Friday, March 20, 2009

Call to Vidyodaya. What do you want to know ?
0112677623
The stamp that was issued on 125 th anniversery in 1999




Vidyodaya University

The Vidyodaya University emerged in 1958 from the Vidyodaya Pirivena, a distinguished Buddhist center of learning. The Vidyodya Pirivena had been founded due to the efforts of Sangharaja Sri Saranankara whose demise took place as far back as 1778 during the Dutch period. The Venerable Mohottiwatte Gunananda in 1873 immediately after his resounding victory at the Panadura controversy was also a great force in the emergence of the Pirivena. His aim was to train educated orator monks to save Buddhism and for that purpose he made logic compulsory in pirivena education. The Pirivena was situated at Maligakanda, a suburb of Colombo. The Pirivena taught Buddhist studies as well as pseudo-sciences like Astrology, widely accepted and held in high esteem in taditional society. However, the transition from Pirivena to University gradually converted it to a secular center of learning. The University was moved to Gangodawila, some 10 miles south east in 1961. In 1978 the name of the University was changed to University of Sri Jayewardenepura.



Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera

He was one of the pioneer monks of the Buddhist revivalist movement in the 19th century Sri Lanka. The service rendered by him to the Buddhist Education is unparalleled. He was the founder of Vidyodaya Pirivena Maligakanda.

The Ven. Sri Sumangala was born on 20th January 1827 at Hikkaduwa, in the Galle District. He was the 5th in the family. His Father was Mr. Don Johanis Abeyweera Gunawardhana. The name given to him by birth was Niculas. He received his primary Education from the village's Temple.

At the age of 13 he entered the Sasana at Totagamuwa Temple. From his childhood he was an eloquent speaker, and a very good writer. In 1848 he obtained higher Ordination from the Malwatte Chapter, Kandy.

He was well versed in Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit, English, Buddhism, History, Arithmetic, and Archaeology. He received his education from Parama Dhamma Cetiya Pirivena Ratmalana, under the guidance of Ven. Walane Sri Siddhartha Maha Thera. The Ven. Ratmalane Dharmaloka Thera was one of his contemporaries. As an erudite monk he has written many books. He was the main source for the success of the Panadura debate held in 1873. It was after reading the report of this debate that Col. Henry Steele Olcott came to Sri Lanka. He learnt Buddhism and Pali under the Ven. Sumangala Thera and together with him the Thera Ven. Hikkaduwa Sri Sumangala established the Ananda College, Colombo (1890), Mahinada College, Galle (1892) and Dharmaraja College, Kandy, for Buddhist Education.

The paper "Lankaloka" was started by Ven. Thera himself and afterwards he assisted in many ways to publish papers like "Sarasavisandaresa" and "Sinhala Bauddhaya". Awarded by many titles he was honoured not only by Sri Lankans but also by the people of Ireland, Italy, Hungeria, and many other countries in the East and the West. He was appointed as the Head of the Sripada (Adam's peak), the holy mountain of Sri Lanka. This Ven. Maha Nayaka Thera, Ven. Sri Sumangala passed way on 29th of April 1911.

Annual Prize giving in 2009

Annually we are holding the celebration to memorize Most ven. Hikkaduve Sri Sumangala Thera who was the first principle and bigginer of our pirivena.In this year also the past students association is organizing the celebration and prize giving. The students who won the prizes and places in last annual exame in 2008 and "Padya Gayana,Vivada Tharanga'' should participate in the prize giving on that day.

First Term Vacation in Vidyodaya Pirivena

For the New Year,From 2009 March 27 To 2009 April 27, Vacation for all the students who are studding in vidyodaya Pirivena.Students who are in Hostel should go their own temple for the vacation.Students who participate to the Prachina Exames in this year can be in hostel to study more. All should come after the New Year for studies again after 25 th of April to the hostel.