SHRI SAI LEELA - Under Construction

SHRI SAI LEELA – APRIL 1986Buddhist traditions were with North India rather than South wherePrince Vijaya, member of a north Indian ruling dynasty invaded andconquered Ceylon. Ceylonese Buddhist chronicles state that thisconquest took place soon after the Parinirvana of the Buddha. At thistime Bharukachha (modern Broach) in the west and Tamralipti at themouth of the Ganges in the east were the two centres in India fromwhere commercial and cultural contacts with Ceylon weremaintained. Traces of Gujrat contact with Ceylon are echoed in acurrent Gujrati saying or proverb, Lankani Ladine Ghoghano Var(Bride from Lanka and Bridegroom from Ghogha).Tissa the Ceylonese ruler was a contemporary of Asoka and a friendand admirer. Soon after his coronation (247 B.C.) he sent a missionto Asoka bearing gifts. This mission had a Brahmin among itsmembers. The mission was received by Asoka with muchgratification. He honoured its members and entrusted them with giftsand cordial messages for Tissa. The Ceylonese ruler was so pleasedwith these gestures of friendship by Asoka that he imitated the greatemperor and assumed like him the title Devanampiya (Beloved of thegods). Asoka further sent his own son (or brother?) Mahendra withfour monk-envoys to Tissa to reciprocate Tissa's graciousness and toimpress on him the greatness of the Buddhist faith. Tissa proved awilling disciple and he was ordained in the Buddhist fold by Mahendrahimself who is said to have settled in Ceylon. Mahendra's missionwas followed by another led by his sister Samghamitra who broughtwith her a cutting of the sacred Bo-tree under which the Buddha hadattained enlightenment. Thus did Tissa lay the foundation ofBuddhism in Ceylon.7WWW.SAILEELAS.ORG