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Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda,
Nayake Maha Thera JSM., PhD., D. Litt.
Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammanada is a household name in the Buddhist world. In more than forty two years as incumbent of the Buddhist Maha Vihara, Malaysia, the Venerable has brought the Buddha Word to countless numbers of devotees who otherwise would have has no access to the sublime message of the Enlightened One
Venerable Dhammananda was born on March 18, 1919 to the family of Mr. K.A. Garmage in the village of Kirinde, Matara in southern Ceylon. Like most children born during the British colonial period, he was given the English name of Martin. He was the eldest in a family of three brothers and three sisters.
He began his formal secular education in a government school in the village of Kirinde at the age of seven. Even as a young child he had a keen interest in the Buddha's teachings. Buddhism was close to the hearts of the villagers because of the strong presence of the sangha which successfully used the local vihara as the vortex of most religious activities and functions.
The young Martin participated in many of these religious programmes which were based on Buddhist principles and morals. He also had an uncle who was the chief monk of the local temple. Together with his devout mother, his uncle provided much spiritual guidance in his childhood days. Thus, the idea of monkhood slowly seeped into his mind.
Venerable Dhammananda enrolled at the Sri Dhammarama Pirivena, Ratmalana in 1935, and then at the Vidyawardhana Buddhist Institute, Colombo, 1937 for a more detailed study of the Buddha's teaching. His mentor was Venerable Kotawila Deepananda Nayaka Thera. Upon completion of his studies in 1938, he entered Vidyalankara Pirivena, in Peliyadoga, Kelaniya, a prestigious Buddhist college that has since been upgraded into a university.
For the next seven years, Venerable Dhammananda attended a diploma programme at the Vidyalanka Pirivena where he studied Sanskrit, the Pali Tipitaka and Buddhist Philosophy, besides other secular subjects. His principal tutor at the Institute was Venerable Lunupokune Sri Dhammananda, an eminent scholar monk. At age 26 he successfully graduated with a diploma in Linguistics and Pali Tipitaka.
His seven years of intensive learning and training in monastic discipline from 1939-1945 at the Vidyalanka Pirivena provided him the relevant knowledge and skills in missionary techniques. He was able to use his training to assist the Buddhists in Ceylon, especially those who were English educated and had been prime targets of Christian proselytization, in understanding the more intellectual aspects of the Buddha's teachings.
In 1945 Venerable Dhammananda furthered his tertiary education at the Benares Hindu University in India where he was awarded a scholarship. At the university, he read Sanskrit, Hindi and Indian Philosophy. His contemporaries at the University included Venerable P. Panananda Nayaka Thera of Colombo, Venerable Dr. H. Saddhatissa Maha Thera (who later became head of the London Buddhist Vihara), Venerable Dr. U. Dhammaratana and the late Venerable Dr. Amritananda Thera, former head of the Sangha of Nepal. Venerable Dhammananda studied four years at the university graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Indian Philosophy in 1949. Among the many well-known professors who taught him was the late Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, who later became President of the Republic of India.
Having completed his studies, Venerable Dhammananda returned to Ceylon. In Kotawilla he established the Sudharma Buddhist Institute and tended to the educational, welfare and religious needs of the villagers. He also published a quarterly Buddhist journal "Sudharma" in Sinhalese. He gave regular teachings to the devotees to improve their knowledge and practice of Buddhism.
Besides his talks the Venerable has been able to reach an even wider audience through his publications which range from the voluminous "Dhammapada" to little five page pamphlets. He has been able to reached all levels of readers from erudite scholar monks to young school children. His whole approach to the exposition of the Dhamma is governed by his deep concern for giving the ancient teachings a contemporary relevance, to show that the Sublime Message is timeless and has a meaning that cuts across the boundaries of time, space, race, culture and even religious beliefs.
VEN DR K SRI DHAMMANANDA'S AWARDS
- DHARMAKIRTI SRI SADDHARMA VISARADA Dharma-Glory, The illustrious Doctor of the Good Law by Siam Maha Nikaya, Sri Lanka on 17th October 1976
- PARIYATI VISARADA Doctor of The Scriptures by Kotte Maha Sangha Sabha, Sri Lanka
- SADDHAMMA VIBHUSANA The Adornment of The True Doctrine by Vidyalankara Pirivena, Sri Lanka
- SASTRIYA Doctor of Literature by Benares Hindu University, India
- TRIPITAKA VAGISWARA- CHARYA MAHOPADHAYA The Grand Master, The Supreme Doctor of The Tripitaka by Rohana Sangha Sabha, Sri Lanka
- BUDDHASASANAVIBHUSANA (Honorary Title) By Vidyalankara Pirivena, Sri Lanka on 5th December 1991
- VISVADHARMA VISHARADA SASANADHAJA Doctor of Universal Doctrines, The Banner of The Buddha's Dispensation by Ramanna Maha Nikaya,Sri Lanka on 5th February 1993
- VISHWA KIRTI SRI SASANA SOBHANA Universal-Glory, The Radiant Embellishment of The Buddha's Dispensation by Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Sri Lanka on 3rd March 1995
- SAHITTYA VISARADA AND VINAYA-CHARIYA Doctor of Literature and Ecclesiastical Law by Vidyalankara Oriental College, Sri Lanka
- DARSHANA VISARADA - PH.DThe Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhist Philosophy By Dharma Realm Buddhist University, U.S.A. on 4th November 1979
- SAHITTYA CAKKRAVARTI - D.LITT By Pali and Buddhist University, Sri Lanka on 6th December 1991
- SADDHARMA PRAWARTAKA CHAKRAWARTI (Supreme Commander of Buddhist Propagation) By Vidyalankara Pirivena, Sri Lanka in 2000
- HONORARY PH.D. DEGREE An Honorary Doctorate Degree of Ph.D. (honoris causa) in Philosophy Division by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Bangkok, Thailand on April 26th, B.E. 2544 (A.D.2001)
- DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LETTERS (honoris causa) University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka on 16th November 2001
- JOHAN SETIA MAKHOTA- J.S.M. By Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di- Pertuan Agong IX Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Yussuf Izzudin Ghafarullahu-Lahu Shah on 5th June 1991
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Biography
Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda,
Nayake Maha Thera JSM., PhD., D. Litt.
Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammanada is a household name in the Buddhist world. In more than forty two years as incumbent of the Buddhist Maha Vihara, Malaysia, the Venerable has brought the Buddha Word to countless numbers of devotees who otherwise would have has no access to the sublime message of the Enlightened One
Venerable Dhammananda was born on March 18, 1919 to the family of Mr. K.A. Garmage in the village of Kirinde, Matara in southern Ceylon. Like most children born during the British colonial period, he was given the English name of Martin. He was the eldest in a family of three brothers and three sisters.
He began his formal secular education in a government school in the village of Kirinde at the age of seven. Even as a young child he had a keen interest in the Buddha's teachings. Buddhism was close to the hearts of the villagers because of the strong presence of the sangha which successfully used the local vihara as the vortex of most religious activities and functions.
The young Martin participated in many of these religious programmes which were based on Buddhist principles and morals. He also had an uncle who was the chief monk of the local temple. Together with his devout mother, his uncle provided much spiritual guidance in his childhood days. Thus, the idea of monkhood slowly seeped into his mind.
When he was 12 years old, he was ordained as a novice monk (samanera) by Venerable K. Dhammaratana Maha Thera of Kirinde Vihara. He was given the name "Dhammananda" meaning "one who experiences happiness through the Dharma." He then underwent ecclesiastical education for the next 10 years before he was fully ordained as a full-fledged monk bhikkhu) in 1940. His Preceptor was Venerable K. Ratanapala Maha Thera of Kotawila Vihara. Thus, at the age of 22, samanera Dhammananda became bhikkhu Dhammananda upon receiving the higher ordination (upasampada).
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Venerable Dhammananda enrolled at the Sri Dhammarama Pirivena, Ratmalana in 1935, and then at the Vidyawardhana Buddhist Institute, Colombo, 1937 for a more detailed study of the Buddha's teaching. His mentor was Venerable Kotawila Deepananda Nayaka Thera. Upon completion of his studies in 1938, he entered Vidyalankara Pirivena, in Peliyadoga, Kelaniya, a prestigious Buddhist college that has since been upgraded into a university.
For the next seven years, Venerable Dhammananda attended a diploma programme at the Vidyalanka Pirivena where he studied Sanskrit, the Pali Tipitaka and Buddhist Philosophy, besides other secular subjects. His principal tutor at the Institute was Venerable Lunupokune Sri Dhammananda, an eminent scholar monk. At age 26 he successfully graduated with a diploma in Linguistics and Pali Tipitaka.
His seven years of intensive learning and training in monastic discipline from 1939-1945 at the Vidyalanka Pirivena provided him the relevant knowledge and skills in missionary techniques. He was able to use his training to assist the Buddhists in Ceylon, especially those who were English educated and had been prime targets of Christian proselytization, in understanding the more intellectual aspects of the Buddha's teachings.
In 1945 Venerable Dhammananda furthered his tertiary education at the Benares Hindu University in India where he was awarded a scholarship. At the university, he read Sanskrit, Hindi and Indian Philosophy. His contemporaries at the University included Venerable P. Panananda Nayaka Thera of Colombo, Venerable Dr. H. Saddhatissa Maha Thera (who later became head of the London Buddhist Vihara), Venerable Dr. U. Dhammaratana and the late Venerable Dr. Amritananda Thera, former head of the Sangha of Nepal. Venerable Dhammananda studied four years at the university graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Indian Philosophy in 1949. Among the many well-known professors who taught him was the late Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, who later became President of the Republic of India.
Having completed his studies, Venerable Dhammananda returned to Ceylon. In Kotawilla he established the Sudharma Buddhist Institute and tended to the educational, welfare and religious needs of the villagers. He also published a quarterly Buddhist journal "Sudharma" in Sinhalese. He gave regular teachings to the devotees to improve their knowledge and practice of Buddhism.
Besides his talks the Venerable has been able to reach an even wider audience through his publications which range from the voluminous "Dhammapada" to little five page pamphlets. He has been able to reached all levels of readers from erudite scholar monks to young school children. His whole approach to the exposition of the Dhamma is governed by his deep concern for giving the ancient teachings a contemporary relevance, to show that the Sublime Message is timeless and has a meaning that cuts across the boundaries of time, space, race, culture and even religious beliefs.
VEN DR K SRI DHAMMANANDA'S AWARDS
- DHARMAKIRTI SRI SADDHARMA VISARADA Dharma-Glory, The illustrious Doctor of the Good Law by Siam Maha Nikaya, Sri Lanka on 17th October 1976
- PARIYATI VISARADA Doctor of The Scriptures by Kotte Maha Sangha Sabha, Sri Lanka
- SADDHAMMA VIBHUSANA The Adornment of The True Doctrine by Vidyalankara Pirivena, Sri Lanka
- SASTRIYA Doctor of Literature by Benares Hindu University, India
- TRIPITAKA VAGISWARA- CHARYA MAHOPADHAYA The Grand Master, The Supreme Doctor of The Tripitaka by Rohana Sangha Sabha, Sri Lanka
- BUDDHASASANAVIBHUSANA (Honorary Title) By Vidyalankara Pirivena, Sri Lanka on 5th December 1991
- VISVADHARMA VISHARADA SASANADHAJA Doctor of Universal Doctrines, The Banner of The Buddha's Dispensation by Ramanna Maha Nikaya,Sri Lanka on 5th February 1993
- VISHWA KIRTI SRI SASANA SOBHANA Universal-Glory, The Radiant Embellishment of The Buddha's Dispensation by Amarapura Maha Nikaya, Sri Lanka on 3rd March 1995
- SAHITTYA VISARADA AND VINAYA-CHARIYA Doctor of Literature and Ecclesiastical Law by Vidyalankara Oriental College, Sri Lanka
- DARSHANA VISARADA - PH.DThe Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhist Philosophy By Dharma Realm Buddhist University, U.S.A. on 4th November 1979
- SAHITTYA CAKKRAVARTI - D.LITT By Pali and Buddhist University, Sri Lanka on 6th December 1991
- SADDHARMA PRAWARTAKA CHAKRAWARTI (Supreme Commander of Buddhist Propagation) By Vidyalankara Pirivena, Sri Lanka in 2000
- HONORARY PH.D. DEGREE An Honorary Doctorate Degree of Ph.D. (honoris causa) in Philosophy Division by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Bangkok, Thailand on April 26th, B.E. 2544 (A.D.2001)
- DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LETTERS (honoris causa) University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka on 16th November 2001
- JOHAN SETIA MAKHOTA- J.S.M. By Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di- Pertuan Agong IX Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Yussuf Izzudin Ghafarullahu-Lahu Shah on 5th June 1991
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