Malwatta Prelate tours Jaffna

Malwatta Mahanayaka Most Ven Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera was given a rousing reception when he visited the Naga viharaya. Thousands of people, Army and Police officers welcomed the Prelate on arrival. A group of Bhikkhus accompanied the Mahanayaka Thera.
The Malwatta Mahanayaka Thera visited the Nallur Kandasamy Temple, Public Library and Jaffna Fort area.
The Prelate also presented educational equipment to 1,500 students at the Vadamarachi and Tenamarachi Educational Zones and also conducted religious ceremony at the Army Officers' quarters.
The Mahanayaka Thera's visit was coordinated by Maj Gen Hathurusinghe.

Nallur Temple

Historians have found evidence that the original temple was built in 1248 in Kurukkal Valavu in Nallur at the same location of the present temple. Nallur was then the capital of the Jaffna Kingdom. But in 1450, Parakramabahu the 6th of the Kotte Kingdom, in response to the Arya Chakkaravarthi of Jaffna's to extend his rule to the South, sent his son Sapumal Kumara to bring the Jaffna Kingdom down to his rule. Sapumal Kumara defeated King Arya Chakkaravarthi, destroyed his palace and the original Nallur temple. But upon becoming Buvaneka Bahu the 6th , he sought to make amends by building a new temple in 1467 at a nearby location, says Shanmugapriya in Nallur Kanthaswamy: A Spiritual Experience.

Location : Nallur Kandasamy Temple lies about 1.5km from the Jaffna town on the KKS (Kankasanthurai) Road.

Links:http://www.nalluran.com/

Thondamanaru Temple

ASIN-JAFFNA

South indian actress asin visit to Jaffna ,sri lanka

Arrival of Arhat Sanghamitta in Sri Lanka

Two significant incidents that took place in the 3rd Century B.C. stand out in Sri Lanka's more than 2550 year old history as the ones which brought about a social, religious and a cultural revolution in the country. As a messenger of Emperor Dharmashoka of India, Arhat Mahinda arrived in Lankadeepa on a Poson Full Moon Poya Day with the gift of the Dhamma which was soon embraced by King Devanampiyatissa and his citizens. Arhat Mahinda's historic visit was soon followed by the arrival of Arhat Sanghamitta on an Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day with a sapling of the Southern bough of India's Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was Arhat Sangamitta who pioneered the Order of Bhikkhuni (Bhikkhuni Sasana) in Sri Lanka. Thus Unduwap poya which falls on December 12 is a day of great significance to Sri Lankan Buddhists.

Upon the request of King Devanampiyatissa, his nephew Aritta gave his consent to undertake the tour to India in order to meet Emperor Asoka and make arrangements to bring a Bo Sapling from Sri Maha Bodhi, provided he was permitted to enter the Order on his return. As the mission was a success Arhat Sangamitta and retinue arrived in Dambakola Patuna Port with the Bo Sapling placed in a golden bowl. As the Bo Sapling reached the shores of Sri Lanka, Arhat Mahinda had preached Naga Damana to King Devanampiyatissa who arrived in Dambakola Patuna to receive Arhat Sangamitta and the Bo Sapling.

After performing the necessary rituals, the Bo Sapling was ceremoniously carried to Mahamevuna Uyana in Anuradhapura and was planted at an auspicious time during Rehena Nekatha. Over a thousand men entered the Order on that historic day, reveals Mahavamsa. Maha Mahendra Thera, King Devanampiyatissa, and Arhat Sanghamitta participated in the historic ceremony along with Kshatriyas of Kataragama, Chandana Grama and Thiwakka, and Brahmins. The seeds of the tree which was given to the King by Maha Mahendra Thera was sown on his advice. Later the eight saplings were planted in areas like Thawakka Bamunugama, Kataragama, Chandanagrama, Thuparama, Isurumuni Vihara, Palamu Sa Maluwa and Sagiri Aramage. Thirty two saplings from those trees were planted all over. The Sacred Bo Tree remains there to this day not only as the oldest tree in the world, but also as the only tree in the world which has an authentic history, attracting thousands of devout Buddhists.

Along with Arhat Sanghamitta, eleven Bhikkunis and people of higher castes who are skilled in eighteen different working spheres such as architecture, masonry, jewellery industry, irrigation, engineering also arrived in the country, pushing the country forward in every respect. The people who came to the country for the protection of the Bo Tree performed necessary rituals to the tree inspired the citizens, directing the country in a new path. Literary activities too developed. In short the cultural practices and skilled labour brought about a remarkable change in the social and religious life of the country. Massive constructions such as Mahavihara, Chethiyagiri, Thuparama, Isurumuni, Vessagiri bespeak the creativity of that era.

Rituals associated with the Bo Tree were initially performed by the various categories of people who arrived in the country with Sanghamitta Theri. In fact each of those rituals were performed by the people of eight villages who settled down in Anuradhapura. The names of these villages usually started with the word 'Vihara'. The bathing of the Bodhi with milk, making offerings of robes and special ceremonies were often conducted by Bikkhus and Bhikkunis.

Arrival of Arhat Sangamitta  at Dambakola Patuna

The Order of Nuns

Under the auspices of the King, twelve palaces were constructed, three of which were used to keep parts of the Ship which carried Arhat Sangamitta and the Bo Sapling. Arhat Sangamitta dwelled in Haththalhaka Vihara along with other Bhikkunis who entered the Order as the Bhikkuni sasana was established.

Being ordained by Arhat Sangamitta, Queen Anula became the first to enter the Order of Bhikkunis. In fact it was Queen Anula along with 500 attendant ladies who expressed her willingness to enter the Order of Nuns.

Arhat Mahinda who was of the opinion that it was not proper for him to inaugurate that task, advised the King to send envoys to Emperor Asoka. It was as a result of this that the king's nephew Aritta was sent. Queen Anula and the group who had attained the first of the four stages that leads to Arhathood (After listening to Dhamma discourses of Arhat Mahinda Thera), could enter the Order successfully.

Gradually women from all walks of life began to enter the Order. After working hard for the emancipation of women in the country, Arhat Sanghamitta passed away at the age of 79.

It was only after her arrival that the women of the country got entire freedom to engage in socio-cultural activities.

Every year Unduwap Full Moon Poya Day will be celebrated with much piety country wide, performing religious activities, also conducting processions and carrying the statues of Arhat Sangamitta.

Source:http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/12/07/imp07.asp

Dambakola Patuna

Dambakola Patuna or Jambukola Patuna is an ancient port in the north of Jaffna which was used during pre christian times. After Arahath Mahinda brought Bhuddhism to Sri Lanka in 250BC, his sister, Theri Sanghamitta arrived in Sri Lanka with a Sacred Bo Sapling one year later to this port. The temple Samudda-panasala ( Jambukola Viharaya) was built commemorating the arrival of the Bo sapling by King Devanampriya Tissa (250-210 BC). Later, the same king planted one of the first eight shoots of the Sri Maha Bodhi, on the same place where he kept the original tree before brining it to Anuradhapura. King Vijayabahu I (1070-1110) has restored this site.

How to get there

From Jaffna take the Kankasanthurei road (KKS Rd) and Travel up to Keerimalai Naguleswaran Kovil. The Keerimalai Natural Springs also belongs to this kovil. Between the Kovil and the Natural spring there is a road running parallel to the beach. The temple lies about 9 km from this kovil on this road.

Jaffna Technical College to be upgraded

The Jaffna Technical College would be upgraded as Colleges of Technology and courses are to commence soon said the Additional Director General D.V.T.Y. Kulathunga.

Currently there are colleges of technology in Maradana, Kandy, Badulla, Galle, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura and Ampara and Jaffna would be added to this list. The financial assistance and technical assistance for the college of technology in Jaffna will come from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Courses to be offered at this college would include construction and motor vehicle technology, which would be equivalent to level 5 and level 6 National Vocational qualifications. This College of Technology would be equipped with the latest equipment and would be funded by KOICA.

Mr. Kulathunga said that they expect to admit 40 students per course. Students attending this course can study for the Degree course upon obtaining their Diploma, if they so wish.

Indian Bank plans branch in Jaffna

CHENNAI: The city-based Indian Bank is planning to open a branch in Jaffna in Sri Lanka. "Talks are in an advanced stage at the moment," chairman and managing director TM Bhasin said. A couple of months back, the bank had sent representatives to the region to evaluate the possibility of setting up a branch. Indian Bank already has a branch in Colombo and it is also looking at the possibility of opening a branch in Kandy as well as a representative office in Jakarta in Indonesia, he said.

The bank's net profit during the first quarter, ending June 2010, grew by 11% to touch Rs 368.15 crore. CASA (current account saving account) deposit as a percentage of the total deposits of the bank recorded a growth of 33.34% in the first quarter of the fiscal as against 30.39% during the corresponding period last year. In keeping with the focus of raising low-cost deposits, the bank has launched a supreme current account with a health cover.

Indian Bank's total business during the April-June quarter recorded a year-on-year growth of 24% to touch Rs 1,59,027 crore (Rs 1,28,700 crore). Of this, deposits accounted for Rs 91,000 crore, with advances constituting the remainder. The credit deposit(CD) ratio of the bank stood stood at 74.8% for the period ending June 30, as against 67.8% for the corresponding period in 2009.

While the net interest income of the bank rose by 25.6% on a year-on-year basis to touch Rs 926.65 crore in the first quarter of the fiscal, core non-interest income witnessed a growth of 54.4% during the same period to touch Rs 257.79 crore. While the bank's capital adequacy ratio (CRAR) stood at 12.5% during the same period, the ration of net non-performing assets (NPA) to net advances was at 0.76%.

"We have shifted to identifying NPAs through the online CBS (core banking solution) which would enable the bank track all NPAs and special mention accounts on a day-to-day basis," Bhasin said. "The accounts under the NPA category would be generated from the head office and the relevant branch office and circle office under which these accounts fall would be asked to push for recovery. Otherwise, a lot of time is wasted in identifying NPA accounts," said Bhasin.

With base rate coming into play, Indian Bank is planning to reprice its loans totalling Rs 6,000 crore which where under the bank's base rate of 8%. As per the RBI guidelines, banks cannot charge below the base rate for loans.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Indian-Bank-plans-branch-in-Jaffna/articleshow/6212129.cms

Asin visits Jaffna and Vavuniya

Asin has become the first Kollywood star to have visited war devastated Tamil territories in Sri Lanka in the past 30 years. On Sunday, Asin visited Jaffna and Vavuniya accompanied by the wife of President Rajapakse, Shiranthi Wickramasinghe Rajapaksa. The actress took part in the events in Eye Treatment Centre in Jaffna Hospital. At the Vavuniya general hospital, she interacted with a few patients and even watched an ongoing cataract surgery, performed by a surgeon flown in from India, sources said.

The unannounced visit materialized after Asin had met Namal Rajapaksa, MP and eldest son Mahinda Rjapakse and expressed her desire to visit the war ravaged areas when she landed in the country for the shooting of her Hindi film ‘Ready’.

South Indian Film Industry unions had warned actors not to work in Sri Lanka which they described as a country stained with the blood of innocent Tamils. But Asin seems to be determined in going her way unmindful of the boycott threats by the south Indian film industry.

Source:http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/58526.html

Nagadeepa

Nainativu is one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Gulf of Mannar and is only about 35 miles from India. Merchants have long come here and the surrounding islands to buy the conch shells that are harvested in the warm shallow waters in the Gulf. The conch shell is of course essential for certain Hindu and Buddhist rituals and a particularly perfect specimen of one spiraling to the right can fetch an enormous price. Pilgrims have also been coming to Nainativu since about the 1st century CE to worship at its famous stupa. In the Mahavamsa the island is one of the sixteen sacred places and the Tamil Buddhist epic, Manimekala, mentions a gem studded throne and a stone with the Buddha’s footprints at Nagadipa which pilgrims from India used to come and worship. The heroine of the epic is described as wandering amongst the island’s 'long sandy dunes and lagoons’.

As the boat approaches the main jetty the pilgrim will see the distinctive red and white-striped walls of the Hindu temple. Although there has been a temple here for many centuries the present one is not old and is of no particular interest. However on either side of the side entrance to the temple there are two very ancient objects. On the left as you enter is a large stone with an inscription of Parakramabahu I on it. In the first part of this inscription the king says that foreigners coming into the country should enter only at Uraturai (Kayts) and that they should be helped if in need. This undoubtedly refers to merchants and pilgrims from India. The second part says what measures should be taken if ships carrying elephants or horses and merchant ships are wrecked. On the right of the entrance is a large life saver-shaped stone, an ancient anchor. Arab ships used to carry such anchors.

Less than half a kilometer down the road from the temple is Nagadipa Vihara marking the place where the Buddha is supposed to have stayed during his visit to the small island. On one side of the road is the Bodhi Tree and on the other is the silver painted stupa. There are two temples as well, one containing a bronze Buddha image donated by the Burmese government in 1956. Nothing at Nagadipa is of any aesthetic or historical interest, everything having been built in the 1950’s.

Source:http://www.buddhanet.net/sacred-island/nagadipa.html

Buddha's visit to Nagadeepa

As the historical records reveal the Buddha's second visit to Sri Lanka had taken place during the month of Bak more than two thousand five hundred and ninety years ago.


Nagadeepa Vihara

As mentioned in the Mahavamsa, in the fifth year (523 B.C) of Supreme Enlightenment, the Buddha had visited Nagadeepa in Lankadeepa (Sri Lanka) to settle a dispute between Mahodara and Chulodara -uncle and nephew who were at war with each other over a gem studded throne.

During the Buddha's stay Jethawana he saw in his Divine Eye the disaster about to take place in Nagadeepa and arrived there on Bak Amawaka Poya day (fifteen days prior to Bak Full Moon Poya Day).

History

Mahodara was then a mighty king in Nagadeepa (a Naga-kingdom in the ocean that covered five hundred `yojanas'. His younger sister, Thirachchika was married to a Naga King of the Vaddhamana mountain.

Chulodara was their son.

Thirachchika's father gave her one of his most valuable jewels- a gem-studded throne before his death.

Mahodara had been displeased with this from the beginning and his anger grew worse when the throne was owned by Thirachchika's son in the end. Mahodara decided to declare war against Chulodara, his nephew.

A Deva named Samiddhi Sumana who dwelt in Rajayatana tree (a Banyan tree) in Jethawana too had joined the Buddha during his visit to Nagadeepa, the Mahavamsa reveals.

The Deva in fact had uprooted the tree and had held it like a parasol over the Buddha! The Buddha had made no objections as he knew that the god had lived in Nagadeepa in one of his previous births. In an another birth he had seen Paccekabuddhas taking their meals under the same Kiripalu tree. The sight made him happy and he offered them leaves to cleanse their alms bowls.

The merit was strong enough for him to be born in the same tree in the Jetawana Garden as a god. The Buddha brought him to Lankadeepa together with the tree as he knew that the tour will benefit him immensely.

As the Buddha arrived in Nagadeepa the Nagas were about to declare war. The Buddha hovered there in mid-air above the venue and in order to alarm the Nagas called forth dread darkness over the battle-ground.

Next the Buddha had spread light abroad in order to comfort those who were in distress and anxiety.

The Nagas were overwhelmed by happiness to see the Buddha who was hovering in mid-air. They raised their hands and worshipped the Enlightened One. He then preached to the Nagas in order to make them understand the evils of hatred.

The Buddha narrated to them Jathaka stories like Karkoluka, Pandana, Latukika, Wattaka which showed the evils of hatred and the importance of living in harmony. Chulodara and Mahodara discarded their weapons , and offered the gem studded throne to the Buddha. The Enlightened one who was in mid-air then alighted on the earth and sat on the throne.

The Mahavamsa finely describes how the Nagas offered him dhana.

Thousands of Nagas established themselves in the three refuges (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) and in the moral precepts.

Naga king Maniakkhika of Kelaniya who was the uncle of Mahodara (mother's brother) too was among the ones who came to participate in the battle.

In fact Maniakkhika had become established in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha (three refuges) and in the moral precepts during the Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka- to Mahiyangana. The Naga -king who was overwhelmed by the Buddha's power of compassion thanked him profusely for settling down the dispute which otherwise would cost millions of lives.

"The Compassion you showed is great". He told the Buddha. "Thatagatha, we would have all been consumed to ashes had not the Buddha intervened. May your compassion yet light also specially on me". Thus Maniakkika slowly revealed his intention of seeing the Buddha visiting his kingdom in Kelaniya if he intends to visit the country again. The Buddha remained silent and it indicated that he had accepted the invitation.

The Naga King then asked for an object of worship and as a result the Buddha gave over the Rajayathana tree and the gem studded throne to him to do homage. Historical records state that Maniakkikha planted the Rajayathana tree on that very spot as a sacred memorial.

"Since the Thathagatha has used these two, paying homage to them will bring about blessings and happiness" the Buddha had told the Nagas before returning to Jethawana on the same, Bak Amawaka poya day. Nagadeepa Stupa was constructed by Chulodara and Mahodara and it is still there in Nagadeepa in Jaffna district.

Source:www.sundayobserver.lk/2009/04/05/rev20.asp