Opinion

Soratha Nayake Thera: Religious leader and social activist

02 Oct 2013 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Ranga Kalansooriya
The demise of Dr. Aluthwewa Soratha Kririwehera Maha Nayake Thera is not only a great loss to the Sasana but also to the academia in Sri Lanka as well.
Dr. Soratha Nayake Thera’s service was not confined to his routine religious duties at Kiriwehera. It expanded into a massive social service in Kataragama, an economically deprived area of the south-eastern tip of the country. He built villages, guided and initiated the political leadership of the day to develop Kataragama by constructing tanks and irrigation systems, self-employment projects and education development programmes in Kataragama following his appointment as the Chief Incumbent of the Kiriwehera Raja Maha Viharaya.

The cardinal service among them was his initiative and guidance in constructing irrigation systems along the Menik River, which includes the massive Weheragala tank that nourishes thousands of acres of paddy land. All these initiatives were driven by one particular objective of the Nayake Thera, “The poor Kataragama people are used to finding their living through charities and selling Puja Watti (fruit baskets for God Kataragama). But we need to find a long-term solution to eradicate poverty in this area,” he said. After completing his academic studies at the Sri Jayawardenepura University in the mid 80’s Soratha Nayake Thera returned to Kataragama as a teacher to the Bogahapelessa village school with the sole objective of serving his own people in Kataragama though he had ample opportunities to join the university academia. The Nayake Thera retired from the education service as the principal of the Kataragama National School after a yeoman service. The Nayake Thera’s teaching life was exemplary for such professional practitioners in the present context as he never stopped his own pursuit for academic achievements. His doctoral thesis on Sri Lanka’s Bodhi Culture was an outstanding scholarly work that enriched both history and Buddhist studies in this country.

" An excellent and versatile writer and researcher Soratha Nayaka Thera had six scholarly books to his credit where he built up his own argument on God Kataragama. He always argued that God Kataragama was a Sinhala Buddhist who never had any links to India as it was widely believed "

An excellent and versatile writer and researcher Soratha Nayaka Thera had six scholarly books to his credit where he built up his own argument on God Kataragama. He always argued that God Kataragama was a Sinhala Buddhist who never had any links to India as it was widely believed. Referring to Buddhist literature like Dhatuwamsa, the Nayaka Thera argued that the regional ruler of Kataragama, Mahaghosha provided space at his Kihiri garden (the present location of the Kiri Wehera Chaitya) for the Buddha to preach and then attained Sowan. Mohagosha after his demise became God Mahasen living in Kataragama, later assisting King Dutugemunu in his final war with King Elara. The Kataragama Devalaya was the vow King Dutugemunu fulfilled for God Mahasen, Soratha Nayake Thera always argued.

The Kshastriyas in Kataragama were a highly recognised tribe during the era of King Devanampiyatissa as they were among the distinguished invitees to receive two of eight samplings of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, the NayakaThera proudly claimed in his scholarly work.

The Nayake Thera had repeatedly criticised the Mahawamsa author with the Thera claiming that the legendary historic literature was always biased towards Rajarata and never paid due attention to the glorious era of the South, mainly the Ruhunu Magama era. Soratha Nayake Thera always demanded a separate Mahawamsa for Ruhuna.

But his struggle was always a solitary fight that was confined only to the South. The Colombo-centric media remembered the Nayake Thera only during the Kataragama festival season.

The passing away of Soratha Maha Nayake Thera would certainly create a vacuum not only in Kataragama but also within the Sri Lankan Sangha who once were highly disciplined and enriched with knowledge.

Opinion

Soratha Nayake Thera: Religious leader and social activist

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