Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero

Venerable Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero also known as Ampitiye Sri Rahula Maha Thero, and alternatively spelled as Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thera (24 December 1913/1914 – 17 February 2020) (Sinhala: අම්පිටියේ ශ්‍රී රාහුල හිමි), was a Sinhalese Buddhist monk.[1] He held the position of Chief incumbent at the Maharagama Sri Vajiragnana Dharmayathanaya and served as a senior advisor to the Supreme Council of the Amarapura Dharmarakshitha Maha Nikaya until his death.[2] He was known by the honorific title "Loku Hamuduruwo" (ලොකු හමුදුරුවෝ).[3]

Ven.
Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero
අම්පිටියේ ශ්‍රී රාහුල හිමි
TitleChief incumbent of the Maharagama Sri Vajiragnana Dharmayathanaya
Personal
Born
Dharmadasa

(1913-12-24)24 December 1913
Ampitiya, Kandy, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Died17 February 2020(2020-02-17) (aged 106)
ReligionBuddhism
Parent(s)Simon Rajapaksha (father)
Karuna Rajapaksha (mother)
SchoolTheravada
EducationSt. Mary's College, Kandy
Other namesLoku Hamuduruwo
Dharma namesVen. Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero

Biography

Born as Dharmadasa on 24 December 1913 or 1914 in Ampitiya, Kandy, he received his early education at St. Mary's College, Kandy.[4] Raised by devoutly Buddhist parents, he was sent to a Dhamma school at Alukgolla Raja Maha Viharaya to deepen his understanding of Buddhism.[5]

At the age of 22, on 4 May 1936, he ordained as a Buddhist monk and underwent higher ordination at Udakukkhepa Seema Malakaya in Kelaniya on 30 July 1936. He furthered his studies at the hermitage affiliated with the University of Peradeniya under the guidance of Madihe Pannaseeha Thero. His knowledge of Buddhism was also nurtured by Palane Vajiragnana Thero and Ahangama Sri Pragnaloka Maha Thero. In 1948, he assumed the role of Principal at Vajirarama Dhamma School.

Venerable Rahula Maha Thero extended his teachings to undergraduates in Sinhala and Tamil at the University of Peradeniya and played a role in establishing a Buddhist temple within the university campus.[6] He counted monks such as Maharagama Dhammasiri Thero, Gangodawila Soma Thero and Thirikunamale Ananda Thero among his students. In 1958, he co-founded the Maharagama Bhikku Training Centre alongside his mentor, Madihe Pannaseeha Thero.[7]

Death

Venerable Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero died on the morning of 17 February 2020 at the venerable age of 106.[8][9] His funeral took place on 20 February 2020 and was attended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.[10]

References
  1. "Multiplicity Of Cults In The Name Of Buddhism". Colombo Telegraph. 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  2. "Most Venerable Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero (106) passed away". www.news.lk. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  3. "Loku Hamuduruwo". www.island.lk. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  4. "Loku Hamuduruwo reaches 100th birthday". archives.sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  5. "Beacon of light fades away". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  6. "The reason behind Buddhist temple in the Peradeniya University". www.island.lk. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  7. "Most Ven. Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thera passes away". Daily News. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  8. "Most Ven. Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thero passes away at the age of 106". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  9. අම්පිටියේ ශ්‍රී රාහුල නාහිමියන් අපවත් වෙයි [Ampitiya Sri Rahula Nahimi passes away]. Hiru News. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  10. "President attends cremation ceremony of Most Venerable Ampitiye Sri Rahula Nayaka Thera". President's Media Division. 2020-02-20. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
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