Mihinthale
The Cradle of Buddhism
It was during the reign of Tissa who later became King Devanampiyatissa, son of King Mutaseewa(307-247BC.) that Ascetic Mahinda (Bhikku Mahinda) who accompanied by six of his followers appeared on the Missaka mountain carried the boble doctrine of Lord Buddha. The ancient chronicles disclose that this great event had occurred only two hundred and thirty six (236) years after the death of the Buddha on the full moon day of Poson in the month of June.
The Sinhala civilization dawned at Mihintale where he settled in a hermitage of caves on the hill of Mihintale. Along with Buddhism technological and cultural achievements of the Mauryan civilization was also introduced and implemented. The commencement of the relationship between Sinhala and
Mauryan Emperors originated during the reign of King Mutaseeva.
The new religion swept over the land in a wave.The King himself patronized to two monasteries. One in the very heart of the city of Anuradhapura, his own royal Park -Mahamega Garden (Maha Viharaya) and the other is Chetiya Pabbata at Mihintale and also constructed the Thuparama Dagaba as the first stupa of Sri Lanka. These were followed by a network of Buddhist shrines throughout the island.
King Devanampiyatissa ruled Anuradhapura for forty (40) years from 247 to 207 BC. during which period he sent envoys to meet the Emperor Ashoka sent his noble son with four bikkus and two laymen to the island with the request of establishing Buddhism.
On the particular day of arrival King Tissa was on hunting with his attendants at the Missaka Pabbata where deer are found in abundance. The King met the bikku Mahinda at the summit of the mountain and introduced himself with compassion. The thero declared the mission entrusted by his father Emperor Asoka and asked a series of questions to check the intelligence of the King prior to disseminating the Dhamma.
The Thero satisfied with the answers given by the King and then preached Chulahaththi Padopama Sutta to the monarch. At the end of the sermon The King and his forty thousand men sought refuge in the Dhamma.
Missaka Pabbata became Chethiya Pabba and then Mihintale or Mihintalawa because of Thero Mahinda's association with the mountain. Presently this mountain is casually known as Kanda (mountain) among the natives of Mihintale.
Meanwhile the Anuradhapura Kingdom was overrun by a Chola King Elara and he dominated an area which covers the present north - central and nothern regions of the country for forty four years.The Buddhist principality had, had but a century to flourish when it was temporarily overthrown by the Chola Kings of South India. The religion however received no setback, even the Mahawansa describes Elara, the Tamil usurperapprovingly as a protector of traditions and quotes many examples to show his nobility, humility and wisdom.
Elara - the Buddhist chronicles provide the archetype of a worldwide parable of justice the cow whose calf was beheaded by the King's son's chariot wheel had come and rung the bell. Elara, it is sad had his own son beheaded by the same chariot wheel. On another occassion King Elara had himself offered to share the same fate because the yoke of his chariot had struck and damaged a Buddhist building. But on being told "Injury to another does our master in no wise allow make thy peace by restoring the thupa",15000 -Kahapanas - which was a great dealt restore the fifteen stores that he had dislodged. The Kings of Magama and Kelaniya almost territorial Kingdoms remained to promote thetraditions of Buddhism and its civilization.
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