Turned and Tireless Journey of Anagarika Dharmapala

Sumanapal Bhikkhu

Anagarika Dharmapala, the great Sinhala Buddhist Patriot was a towering personality in the revival and propagation of Buddhism. He also created awareness towards the Buddha and the Dhamma all over the world.

      Anagarika Dharmapala was born on 17^th of September 1864 in Sri Lanka. His father’s name was Mudliyar Don Carolis Hewawitharana and his mother’s name was Srimathi Mallika Hewawitharana. His original name was Don David because in those days a Christian name was a necessary passport to place of destination.

     Anagarika Dharmapala received his education at Pettah Catholic School (St. Mary’s) Colombo, St. Benediets Institute at Katahena, Colombo, and Christian Missionary School (St. Thomas), six miles away from Colombo. He learnt Buddhist Studies under the guidance of Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda Nayake Mahathera and Hikkaduwe Siri Sumangala Maha Nayake Thero.

     The turning point in his life came when he met Col. Henry Steel Olcott and Madam Blavatsky at Vidyodaya Parivena (School for Buddhist Teachings) in Colombo.

      Learning school in 1883, Anagarika joined Department of Education as a junior clerk. In 1886 he left government service and devote his time for working for the welfare of Buddhism under the leadership of Col. Olcott.

       During this time he first visited Adhyar, South India, with Madam Blavatsky to study the Theosophical Movement. He was also deeply moved by reading a few articles by Sir Edwin Arnold published in the London based The Telegraph. From those articles Anagarika had a fair knowledge about the deplorable condition of the Sri Maha Budhi Temple at Buddha Gaya. Then he changed his English Christian name – Don David to Dharmapala Hewawitharana and directly involved himself with the activities of the Buddhist Theosophical Society (BTS) as the General Secretary of the Buddhist section. He also worked as the Manager of a newspaper named Sandaresa or rays of the moon. In 1888 Anagarika started an English newspaper named The Buddhist and Mr. Leadbeater was its first editor.

       On 22^nd January 1891 Dharmapala visited the Buddha Gaya Temple and Sri Maha Bodhi tree under which Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment and it was the most decisive moment in his life. The sight of the deplorable condition of the Buddha Gaya Temple inspired Dharampala to take up the great mission of the restoration of that sacred temple and the regeneration of Buddhism in the land of its birth.

      He stayed in Buddha Gaya till March and studied the affairs connected with the Buddha Gaya Temple and left for Rangoon via Calcutta, then the commercial capital of the country. Dharmapala decided to make Calcutta, the base of his activities.

      In Rangoon Dharmapala created awareness about the neglected condition of the Buddha Gaya Temple to Burmese Buddhist leaders and returned to Colombo with a firm determination to finalise his future plans.

      The Buddha Gaya Maha Bodhi Society was founded in May 31, 1891 and Siri Sumangala Maha Nayake there was its first president.

      In the month of October that year, Anagarika delivered his first lecture in English at the Albert Hall of Calcutta the present day Coffee House at College Street. His topic was the kinship between Hinduism and Buddhism. The programme which was an attempt to relink the two camps was attended by some notable intellectuals like Mr. Narendranath Sen who was the editor of the influential newspaper ‘India Mirror’. In the same month an International Buddhist conference was convened at Buddha Gaya to make the Buddhist World conscious about the state of affairs at the Buddha Gaya Temple. Buddhist monks and by Buddhist leaders from Japan, Sri Lanka, China, Burma and India attended the conference. The Maha Bodhi Society was started at Gangadhar Babu Lane in Calcutta. Later it was shifted to 2 Creek Road.

      In 1893 Dharmapala attended the World Parliament of Religious held at Chicago and his speech there “The World’s Debt to Buddha” highly impressed the participants. Then while returning from Chicago, Dharmapala met Mrs. Mary T. Foster who was the wife of wealthy banker of North America. She was rightly called the “Foster Mother” of Anagarika for she liberally donated for the establishment of schools, hospitals, temples, monasteries and numerous other institutions in India and Sri Lanka.

      During the years 1893 and 1894 Anagarika visited London, New York, Japan, China, Rangoon, Bangkok and Colombo in order to make aware of the situation of the Buddha Gaya Temple and seek assistance to restore the Sacred Temple to the Buddhist World. He also delivered several lectures on Buddhism.

      He went to Japan in November 1893 and received a great Buddha image from the trustees of the Tentokuji Temple, Shilea Tokyo.

      In London Dharmapala met Sri Edwin Arnold and Mrs. Annie Besant who become his lifelong friends.

      In 1894 he visited Colombo to influence the wealthy Sinhala Buddhist to donate funds for the purchase of the Maha Bodhi village in Buddha Gaya. In September of that year he succeeded to start a ‘Buddha Gaya Fund’ in Colombo. After Anagarika had placed the Buddha image from Japan in the main shrine of the Buddha Gaya Temple, it was forcibly removed and thrown out into the open by the servants of the Mahant, the self appointed custodian of the temple.

      In February 1895, a case was initiated against the Mahant’s men for disturbance of worship. This was the beg inning of the internationally known “Great Buddha Gaya Temple Case”.

      While the case was pending in court, Anagarika made all possible efforts to propagate Buddhism in India.

       It was in May 1906 that the Vaishaka festival was organized in India after a gap of 800 long years. The occasion marked the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing away of Sakyamuni Buddha and was attended by several scholars, community leaders as well as Buddhist monks from different parts of India. From 1896 to 1901, Anagarika Dharmapala devoted most of his time to visit America and several other countries and attended the dispute of the Buddha Gaya Temple.

     In October 1901, the Lt. Governor Woodburn visited Buddha Gaya and on the request of the Maha Bodhi Society he allotted a land to build a rest house for the Buddhist pilgrims.

     Sarnath, the place where the Buddha preached his first sermon was in a sad condition and Anagarika was shocked and saddened by the terrible neglect of this holy place of Buddhism. Anagarika immediately sent a letter to the collector of Benaras requesting him to take steps for the restoration and conservation of the sacred spot. In the letter he stated, to the 475 millions of Buddhists, the Deer Park at Sarnath is as holy as Jerusalem is to the Christians and Mecca to the Mohammedans.

      However, until such time that he got a plot of land from the government, he himself purchased a land in the heart of Ishipatana Deer Park, Saranath. But later the Government authorities raised several objections against the purchase of the particular land.

      Again from 1902 to 1904, Anagarika toured Japan, America, London, Holland, Denmark and Italy preaching the Noble Dhamma of the Sakyamuni Buddha and collecting funds to develop Buddha Gaya, Sarnath and other places of Buddhist interest. When in America and England he visited industrial schools to gain awareness on subjects taught and practical classes.

      In April, 1904 he visited Colombo and in July, returned to Sarnath and started an industrial school for the benefit of the youth.

       The Maha Bodhi Journal started in May 1902 and it was very popular at this time. Apart from that Anagarika took necessary steps to start Pali classes at the Calcutta University. This was a major step towards the propagation of Buddhism.

        From May 1906, Anagarika visited Colombo several times and started the Maha Bodhi Printing Press near Colombo. For these funds were donated by Mrs. Foster of Honululu.

       In 1907, in spite of facing some setbacks in the Buddha Gaya Temple Case, Anagarika continued his legal battle with courage and confidence. Mrs. Foster was very much satisfied by the noble works started by Anagarika and donated funds to purchase a property in Calcutta to house the Maha Bodhi Society. Accordingly a house at Beniapukur Lane, in Central Calcutta was purchased in July 1908.

      From 1912 to 1915 Anagarika spent most of his time in Sri Lanka. He started a National Revival Movement and travelled all over the island arousing national feelings among Sinhala Buddhist. At this time he becomes a national hero or ‘Lion of Lanka’.

     The British authorities in Sri Lanka came to know about the strong Sinhala Buddhist feelings among the Sinhala Buddhist feelings among the Hewawitharana family and decided to take action for crushing it. Anagarika’s younger brother Edmund was arrested, tried and sentenced to life imprisonment. He languished and died inside the jail.

      Anagarika came to India in order to avoid arrest but here to he was caught and was interned in his own house for five years on the request of the British authorities.

     Dharmapala utilized these five years supervising the construction of the Dharmarajika Bihar in Calcutta. In 1915, the Maha Bodhi Society of India became a registered body (No S/2666/61 of 1915-16). A Governing Body was formed with Sir Asutosh Mukherjee, the Chief Justice of the High Court at Calcutta and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta as President and Anagarika as the General Secretary.

     In 1920 the construction of the Dharmarajika Bihar was completed. A large amount of Rs. 63,606/- was donated by Mrs. Mary Foster and the Maharaja of Baroda and M/S Birla Brothers also contributed.

      Sri Dharmarajika Vihara was declared open on the 20^th of November 1920 in an impressive ceremony attended by Sir Asutosh Mukherjee the President of the Society. Anagarika Dharmapala the General Secretary and Mrs. Annie Besant. On that day a procession arrived at the Government House in which about 2000 people took part. The Governor of Bengal his Excellency Lord Ronaldshay handed over the casket containing the sacred Relic of the Buddha to Sir Asutosh who handed over the same to Anagarika. Then the casket was placed on a throne kept in a carriage drawn by six hours. The procession returned to Dharmarajika Vihar and the Relic was enshrined in the specially prepared stupa.

      In 1922, Anagarika was released from his confinement to Calcutta city and was allowed to go out of India. While the construction work of the Dharmarajika Bihar was going on Anagarika and his disciple Devapriya Valisingh started to negotiate with the Archeological Authorities and the British authorities for the purchase of a land to build a temple in Saranath where the Buddha preached his first sermon. Since the land which was purchased in 1901 was under dispute, Anagarika wanted to obtain another plot of land for constructing the temple.

     On June 30^th, 1916 the Maha Bodhi Society was informed that the Government of India was prepared to present a relic of the Sakyamuni Buddha if the society would erect a suitable building for a temple at Sarnath. But as World War I was going on in those days the Society was unable to begin the construction work of the proposed temple. After the end of the war when situation became normal and the decision was taken by the Society to erect the Vihara on the Society’s land. But even then the Society faced a lot of difficulties in getting the final approval. Anagarika’s disciple Devapriya Valising he handled the matter confidently and finally the Foundation Stone of the Vihara was laid by his Excellency Harcourt Butler, the Government of the United Province.

      But again a dispute arose with the British authorities and the matter was ultimately settled with the Government (1) agreeing to bear the cost incurred in connection with the foundation work and (2) offering a suitable plot of land for the proposed Vihara.

      The construction work of the Temple started again with the funds provided by Mrs. Mary Foster, parents of Anagarika, his brothers and several well wishes from India and abroad.

       From 1925 to 1927, the Anagarika toured England, America and Sri Lanka several times. In July 1926, permanent headquarter of the London Buddhist Mission was established at the Foster House, London. From the end of 1927 to 1931 Anagarika was confined to bed due to stomach trouble and heart disease but even then he was busy planning the future of the Maha Bodhi Society and the work at Sarnath.

       Anagarika was shaken by the death of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Foster who died on 19^th of December 1930. She was Anagarika’s “Foster mother” generously contributing to Anagarika’s noble work. Recovering slightly from his illness, Dharmapala again visited India in 1931 and supervised the construction of the Mulagandhakuti Vihar. Then Dharmpala decided to spend his last days of life at Sarnath.

       Anagarika Dharmapala also made projects for the training of monks. While in Sarnath he paid special attention to the training of the monks whom he had sent from the Foster Seminary in Kandy to Santiniketan. Anagarika’s another project was to create an International Buddhist Institute to train the students from every corner of the Buddhist World.

        The Mulagandhakuty Vihara was opened on the 11^th November 1931. At 2:15 p.m. on that day the Director General of Archeology Rai Bahadur Dayaram Sahani presented the bone relic of the Buddha to Maha Bodhi Society, as the representative of his Excellency Lord Willington.

        Till the end of 1932, Anagarika Dharmapala supervised the final work of the inner chamber of the temple. The second anniversary of the temple was held amidst pomp and splendor and the ceremony was attended by Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, his wife and daughter Indira.

         Then Anagarika fell sick again but even then he did not forget the issue of recovering the sacred site of Buddha Gaya which was its greatest dream. On the 20^th April 1933 his condition became serious and his relations in Colombo were informed. He breather his last at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon of 29^th April 1933. I convey my deep respect to Anagarika Dharmapala on his 150^th year of birth celebration.

Bibliography:-

1.      Mahasthavira, Sangharakkhita, Flame in Darkness the  life and sayings of Anagarika Dharmapal, Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, Triratna Grantha Mala, Sri Lanka, 1980.

2.      Ratnatunga, Sinha, They Truned the tide, the 100 years history of the Maha Bodhi Society of Sri anka, Srilanka, 1991.

3.      Thero, Dr. Kahawatte siri Sumedha, Anagarika Dharmapala the lion of Lanka, Second Asoka in India,Mulagandha kuti vihara, Saranath, U.  P. 2006.

4.      Pande, Acharya Archana, Bharatiya Boudha Dharma me Sinhal vir Purush Anagarik Dharmapal, Buddhagaya, gaya Bihar, 2011.

5.      Rupasinghe Upali, (Editor), The Maha Bodhi (1891-1991) Centenary Volume, The Maha Bodhi Society of India, Kolkata.

6.      Rupasinghe Upali, (Editor), The Maha Bodhi Journal Centenary Volume (1892-1992), The Maha Bodhi Society of India, Kolkata.

7.      Roy, Tarit Kanti, Tthe history of Dharmarajika Chetiya Vihar, The Maha Bodhi Society of India, Kolkata. 2012.

Tribute to Maverick monk Karmayogi Kripasharan Mahasthvir

Sumanapal Bhikkhu

The nineteenth century India saw the revolt and the subsequent movement to dislodge the British rule in India. It was also the period when the revival movement of Buddhism had started. For the Buddhists this period is of immense significance as it was the time the revival of Buddhism started in the land of its birth with the arrival of Sir Edwin Arnold who wrote at length to arouse the Buddhists of Asia from their deep slumber. With his arousal arrived Rer. Anagarika Dharmapala known as David Hewanitharana from Sri Lanka and followed by Ven. Kripasharan Mahathera from Chittagong to carry the movement further. Recounting Ven. Kripasharan’s life in this context is of immense significance today as he is in the main responsible figure to bring together all the Buddhists living scattered in West Bengal and the north eastern part of India.

         Ven. Kripasharan was born in the village of Unainpura, in the district of Chittagong in the then undivided India (now in Bangladesh) on 22^nd June 1865 in a pious Buddhists family to Ananda Kumar Barua, his father and Aradhana Barua, his mother. Both his parents were devout Buddhists who despite being illiterate kept the banners of Buddhism aloft and inspired their children to be devoted Buddhist who despite being illiterate kept the banners of Buddhism aloft and inspired their children to be devoted to religious practice and to be compassionate and righteous but at a tender age of ten he best his father who succumbed to illness. The family being economically poor, Kripasharan had to earn his living by doing manual labour but at the same time passed through a period of self culture and self realization. At the age of sixteen Kripasharan was initiated as a novice into the Buddhist Sangha by the renowned monk Ven. Sudhanchandra Mahathera of Unainpura wheeze attention was drawn by Kripasharan due to his calm and quit temperament and reflection bent of mind. During his initiate years he was trained in the Vinaya and philosophy under the able guidance of his teacher. After attaining the age of 20, as per the rules, in year 1885 he was given Upasampada (higher ordination) to be initiated in the Sangha under the preceptor ship of Ven. Acharya Purnachar.

          Acharya Puranachar wanted to visit the sacred places where the Buddha was born, the Buddha attained enlightenment, where he gave his first sermon and where he attained Mahaparinirbbana. In the year 1885 Acharya Puranachar brought the young Kripasharan along with him on a pilgrimage which was a turning point in the young Kripasharan’s life. The visit of three holy places not only reminded him of the glorious days of the Buddha and its subsequent years, his teacher and preceptor had also lectured him during his study about the Buddha’s message and how it spread from India throughout Asia and in the West. It was during this visit that Kripasharan realized how important Buddhism is to the world and what a gift India had given to the world civilization : The Buddhist period is also a glorious period in Indian history as it is during this period that India attained the height of prosperity in all spheres of life, art, culture, commerce and industry. Kripasharan could feel the loss and realized where this noble religion now stood almost extinct in the land of its birth due to manmade misery and nature’s calamity.

          Standing under the shade of the Bodhi tree at Buddhagaya he made a silent resolve to dedicate his life for the revival of Buddhism in India. It was after returning from his pilgrimage that he lost his mother Aradhana Barua. After the pilgrimage the young Kripasharan at the age of 21 arrived at Calcutta and put up his residence at the Mahanagar Vihara at Bow Street of Calcutta. Kripasharan decided to make Calcutta his base for the work of regeneration of Buddhism because it was the capital of the British Raj and the biggest city in the eastern part of India.

          In the year 1892 the Buddha Dharmankur Sabha (The Bengal Buddhist Association) was established to carry forward the work of Kripasharan. Many branches of the Buddha Dharmankur Sabha was also established at Simla (1907), Lucknow (1907), Dibrugarh (1908), Ranchi (1915), Shillong (1908), Darjeeling (1919), Jamsedpur (1922) etc. he also undertook the reconstruction and restoration of various viharas/temples like the vihara of Noapara in 1913, Unainpura in 1921 and Rangamati in 1921. He was also always conscious about the Buddhists in other parts of the country especially in interior of inaccessible hills. He always undertook upon himself the task of helping others in building viharas and arranging Buddha statues for some viharas.

           At the age of 37 Kripasharan conferred the title of Mahathera (a title for senior monks) by the Sangha at the Sakyamuni Vihara in Chakma kingdom. Ven Kripasharan was able attract many other young monks to work with him sharing some of his responsibilities.

           His works created an aura around him which could be recognized by all at home and abroad one of his greatest and ardent admirer Anagarika Dharmapalas founder of the Mahabodhi Society of India. Both of them worked hand in hand for the revival of Buddhism. There were occasions when both travelled together to make a joint representation to Government official at Lucknow, Delhi and Calcutta. Kripasharan went to Sri Lanka in 1911 on the invitation of Anagarika Dharmapala and received a grand reception there. He went on a pilgrimage to the various places of religious significance such as Anuradhapura where the sacred Bodhi tree stands, the sapling of which was taken by Sanghamitra as a gift from the land of the Buddha. He remained in Sri Lanka for nearly a month and a half and developed a closer intimacy with the Anagarika and was able to gather a more minute detail about Buddhism as was being practiced in Sri Lanka. Later in the year 1915 the Anagarika had also paid a visit to Chittagong on the invitation of Kripasharan. Kripasharan was also invited to visit Burma (now Myanmar) in 1908 by U. Sagara Mahathera and U. Tejabanta Mahathera. People in large numbers thronged to the streets and viharas to have a glimpse of Kripasharna who had come from the land of the Buddha. Wherever he went he was received with due reverence and ovation.

      Although Kripasharan was wholly engaged with the revival of Buddhism he could not forget the pangs of education which hindered his progress at a faster pace. His lack of educational qualification could be felt by him as he faced certain impediments in the course of his work. The made him concentrate in the field of education creating infrastructures and facilitating them with other needs. He devoted a considerable amount of time for the spread of education not only amongst the youth but even for the elderly. This would not have been possible without the help and support of Sir Asutosh Mukherjee, the chancellor of Calcutta University. At Kripasharan’s insistence higher studies in Pali was introduced in Calcutta University by Sir Asutosh who also made recommendation to the Government of India for sanctioning scholarships for higher studies in Pali in the Universities of United Kingdom. Mr. Hercourt Butler, the then Education Secretary who also personally knew Kripasharan duly accepted the proposal and Dr. Benimadhab Barua was selected from amongst the three candidates selected by Kripasharan to go to the London University in 1914 for study and research in Pali. Subsequently Dr. Benimadhab Barua became the first Asian recipient of a D. Lit from the London University in 1917.

            Kripasharan’s love for education influenced him so much that he started the publication of Jagajjyoti, a periodical in 1908 under the editorship of kavidhwaja Gunalankar Mahathera and Swami Purnananda which even continues up to this day. Kripasharan also founded a library named as the kavidhwaja Gunalankar Library in 1909 which functions even today as a treasure trove of rare books. Education to the children had become his prime motivation which prompted him to start a free Institution in 1912 which gave admission not only to the Buddhists but even to the children of other communities. The foundation and emotional set up of the school was so strong that it continues to function even today although it has been rechristened as the Kripasharan Continental Institution.

          In the course of his work, Kripasharan realized the strength of the youth and the need to motivate them for social and religious works. In 1910 he organized a connection of Young Men’s Buddhist Association which brought forward all the youths under a common banner. In 1918 he also organized a Buddhist Women’s Conference under the President ship of Ms A. L. Junnan, the Principle of Bethune College which shows how open he was to the rights of women when the social set up of those days demanded that women remain indoors.

        Kripasharan’s life and work was so pioneering and inspiring that in 1915 a life-size marble statue of Kripasharan sculpted by an Italian artist was installed during his own life time which show the respect and adulation he commanded from his disciples and well wishers. During this installation ceremony in the midst of many luminaries present, Sir Asutosh Mukherjee in his address confirmed his admiration for Kripasharan and the attraction towards Buddhism and its literature.

         Kripasharan’s other great work was to organize a World Buddhist Conference which he convened from the 6-14 December 1924 at the Nalanda Park, Calcutta. This was possible due to his love and respect for the Buddha’s message of love, compassion, brotherhood and equanimity.

        The Buddha Dharmankur sabha since its inception in 1892 gradually became a centre for Buddhist ideals and culture and became the central point for all the Buddhists living in the eastern and north-eastern part of India. His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet was given a grand reception in Calcutta during his visit in 1910 when he was an honored guest of the Government of India.

        The physical strains was bound to reflect on him and gradually his health started deteriorating but he continued with his goal and worked harder than ever. He fell seriously ill and no amount of medical attention by eminent physicians and prayers of his devotees could not bring him back to his good health. The end for him came on the 30^th April 1926. He breathed his last leaving behind a rich and lasting legacy for others to emulate and to carry forward the unfinished task of Kripasharan. He had a desire that his funeral ceremony and last rites be performed in his native village, Unainpura and thus his mortal remains were taken there as to fulfill his wish and cremated with full honor beside the pyre of his teacher Acharya Purnachar.    

I, from the core of my heart, convey my deep respect and admiration to the great activist Kripisaran Mahasthavir on his 150^th year of birth celebration for his unbound contribution to the society through his great piece of work.

Bibliography:

1.      Bhikkhu Bodhipal, Kripasaran an epitome of Buddhist revival, The Bengal Buddhist Association, Kolkata, 2005.

2.      Chowdhury, Hemendu Bikash, Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha At a glance, (The Bengal Buddhist Association) The Bengal Buddhist Association, Kolkata, 2005.

3.      Chowdhury, Hemendu Bikash, (Edited) Hundreds years of the Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha (1892-1992) The Bengal Buddhist Association, Kolkata, 1992.

4.      Chowdhury, Hemendu Bikash, Bengal Buddhist Association and its Founder President Kripasaran Mahasthavir, The Bengal Buddhist Association, Kolkata, 1987.

5.      Chowdhury, Hemendu Bikash, (Ed.) Jagajjyoti, Kripasaran Mahasthera 125^th Birth Anniversary Volume, Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha, Kolkata, 1990.

6.      Ram, Dr. Rajendra, Jagajjyoti (1908-2008) Hundred years of Excellence and Splendour, Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha, (The Bengal Buddhist Association), Kolkata, 2011.

7.      Brahmacari, Shilananda, Karmayogi Kripasharan, Bouddha Dharmankur Sabha, (The Bengal Buddhist Association), Kolkata, 2007.