BY Dr Sripali Vaiamon

As a Democrat from Sri lanka who was not so strongly involved even during  school days, wish to suggest,  in AMERICA as well as CANADA what we predominantly willing  to maintain is  UNITY,among all the neighbours,.I was a broadcaster and after my retirement I migrated to CANADA .As I know PM TRUDEAU’S dada,Pierre Trudeau proposed at the House,in October 1971, MULTICULTURALISM, almost with the same target.It is equally necessary for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AMERICA is a vast country crazed with this color bar,despite all of us are human beings.Civilized human beings,so that great personality like LINCOLN paved the way for them to come over here.Let us live graciously.If necessary we may add –ish, like BLACKISH, Brownish or whitish,(as there is no human colour as WHITE)You are the ideal LEADER – Joe Biden – and with your SECOND IN COMMAND –Kamala Harris will lead the country courteously! Our Prime Minister,Trudeau is very cordial with the new American President.That made me to touch this little comment with sincerely.Particularly ,Trans mountain pipeline came to my mind.This gives him little bit of headache,along with two other subjects at the moment.

Well,I was dealing with the Edicts of the Ancient philanthropist Indian king Asoka and prior to getting link up with that, I had to go back to one of the earliest matters.In earliest periods in Lanka, we have very little collection of reliable information on historical matters. History is concerned if we cannot write very accurate accounts better not to touch on false presumpsions.Now our Deepavansa is much better.Those who knew something very accurately have been inserted in the Deepavansa.Mahavansa is  concerned major parts are that of a YARN created presumeably by a monk.The area that was taken for the Indian lion to interfeared was genuine as Sihore was the forestry region infested with Indian lion in that bygone era.It is the area of present Indian Prime Minister MODI ruled for three consecutive terms..Locality is known as GUJARATH where ships came on trade and went up to Jawa via Sri Lanka. Thereby area was somewhat familier to Lanka.That’s why I thought lion-Suppadevi and Sinhabahu-Sinhaseevali combinations could be gigantic pictures displayed by Rev.MAHANAMA of DEEGASNDA SENADYPATHI PIRIVENA. ANURADAPURA. If my presumption is false please excuse me as I had no other believable clue.When major clue becomes doubtful you cannot expect to have any other dependable background. Merely because one major creation becomes false,rest also invariably become inaccurate.Because it was only a YARN.i. e.the production of two  human figures, SINHABAHU AND SINHASEEVALI. by an animal and human spearm.  Production of a human child by a human and an animal sperm is according to science is false.It won’t take place,as such entire episode is beyond accuracy. Still it would have been better if that bit of false creation was not there.Otherwise the combination could be approved without any doubt!Now take for an example, It is a history book,but if historical matters are doubtful,you cannot treat even a singal event as authentic,ACCEPTABLE  HISTORY. In ancient time  –history-was  not so abundance as today! Whole story of the caravan may have been a creation by Rev.Mahanama.Perhaps it may be otherwise.Let’s go into one or two points. A jungle creature or a lion of the forest jumped into a caravan of several carts,trudged from a long way.From Western India to Gujarath, and when a lion pounced upon them,all of them got frightened and ran amok,but this brave girl, Suppadevi, who was living in a palace did not get afraid,stayed all alone without any fear.Because she knew what was propersised by the soothsayer.It happened at the palace according to the yarn. (Perhaps you could believe it to a greater extent.)   

 Lion was wagging its tail and approached her.She stroked its head and face like a very tamed animal.And then got on to its back and went into the jungle. Lived in a DEN where there were no windows or holes for ventilations.Lived so many years.There was no provision for passing excreta, urine and washing! Stinky!Not one or two days,months and years and boy become big enough to carry mother and sister on his shoulders.Granite door was able to open by the lion only. -just think about this bit of the story! Or think about Vijaya,their son  and his supporters who were plundering the village.Time to time several days.People time to time complained to the king!,Ultimately king had to get hold all of them and gave a punishment by shaving one side of their heads and ousted from the country. With 700 altogether.They were the people who were landed near Puttalam.When they landed and they were feeling thirsty.Their were no water in the ship to drink.Went one by one in search of water.Someone caught them.hid in a pond. Where you find water?as they did not return,Vijaya came in search of them.He saw the footprints in the pond. Under the water!Vijaya saw a woman seated in a distance.Went from behind.Kept the sword to the neck and asked about his men? She agreed to return them.Vijaya asked whether they are coming under a king.She answerd they have a king MAHAKALASENA and kingdom,  SIRASAWASTHU. It was grand! but appointing Vijaya as the first king in the country? A culprit? ROGUE! Who was under a punishment. Why no question about the position of their KING? Which was announced by Kuveni and revealed their names,Let us go to the end. Our Author monk has made this ROGUE, THE KING OF OUR COUNTRY. Unbelievable! Our Author monk failed to ask anything about their ruling king.Who has migrated with a punishment?Unpardonable? Author Monk,did a bit of good work in his composition but everything were spoiled with this unpleasant  work. Anyway that is our History! HISTORY OF THE SINHALA NATION.We have a Lion flag.Very beautiful.We got a name SINGHA-la.Exsisting from that remote era?We have not make any reference to Mahabaratha version.It has started according to Dr.Monier Monier Williams who compiled the very first English Sanskrit Dictionary firmly reveled  where the origination  as 1200 BC.In the 2^nd book of MAHABARATHA,the Saba Parva, the  term SINHALA is given clearly.Moreover it was totaly in memory.Writing materials were not available in that era.Even what Dr.Paranavithana mentioned in the footnote of his Sigiri Gee have not taken into consideration.  

We as readers have no questions? We all believe What Rev.MAHANAMA had written.He has made the Rogue,plunderer first king of the country!Our Projenitor!

Well, all of us coming under these jungle people are now coming under President Hon.Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Hon.Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Let’s allow our Sinhala people to think about the past position!Now let us talk little more about King Asoka’s Edicts and further  on historical matters!

Because HISTORY prime important matter in a country! That may be the reason it was taken out of the curriculum by those who provided Exchange! According to DASATHA,a Sinhala tabloid in CANADA , This was during  Sirimao Bandaranayake’s era.

THE BIRTH (The life of Buddha p34 Dr.Edward J.Thomas.)
VIEWS ON BUDDHISM pps 112,113

Maya makes no mention of her intention to go to Devadaha, but merely wished to go and sport in the Lumbini grove.She expresses her wish to the king inverse,and speaks there of Sal-trees,but in the following prose she seizes not a Sal branch ,but a plaksha at the moment of birth. Both LALITHAVISTARA and MAHAVASTHU say that the Bodhisaththa came from her right side,and particularly add that her right side was uninjured.(There is no birth canal in the right side-This is the MAHAYANA version- a mystry!)

ASOKA AND VIBHAJJAVADINS – A short history of Buddhism p.36 Dr.Edward  Conze –views on Buddhism bk.1 p.173.

 It appears that Asoka sided with VIBHAJ-JAVADINS and that in consequence the Saravastivadins went North and converted KASHMIR, which remainethe centre for more than a thousand years.

Short History of Buddhism p.36 Dr.Edward Conze

ASOKA towards other religions

Views on Buddhism.pps. 172.173

       One of the most impressive documents of the Buddhist tolerant attitude is undoubtedly Rock Edict no.12, of the Emperor Asoka (3^rd cent BC) in his vast empire lived the followers of Brahaminism,Jainism,Aj ivikism,Zoroastrianism and of the Greek religion.The Emperor  himself was a devout follower of Buddhism.But he respected  all religions, protected the votaries of different religions, and even liberally patronized religious establishments of different religious groups.Moreover ,he admonished subjects to live in peace and mutual harmony,to study different ideologies,and to  praise the religion of other people. He commended the virtue of religious concord.

 Buddhist Studies p.129 Prof.L.M.Joshi

ASOKA AND THE WAR-

Asoka’s conversion.For the first 12 years of his reign,Asoka governed  very much as his father and grand father had done.Then he set out a campaign for the conquest  of KALINGA  OR  ORISSA.In this cruel war , 150,000 persons carried  away captive,100,000 were slaves,and many times that number perished from starvation or disease.Just after this ,Asoka was converted to BUDDHISM.

The Indian people,pp 36,37 H.G.Rowlinson.

ASOKA AFTER THE WAR,

The warrior who had spread devastation and murder throughout India  began to engage in works of peace,in making roads,in digging of wells and planting trees, in establishing charities and providing for their business like distribution. Many were the great monasteries and temples built by the converted Asoka. Throughout the vast dominion which his conquest had added to his original empire of Magadha, on pillers and onrocks he engraved the articles of Buddhist belief. These descriptions are describes as Edicts.They are the only known contemporary documents for the history of Asoka’s reign and for the study of religion.

Legend of Indian Buddhism.Introduction-Winifred Stephen by Eugene Burnouf
Views on Buddhism,Bk one.pps 170,171.

BUDDHISM IS THE BEST. Views on Buddhism p.102

Rhys Davids says:Buddhist or no Buddhist ,I have examind every one of the great religious systems of the world,and in none of them have I found anything  to surpass,in beauty and comprehensiveness, the Nobal Eight Fold Path of the Buddha.I am content to shape my life according to that path.

 Quite similer to Rhys Davids our President Hon.Gotabaya Rajapaksa has a full understanding on Buddhism,as such he has full faith onSRI MAHA BODHI TREE under which Buddha had his attaintment.As such he has full faith on Sri Maha Bodhi plant that was braught by Queen Sangamitththa and planted at Bodhi Maluwa at Anuradhapura.               

EIGHT PRINCESS TO PROTECT THE BODHI  
Views on Buddhism p.166

 Asoka sent,according to tradition, eight princes who were the brother of Asoka’s queen.In other words they were the sons of Deva Setti of Vedisa city in Avanthi.Both the pujavaliya and Mahabodhi Vamsa,state that they belonged to the Ksatriya class.But if we accept the fact that Asoka’s queen belonged to the Vaisya class,there is no doubt that her eight brothers headed by Sumittha also belonged to the same class.In sending these eight princes with their families to protect the Bodhi tree,we may suggest the Asoka also sent ten other families of equal rank to assist them in their functions,these making the number of Deva families 18.

SOCIAL HISTORY OF EARLY CEYLON P.32, Dr.Hema Ellawala
FAMILIES CAME WITH THE BODHI TREE.

According to Samanthapasadhika and its commentary, these families were sent in order to perform certain specific duties towards the Bodhi tree.For the protection of the Bodhi tree (MAHABODHIRAKKANATHTHAYA) 18 Deva families were sent.Eight Families of Ministers were sent for the purpose of organising different rights connected with the Bodhi tree.Eight Brahmana families were sent for the purpose of sprinkling water to Bodhi Tree.Eight families of cowherds were sent in order to supply the necessary to wash the Bodhi tree.Similarly other families also were entrusted with certain other duties towards the Bodhi Tree. A perusal of duties assigned to

 to different families and their order of preference in the list clearly indicates that the DEVAKULANI are considered to be most important of all.

SOCIAL HISTORY OF EARLY CEYLON pp.31,32 Dr.Hema EllawalaAsoka’s missionary efforts – p.168- VIEWS ON BUDDHISM

 THE  MAHAVANSA DESCRIBES WITH ECSTATIC RAPTURE THE ENTRY OF MAHINDA TO ANURADHAPURA,AND THE CONSEQUENT CONVERSION OF THE KING ,THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY,FAMILIES OF THE NOBILITY AND FINALLY,THE PEOPLE OF CEYLON. CONVERSION ACHIEVED ITS CLIMAX WHEN ASOKA DECIDED TO SEND HIS DAUGHTER –SANGAMITTHA- ALSO TO CEYLON.THIS MISSION WAS MOST SUCCESSFUL,AND IT WAS THE MOST PRODUCTIVE OF THE MISSIONARY EFFORTS OF ASOKA.FOR SANGAMITTHA BROUGHT WITH HER BRANCH OF THE BODHI TREE AT BUDDHA GAYA WHERE THE BLESSED ONE ATTAINED WISDOM.HISTORIANS RECORD THE GREAT EVENT IN THESE TERMS;

It is doubtful if any other single incident in the long story of the SINHALESE RACE has seized upon the imagination of the Sinhalese with such tenacity as this of the planting of the BODHI TREE. Like its roots,which find sustenance on the face of the bare rock and cleave their way through the stoutest fabric,the influence it represents has penetrated into the innermost being of the people till the tree itself has become almost human.The loving care of some pious observer has left on record in sonorous Pali and with minute detail the incidents of the day when the soil of Ceylon first received it,and today the descendants of the princely escort who accompanied it from India continue to be its guardians,The axe of ruthless invaders who for many centuries to come were destined to spread the ruin throughout the country was reverently withheld from its base.And even now,on the stillest night,the heartshaped leaves on their slender stalks ceaselessly quiver and sigh,as they have quivered and sighed for 25  centuries.”

BUDDHISM IN CEYLON UNDER THE CHRISTAIN POWERS—By.Tennakoon Vimalananda
Views on Buddhism-Part one.Pp.168,169.

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