charged with treason by the king and executed. Thus young Saranankara Samanera left on his own, took up residence in the mountainous region of Alagalla (Kadugannwa) a few miles away from Kandy and devoted his early years to learning Pali language. Saranakara Samanera lived in a cave at Alagalla and the villagers provided him with alms food.〔(The Scholar Buddhist monks of the 19th Century in the low country ), The Island, Rohan L. Jayetilleke〕 During that time, almost all the Buddhist clergy were known as ''Ganinnanses'' or as ''Samaneras'', as there was no way of them receiving the upasampada, to qualify as a fully ordained Bhikku. Higher ordination Upasampada became defunct in the era as a result of the decline of Buddhism due to colonial invasion of the maritime provinces of Sri Lanka. Education of the novice monks has been neglected as there was no one capable to teach the basic components of Pali grammar. Welivita Saranakara Samanera was able to learn the principles of Pali grammar from Levuke Ralahamy, who had studied it from Watabuluwe Thera. His tutor Leuke Ralahamy was a one, who had been imprisoned by the king in a village close to Alagalla, where Saranankara samanera resided after the execution of his teacher Suriyagoda thera. With great effort and devotion he expanded his knowledge in Pali language and Buddhist doctrine, for which purpose he traveled from place to place in search of books and tutors. Later he went about preaching Buddha Dhamma to encourage others to rise up for the welfare of the religion. This behavior of Weliwita Saranankara Samanera made him popular as a teacher as well as a preacher. In addition to his skill as a scholar he was also known for his austere practices, kindness, purity of thought and attachment to religious life, which were rare qualities. His habit to help the poor earned him the epithet ''Asarana Sarana'', the one who helps the helpless. Although the Buddhist clergy known as Ganninnanse were living like laymen and forgotten their sacred calling, they were getting their alms to the temples regularly. The young Saranankara Samanera, as an objection against the manner in which Ganinnanses' lived in that era, refused to accept the food that brought to the temples, and led an exemplary life of real priesthood. He depended for his sustenance on the ancient practice of Buddhist monks known as ''Pindapata'', gathering ones food from house to house in his alms-bowl. Because of this practice, he earned the epithet ''Pindapathika Saranankara''.〔 During this period few like-minded companions and followers began to gather around Weliwita Sri Saranankara Samanera. The earliest and most intimate of them were Sitinamaluwe Dhammajothi, Ilipangamuwe and Kadiragoda, who came from the south of the island. They formed themselves into a small fraternity called Silvat Samagama and its members were called ''silvat tenas'' (pious ones) distinguishing themselves from other samaneras and ganinnanses. Weliwita Saranankara Samanera’s lifelong ambition was to re-establish upasampada ordination in the island.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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