Sri Lanka Hotel Guide

Arhath Mahinda

Sri Lanka Holidays is pleased to commence this glossary with Arhath Mahinda for his epoch-making contribution made to the flourishing Aryan Sinhalese civilization in the kingdom of Lanka [as Sri Lanka was then called], which had made Anuradhapura the capital city.
The recitation of the doctrine of Buddhism by 1000 Buddhist monks at the Third Buddhist Council at Asokarama monastery in Pataliputra [modern-day Patna], called in by the great Mauryan Emperor Asoka or Ashoka [304–232 BC], also known as Ashoka the Great of the Maurya Dynasty, resulted in Thera Moggaliputta Tissa having the non-Theravadan beliefs [Mahasanghika, most probably the forerunner of Mahayana Buddhism] refuted point by point. It was the establishment of Sthaviravada [Sanskrit: the Way of the Elders, today known as Theravada] that adhered closely to the teachings and rules of the Pali Canon.

Following the monumental event, Thera Moggaliputta Tissa, at the behest of the great emperor assigned nine illustrious Buddhist monks to head delegations to neighboring kingdoms for the establishment of the Faith. Arhath Mahinda, the son of Emperor Asoka was assigned for dissemination of faith in the resplendent island of Lanka.
Arhath Mahinda accompanied by his disciples the Thera Itthiya, Uttiya, Sambala and Bhaddasala, Samanera [yet to be ordained to the Buddhist order] Sumana and laymen Banduka or Bhandu having arrived in Lanka took King Devanampiya Tissa [307-266 BC] on a deer hunt by surprise at Missaka Mountain or Sri Lanka Holidays Mihintale, as called today, located 12km east of Anuradhapura.

Arhath Mahinda meets King Devanampiya Tissa at Mihintale: a wall painting at Kelaniya Royal Temple

“Recluses we are, O great king, disciples of the king of the Dhamma [1]. Out of compassion for you alone have we come here from Jambudipa [2]”
Mahavamsa, Dr. Ananda W. P. Guruge’s translation, 1989, ISBN 955-20-8963-8

Having introduced himself, Arhath Mahinda had King Davanampiyatissa tested with a quiz, most probably the first recorded quiz in the history of the world: the riddle of the Mango tree. Following is the riddle dialogue sans the answers by King Devanampiya Tissa. Print this page, write your answers and visit or at least click Mihintale to check your answers. Don’t cheat.

Arahat Mahinda: “What name does this tree bear, O king?”
King Devanampiya Tissa: “This tree is called a Mango.”
Arhat Mahinda: “Is there yet another Mango besides this?”
King Devanampiya Tissa:
Arhat Mahinda: “And are there yet other trees besides this mango & the other mangoes?”
King Devanampiya Tissa:
Arhat Mahinda: “And are there, besides the other mangoes & those trees which are not mangoes, yet other trees?”
King Devanampiya Tissa:
Arhat Mahinda: “Thou hast a shrewd wit, O ruler of men!”
Arhat Mahinda: “Hast thou kinsfolk, O king?”
King Devanampiya Tissa: “There are many,sir.”
Arhat Mahinda: “And are there also some, O king, who are not kinsfolk of thine?”
King Devanampiya Tissa:
Arhat Mahinda: “Is there yet any one besides the kinsfolk & the others?”
King Devanampiya Tissa:
Arhat Mahinda: “Good! Thou hast a shrewd wit, O ruler of men!”
It was only following the quiz, the first sermon on Buddhism was delivered: a Buddhist discourse called “Chullahaththipadopama Sutta”, the simile of the elephant. At the end of the sermon King Devanpiya Tissa and forty thousand Sinhalese embraced Buddhism.
“Is an arama allowed to the brotherhood, sir?”
“It is allowed.”
Mahavamsa, Dr. Wilhelm Geiger’s translation, 1912, ISBN: 955-8540-83-8

The king having embraced Buddhism donated the Mahameghawanna gardens at Anuradhapura to Arahath Mahinda. Mahavihara monastery at Mahameghawanna gardens become the centre of Theravada Buddhism. In the time to come glorious Anuradhapura became the greatest monastic city of the ancient world. [Click to read on Anuradhapura]

Quote Rajavaliya
Mihindu Thera [3] also caused the right collarbone relic of our Buddha to be brought from the world of Sakra and enshrined it in the Thuparama which had been built for that purpose. Also a quantity of about a bowlful of relics that were in the possession of king Dharmasoska was brought and Dagabas were built at a distance of each gavua [4] including the Tissamahavihara [5]. The king also requested to be brought the Southern branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi against which Buddha had placed his back from Dambadiva. Thereupon a line was marked round the branch with a golden brush in vermilion. The branch severed itself as if cut with a saw and rising to the sky through supernatural power, arrived in this Sri Lanka. It thus arrived at the place in which the Bodhi trees of the three former Buddhas [6] as well, had been planted. It was received into a golden pot on that spot and the Bodhi was planted. That king Devanampiya Tissa caused drip-ledges to be cut in sixty eight caves around Mihintale rock and in those were settled the great community of monks headed by Thera Mihindu. King Devanipatis [7] made great offerings and acquiring much merit reigned forty years righteously and departed to the world of Devas.
Unquote Rajavaliya [Sinhala: genealogy of kings] translation by A.V. Suraweera ISBN 955-599-210-X

[1] Dhamma (Pali) or Dharma (Sanskrit): the path to supreme enlightenment
[2] Jambudipa : Indian subcontinent
[3] Arhath Mahinda was also known by Mihindu Thera
[4] Gavua: 4 miles
[5] Tissamahavihara is a Buddhist temple
[6] According to the historical narrations, three former Buddhas, i.e. Kakusanda, Konagama, Kasyapa of the current eon known as Mahabadra kalpa had visited to Sri Lanka prior to Gautama Buddha. Each of these Buddha attained supreme enlightenment while meditating in the shelter of trees.
[7] King Devanipatis is another name for King Devanampiya Tissa

Tags: Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Sri Lanka Holidays

This entry was posted on Monday, May 28th, 2012 at 7:20 pm and is filed under ~Glossary A1. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.