JATHAKA STORIES AND ANCIENT BUDDHIST SHRINES ARE HONOURED

2550 Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi marked with 50 stamps

Francis. P. Gunasekera

Vesak festival: For the first time in Sri Lanka, a lengthy set of 50 stamps depicting Buddhist historical and cultural events and shrines was issued on May 5, 2006 in celebration of the 2550 great Vesak festival falling this year. The concept for this supreme event to issue 50 stamps to mark the Buddhist era 2550 originated at the instance of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

The fifty stamps are divided into five groups of 4 denominations, namely Rs. 2.50, Rs. 4.50 Rs. 5.00, Rs. 10.00 and Rs. 17.00. The fifty stamps can be categorized into 10 themes as described below.

1. Life of the Prince Siddhartha,

2. The Buddhahood,

3. Transcendental Virtues (Parami),

4. Arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and its propagation,

5. Indigenous developments of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and its propagation,

6. Buddhist influence on society,

7. Buddhism and the super structure of society,

8. Buddhist influence on architecture,

9. Buddhist influence on art and sculpture

10. Buddhist philosophy in Sri Lanka.

Details as shown in the stamps are as follows:

1. Perfection of loving-kindness, Chulla Dharmapala Jathaka, Menikkadawara Viharaya, Dedigama,

2. Perfection of wisdom, Paduma Jatakaya, Kabalalena Vihararaya,

3. Perfection of Renunciation, Sutasoma Jataka, Degaldoruwa Viharaya.

4. Perfection of Equanimity, Sivi Jataka, Paramakanda Viharaya.

5. Perfection of Generosity, Sachchankira Jataka, Sunandaramaya, Ambalangoda.

6. A plea for the Master to descend from heaven, Thivanka image house, Polonnaruwa.

7. Queen Mahamaya on her way to visit parents, Jetavana Viharaya, Anuradhapura

8. The great birth of Prince Siddhartha, painting Shailabimbaramaya, Dondunduwa.

9. Prince Siddhartha visited by Asitha, Royal teacher, Kataluwa Viharaya.

10. Great Renunciation, Bas relief, Girihandu Viharaya, Ambalantota.

11. Defeat of Maras (Mara parajaya) by the Master, Handagala Viharaya.

12. Landing of Tapassu and Bhalluka with relics of the Master, Girihandu seya, Tiriyaya.

13. The first sermon of Dhammachakka Pavattana sutta (late 18 cent.), Dambulla rock temple.

14. Alavaka damanaya (early 19th cent.) Sapugoda Viharaya.

15. The Great Funeral Pyre of the Master (early 19th cent.): Samudragiri Viharaya in Mirissa.

16. The Stupas at Mahiyangana and Nagadipa.

17. The Stupa at Kelaniya and the Samantakuta.

18. Stupa at Deeghavapi. Mutiyangana stupa at Badulla.

19. The Stupas of Ruvanvaliseya and Thuparama in Anuradhapura.

20. Kirivehera stupa Kataragama and the Stupa Servuvila.

21. Recitation of Chullahastipadopama sutra by Arhat Mahinda and the stupa at Mihintale.

22. Establishment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the Rajagiri lena at Mihintale.

23. Sri Maha Bodhi, entrance to the city and the Sri Maha Bodhi at Anuradhapura.

24. Writing Dhamma on Ola leafs and the Alu Viharaya at Matale.

25. Arrival of the tooth relic of the Master to Sri Lanka and Lankapattana in Trincomalee.

26. Emergence of diversity: Abhayagiri stupa, Vajra symbol, Lovamahapaya and the symbol of Lotus.

27. Internal dynamism: emergence of katikavatas (conventions) and Vatadage in Polonnaruva.

28. Re-establishment of high-ordination of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in 18th century CE.

29. A common scene during the Vesak festival and Deepaduttaramaya in Kotahena.

30. Translation of the Tripitaka after 2500 years of Buddhist era and the Buddhajayanthi Vihara in Colombo.

31. A ritual performance at the tooth relic and an ancient Tooth Relic temple, Anuradhapura.

32. Serving foods for Buddhist clergy (dakshina) and the refectory at Abhayagiriya in Anuradhapura.

33. A Buddhist ritual performance, Subodharamaya in Karagampitiya.

34. Veneration of Bodhi tree and the Bodhighara at Nillakgama.

35. Chanting Pirith: Valipatanvila Viharaya and the Nishshanka Lata Mandapaya, Polonnaruwa.

36. The Nature expresses loving-kindness for whole beings declared in an inscription (9th cent. CE) in Ranava.

37. The Buddhist Cosmos (early 19th cent.): Omalpe Viharay in Rathnapura.

38. The practice of Aranyaka tradition (7th cent. CE), Situlpavuva Viharaya.

39. Buddhism and the rural life: combination of village, temple, tank and the stupa.

40. Street market (early 19th cent. CE), Mulgirigala Viahraya and the site with a depiction of an ancient local coin.

41. A moonstone from Mangul Maha Viharaya in Lahugala and the site.

42. Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (8th-9th cent. CE) at Muhudumaha Viharaya in Potuvil and the site.

43. The Lotus pond at Polonnaruva and the Twin-pond at Anuradhapura.

44. The facade of the stupa at Mihintale and the Bahiravas. bas-relief at the site.

45. A depiction of Time in the motif of Makara (late 18th cent. CE) at Madanvala       Viharaya, Hanguranketa.

46. The painted stupa, Hanguranketa Raja Maha Viharaya and ancient stupas, Kandarodai.

47. Tampita Vihara (late 18th cent. CE), Bihalpola and the Thuparama image house (12th cent. CE) in Polonnaruva.

48. Padhanaghara: monasteries of hermit monks in Anuradhapura and the Hatthikuchchi Viharaya in Galgamuva.

49. Satmahal prasadaya in Polonnaruva (12th cent. CE) and a ruined building at Lankatilaka Viharaya

50. Vimana at Lankatilaka Viharaya (12th cent. CE). bas-relief, Polonnaruva and the site.

Samadhi

The chaste fullness of the Vesak moon

Was aglow upon the cerulean sky.

The bountiful golden shafts of light

Seeping through the foliage,

Formed lace patterns of intricacy

Upon the bare ground.

The stars were strewn across

In myriad clusters.

The scent laden breeze,

Balmier than was used to be,

Seemed to proclaim,

In soft lipped whispers

The solemn significance of the day.

I remained poised

Before the Samadhi statue,

In Mahamewna garden,

Entranced and enthralled,

By the breathtaking splendour

Of the picturesque spectacle

That remained spread before my eyes.

As I focussed my vision

Upon the visage of the statue,

I felt an air of transcendental peace

Pervading my whole being,

And being elevated to a plane

Of unalloyed tranquillity,

Until it dawned upon my mind,

As to what unplumbed state of profundity,

In which the mind of the sculptor would have been,

Who seemingly held a celestial proxy,

At the period he chiselled

Upon the granite mass of rock,

In unerring perfection,

The illumined attitude of Samadhi.

As I gained wakefulness

From possible enraptured snooze

With that thought uppermost in my mind,

I felt vaporous tears veiling my eyes.

Have you realized O! men,

The sculptor who created a fascinating

Epic poem of qualitative excellence in stone,

Bearing unsurpassed

Aesthetical sensitivity,

And having bequethed such

Cultural marvel to posterity,

Dwells in perpetuity, unsung of,

Un-evaluated, unknown,

In a realm of oblivion

In volitional anonymity.

Kamal Premadasa

Let us resolve

On this thrice blessed day

Let us resolve .....

To throw away at least an ounce of greed

and drink a pound of generosity

To cast aside a teaspoonful of anger

and take in one cupful of kindness

To destroy just one gram of ignorance

and build up a kilogram of wisdom

To brush aside a millimetre of impatience

and accept a full metre of patience

To discard an inch of your pride

and welcome a mile of simplicity

To avoid criticising others

instead criticise your own self

To burn a pack of lies

instead build up packs of truth

Resolve not to read the minds of others

instead read and examine your own mind

Then we can live in peace and harmony

leading to a life based on the noble Buddhist way

Amara Samaratunga