Gangaramaya marks 79th birthday of Podi Hamuduruwo with religious events

The 79th birthday of Venerable Galaboda Gnanissara Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple, popularly known as Podi Hamuduruwo falls on the 14th of December and the temple has organised a series of Pinkamas to mark the occasion.

As a part of these events sanghika dana will be offered to 250 bhikkus and 150 scholarships will be awarded to selected samanera bhikkus enabling them to study up to Pracheena examination. Scholarships to the value of Rs 5,000 per month will also be awarded to 60 deserving university students while dry rations will be given to 500 selected needy families.

Pod Hamuduruwo hailing from Galaboda in Matara was born on December 14, 1943 and ordained as a priest in 1954 at the age of ten years, under the tutelage of Rev. Devundara Vachissara Thera who was the Chief incumbent of the Gangaramaya at the time. The little priest of the temple from that day onwards became known as Podi Hamuduruwo.

His teacher Vachissara Thera was an educationist and ardent supporter of Sri Lankan culture and values who stressed the need for enhancing the social stability through the temple which would have guided the future path of Podi Hamuduruwo.

The day that Podi Hamuduruwo was ordained was so auspicious, Vachissara Thera also launched a Pirivena at the Gangaramaya Temple on the same day and it was named Sri Gnanissara Pirivena. It is here that Podi Hamuduruwo started his education as a young priest.

Young Galaboda Gnanissara Thera studied in depth the Buddha Dhamma at the Pirivena. His teacher Devundara Vacissara Thera was a forward thinking monk and was well versed in English, Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit. He was well known in the Buddhist world for his sermons.

While being always on the move, but he was very attentive and focused. Often he would sit on a stepping stone of the temple and talk to the villagers who came from far off places and collect information for a newspaper article he would write. Through such writings he often brought the common man’s problems to the attention of the country’s leaders.

The Venerable Thera is so simple he never had a separate plate or cup reserved for him. He would come to the Dana Salawa and partake of his meals using one of the common plates that are kept there. He is kind towards all animals, be it elephants, birds or other creatures. He would pay those who bring captive birds like parrots to Colombo for sale and take them near the temple’s Bo tree and release them, deriving a lot of pleasure.

Though he had quite a lot of resources under his purview he never had a personal bank account and always believed in things common to all. He collected many culturally important valuable antiques, but it was mainly with the intention of displaying the pride of the nation and not for personal glory.

He established and promoted many welfare facilities for the common good of both clergy and the laity. Hostel facilities for bhikkus from all nikayas, educational and training institutes, nurseries for children, pirivenas, printing facilities, pilgrims’ rests, orphanages, tree planting campaigns are some of the examples of his social work.

He never wasted time and even on a foreign trip he would use the flight time to write an article for a newspaper. Thus, having completed the work of ten generations during his life time, he can be quite content in the evening of his life.

Podi Hamuduruwo was instrumental in the-establishment of the Jinaratana Vocational Training Institute to guide the youth who had their education disrupted during the troubled eighties. Under his guidance and leadership, the institute has been conducting training courses in mechanics, electronics, carpentry and so forth on a concessionary basis providing government recognised certificates thus introducing students to the society as qualified individuals. Many students who rebuilt their lives through this vocational training institute are now doing well in various fields at home and abroad.

The Nawam Maha Perahera of Gangaramaya, the beautiful cultural festival held in the city of Colombo is another initiative of Podi Hamuduruwo. This colourful pageant featuring a large number of elephants, traditional dancers and fireworks has revolutionised the perahera culture in the country giving opportunities to artistes from all over the country.

At one time Podi Hamuduruwo was an- Advisor to the Ministry of Education and he did an immense service for the development of the Pirivena education in Sri Lanka. Approximately 570 Pirivenas were given due recognition as educational-institutes at the time.

Over the-years all- the leaders of the-country have- maintained- close relations with Podi Hamuduruwo and have often sought his guidance and blessings. Being fearless and forthright he never hesitated to voice his concerns on important issues in the presence of the country’s leaders and always stood for what he believed to be right.

Podi Hamuduruwo always came forward-to safeguard the interests of the country, and never thought about what others would think of him while doing what he felt was right. He has the capacity to deal with loss, gain, suffering and. good fortune equally.

He has trained a generation of bhikkhus within the Gangaramaya Temple who would follow his path and continue his vision. On his birthday we wish good health, happiness and longevity to Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera.