🎁MAHINDA GAMANAYA🎁

🎁🙏 A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF MAHINDAGAMANA🎁🙏

Poson Poya Day is a very special day for the Buddhist people of Sri Lanka. Because Mahinda Thera's visit to Sri Lanka is anyone set   occurred at   the Poson Poya day. The purpose of this article is to make a historical inquiry into this. The visit of Ven. Mahinda Thera and his entourage to Ceylon is a significant milestone in the history of Sri Lanka. Because Mahindagamana was instrumental in bringing about a change in the social , cultural , political and religious life of Sri Lanka . Its impact on the emergence of a new Sri Lankan culture is not insignificant. Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka during the reign of Devanampitissa. Contemporaneous historical event of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka as recorded in Sri Lankan chronicles  King Devanampiyatissa, the ruler of Sri Lanka, is said to have been the result of diplomatic and friendly relations with Emperor Dharmasoka of India. According to the chronicles, Buddhism was brought to Sri Lanka under the leadership of Ven . Mahinda (Mihindu), the son of Emperor Dharmasoka.

The authenticity of this historical event is further confirmed by the fact that many of the historical factsabout the Mahinda pilgrimage in the Sri Lankan chronicles have been confirmed archaeologically. Archaeological finids on relics found at Sanchi and Senari in contemporary India , as well as inscriptions found in the Rajagala area of ​​Sri Lanka , provide archeological evidence of the ancient literature on Mahindagamana. Early scholars were skeptical of this historical event, as the references in the ancient literary texts to the Mahindagamana are inconsistent. However, later archeological excavations confirmed the existence of Mahinda Thera in Ceylon by many sources. 

The historic event of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka is the result of a long process. The main reason for this was the friendly relationship with Emperor Dharmasoka, who was building a vast empire at the same time. Also, the historical event of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka is a process that took place in connection with the missionary work started by Emperor Ashoka after the Third Dhamma Sangayana. During the reign of Emperor Ashoka in India, Buddhism faced many challenges. Sources in the literature state that a third Dharma Sangayana was held again to protect the Dhamma and Vinaya with the aim of purifying the Buddha Sasana as contemporary Buddhism was defiled due to the contradictory views expressed by some monks who had entered the Buddha Sasana in the hope of cheap hospitality.

According to the chronicles, the third Dhamma Sangayana was held in Pataliputra 236 years after the extinction of the Buddha under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka and under the leadership of Moggaliputta Tissa Thero . Literary works including the Mahavamsa state that the Dhamma purified at that Dhamma Sangayana was distributed to 9 countries including Sri Lanka through the missionary mission initiated by Emperor Ashoka and that   Buddhism was received in Ceylon during the reign of Devanampiyatissa through a group of missionaries led by Ven. Mahinda Thera. Devanampiyatissa  With the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, a new culture emerged with the arrival of Mahinda Rajapaksa during his reign. Early chronicles state that before Mahinda's arrival there was no high religious philosophy or formal system of government in the country. The arrival of Arahat Mahinda Thera to Sri Lanka new religion , introduced a new culture and the religion and culture can be attributed to the Indian influence is received. The then create a Sri Lankan Buddhist culture and the roots , was born with a culture of features unique to Sri Lanka later with Indian influence. At the same time, Sri Lankan architecture , carving , sculpture and calligraphy developed in a new genre with a mix of Indian features.

After the arrival of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Lakdiva underwent a great revival in every aspect in this way - and Buddhism is still established in Lakdiva today because of the dedication of King Devanampiyatissa and his missionaries to Buddhism at that time. The missionaries did not return home but stayed in the country and devoted their entire lives to propagating the Dhamma in this country. Buddhism would not have been established in this country without the patronage of King Devanampiyatissa. The patronage of the rulers of Anuradhapura and Ruhuna who came to power after that determined the future existence of Buddhism in this country.

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