-By Religious Affairs Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -14.July.2025, 8.30 PM) In a deeply symbolic gesture blending diplomacy, religion, and history, India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, His Excellency Santosh Jha, undertook a visit on 11 July 2025 to the village of Vihāra Kallanchiya in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province—a settlement historically linked to the sacred entourage of Sanghamittā Therī, the revered Buddhist nun who brought the Southern branch sapling of the Śrī Mahā Bodhi tree to Sri Lanka in 236 BCE.
According to credible historical records, including Sinhala Bodhi Vaṁśaya—edited by the late Venerable Vilgammula Sangharāja (1964) and Venerable P. Paññānanda—the noble Sanghamittā Therī arrived from India during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa on the Uduvap Full Moon Poya day, accompanied by a distinguished retinue. This group included ordained bhikkhunīs, royal youth, and master craftsmen, entrusted with distinct roles in the veneration, protection, and ceremonial caretaking of the sacred Bodhi sapling.
The delegates settled near the Tissa Wewa basin and gradually established themselves in temple-centric villages that later became known as Vihāra Bulankulama, Vihāra Palugama, Vihāra Kallanchiya, and Vihāra Madawachchiya. Oral traditions and royal instructions of that era, attributed to Arahant Mahinda, suggest that members of this sacred lineage, particularly descendants of Prince Bodhigupta and Prince Sumitta, were assigned custodial duties toward the sacred tree, a duty transmitted across generations.
During his visit to Vihāra Kallanchiya, Commissioner Jha met with local leaders, including Mr. Jayawardena—recognised as the current custodian of the sacred tree and identified as a direct descendant of Bodhigupta Kumāra. The Commissioner was informed that, according to familial oral history, their ancestors were part of the original delegation that arrived with Sanghamittā Therī from northern India. These hereditary custodians have honoured their obligations through centuries, preserving the rituals and traditions handed down through ancestral decree.
The High Commissioner conveyed his profound respect and admiration for these families, acknowledging them as bearers of a living spiritual tradition that exemplifies the enduring Buddhist heritage shared between India and Sri Lanka. “This sacred link between our two nations is not merely historical—it is human, familial, and deeply spiritual. It is a cultural lineage that bridges the centuries and binds our peoples with sacred duty and mutual reverence,” Mr. Jha stated.
He further reiterated India’s continued commitment to strengthening cultural and religious ties with Sri Lanka, noting that the Sanghamittā legacy represents one of the most unique and enduring aspects of Indo-Lankan relations. “The story of Sanghamittā Therī and her companions speaks of compassion, resilience, and service. These villages and families are living testaments to that noble mission,” he added.
Adding solemn perspective to the occasion, the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthāna in Anuradhapura, the Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, highlighted that the Indian High Commissioner himself hails from Bihar—a region historically believed to be the origin of Sanghamittā’s delegation. Hemarathana Thera informed the Commissioner and the gathered village elders that “today, you are a kinsman visiting your ancestral home.”
This observance was especially poignant as the High Commissioner stood among the descendants of those who travelled across the ocean centuries ago in the name of faith, duty, and spiritual fraternity. The recognition of shared ancestry across borders is now being seen as a powerful reminder of Buddhist diplomacy in the 21st century.
The visit was commemorated in an official communiqué issued by the High Commission of India in Colombo, article also translated into Sinhala by Lanka E News. It noted that India’s engagement with heritage communities such as those in Vihāra Kallanchiya plays a crucial role in preserving Buddhist history and reaffirming its commitment to cultural diplomacy grounded in shared civilisational values.
As Sanghamittā’s spiritual descendants continue their quiet but sacred duties in Vihāra Kallanchiya, a forgotten village has once again found its place in the historical consciousness of a nation—and the embrace of a kindred neighbour.
-By Religious Affairs Correspondent
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by (2025-07-14 17:38:40)
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