Difference between revisions of "Aniruddha Mahathera"
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− | '''[[Aniruddha | + | '''[[Aniruddha Mahathera]]''' ({{Wiki|Devanagari}}: [[अनिरुद्ध महाथेरा]]) (born '''[[Gaja Ratna Tuladhar]]''') (15 December 1915 – 17 February 2003) was a {{Wiki|Nepalese}} [[Buddhist monk]] and the [[Sangha Nayak]] ([[Patriarch]]) of [[Nepal]] from 1998 until his [[death]] in 2003. He was one of the most important figures in the revival of [[Theravada Buddhism]] in [[Nepal]] and the [[development]] of [[Lumbini]], the [[Buddha's]] birthplace in southern [[Nepal]], into a center of international [[pilgrimage]]. |
==Early [[life]]== | ==Early [[life]]== | ||
− | [[Aniruddha]] (alternative [[name]]: [[Aniruddha]] | + | [[Aniruddha]] (alternative [[name]]: [[Aniruddha Mahasthavir]]) was born at [[Asan Dhalasikwa]], [[Kathmandu]] to father [[Das Ratna]] and mother Dibya [[Laxmi]] {{Wiki|Tuladhar}}. He was named [[Gaja Ratna Tuladhar]] and belonged to a {{Wiki|merchant}} family with a business house in [[Lhasa]], [[Tibet]]. His father engaged in trade in [[Tibet]] before becoming a [[Buddhist monk]] [[taking up]] the [[name]] [[Dhammalok Mahasthavir]]. |
− | + | [[Gaja Ratna]] was eight years old when his father [[Das Ratna]] took him along to [[Lhasa]] in 1923 as his mother had [[died]] and he couldn't be left behind in [[Kathmandu]]. Returning from [[Tibet]], he was enrolled at Central [[Hindu]] Boarding School in [[Varanasi]]. In 1925, [[Gaja Ratna]] came back to [[Kathmandu]]. | |
==To [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Myanmar]]== | ==To [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Myanmar]]== | ||
− | + | [[Gaja Ratna]] accompanied his father to [[Kolkata]] on another business trip. There he decided that he wanted to study [[Buddhism in Sri Lanka]], and in 1929, he sailed to {{Wiki|Colombo}}. He enrolled in the [[Vidyalankara Pirivena Buddhist college]] and became a [[novice monk]], and was given the [[name]] [[Aniruddha]]. After spending five years in [[Sri Lanka]] and becoming {{Wiki|proficient}} in [[Sinhala]], [[Pali]], [[Sanskrit]] and English, he went to {{Wiki|Kusinagar}}, [[India]]. | |
− | [[Aniruddha]] then traveled to [[Burma]] (now known as [[Myanmar]]) for further studies in [[Buddhism]]. A year later in 1937, he received higher [[ordination]] in Moulmein. He lived in Moulmein for 10 years studying [[Burmese]] and [[Buddhist literature]]. In the midst of his study, {{Wiki|World War II}} came to [[Burma]], and he had to keep moving to escape the fighting. | + | [[Aniruddha]] then traveled to [[Burma]] (now known as [[Myanmar]]) for further studies in [[Buddhism]]. A year later in 1937, he received higher [[ordination]] in [[Moulmein]]. He lived in [[Moulmein]] for 10 years studying [[Burmese]] and [[Buddhist literature]]. In the midst of his study, {{Wiki|World War II}} came to [[Burma]], and he had to keep moving to escape the fighting. |
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Later, he moved to [[Lumbini]] and dedicated himself to developing it as a place of [[pilgrimage]]. [[Lumbini]] was then a vacant patch surrounded by jungle. The spot, marked by an [[Ashokan pillar]], had been rediscovered in 1896. [[Aniruddha]] built a [[monastery]] and a rest house, and extended assistance to [[pilgrims]]. In 1967, [[Aniruddha]] received the then UN Secretary-General U Thant during his visit to [[Lumbini]] which led to the formulation of the [[Lumbini]] [[Development]] [[Master]] Plan. | Later, he moved to [[Lumbini]] and dedicated himself to developing it as a place of [[pilgrimage]]. [[Lumbini]] was then a vacant patch surrounded by jungle. The spot, marked by an [[Ashokan pillar]], had been rediscovered in 1896. [[Aniruddha]] built a [[monastery]] and a rest house, and extended assistance to [[pilgrims]]. In 1967, [[Aniruddha]] received the then UN Secretary-General U Thant during his visit to [[Lumbini]] which led to the formulation of the [[Lumbini]] [[Development]] [[Master]] Plan. | ||
− | [[Aniruddha]] spent 46 years in [[Lumbini]] and returned to [[Kathmandu]] in 1991 to become the [[abbot]] of [[Ananda]] | + | [[Aniruddha]] spent 46 years in [[Lumbini]] and returned to [[Kathmandu]] in 1991 to become the [[abbot]] of [[Ananda Kuti Vihar]] at {{Wiki|Swayambhu}}. He has translated [[Buddhists]] texts from [[Sinhala]] and [[Burmese]] into {{Wiki|Nepal Bhasa}} and written and published 21 [[books]]. |
{{W}} | {{W}} | ||
[[Category:Theravada Buddhism writers]] | [[Category:Theravada Buddhism writers]] |
Latest revision as of 20:49, 5 April 2015
Aniruddha Mahathera (Devanagari: अनिरुद्ध महाथेरा) (born Gaja Ratna Tuladhar) (15 December 1915 – 17 February 2003) was a Nepalese Buddhist monk and the Sangha Nayak (Patriarch) of Nepal from 1998 until his death in 2003. He was one of the most important figures in the revival of Theravada Buddhism in Nepal and the development of Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace in southern Nepal, into a center of international pilgrimage.
Early life
Aniruddha (alternative name: Aniruddha Mahasthavir) was born at Asan Dhalasikwa, Kathmandu to father Das Ratna and mother Dibya Laxmi Tuladhar. He was named Gaja Ratna Tuladhar and belonged to a merchant family with a business house in Lhasa, Tibet. His father engaged in trade in Tibet before becoming a Buddhist monk taking up the name Dhammalok Mahasthavir.
Gaja Ratna was eight years old when his father Das Ratna took him along to Lhasa in 1923 as his mother had died and he couldn't be left behind in Kathmandu. Returning from Tibet, he was enrolled at Central Hindu Boarding School in Varanasi. In 1925, Gaja Ratna came back to Kathmandu.
To Sri Lanka and Myanmar
Gaja Ratna accompanied his father to Kolkata on another business trip. There he decided that he wanted to study Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and in 1929, he sailed to Colombo. He enrolled in the Vidyalankara Pirivena Buddhist college and became a novice monk, and was given the name Aniruddha. After spending five years in Sri Lanka and becoming proficient in Sinhala, Pali, Sanskrit and English, he went to Kusinagar, India.
Aniruddha then traveled to Burma (now known as Myanmar) for further studies in Buddhism. A year later in 1937, he received higher ordination in Moulmein. He lived in Moulmein for 10 years studying Burmese and Buddhist literature. In the midst of his study, World War II came to Burma, and he had to keep moving to escape the fighting.
Return to Nepal
Aniruddha returned to Nepal in 1946, and became the first editor of Dharmodaya, a Buddhist magazine in Nepal Bhasa which started publication in 1947 from Kalimpong.
Later, he moved to Lumbini and dedicated himself to developing it as a place of pilgrimage. Lumbini was then a vacant patch surrounded by jungle. The spot, marked by an Ashokan pillar, had been rediscovered in 1896. Aniruddha built a monastery and a rest house, and extended assistance to pilgrims. In 1967, Aniruddha received the then UN Secretary-General U Thant during his visit to Lumbini which led to the formulation of the Lumbini Development Master Plan.
Aniruddha spent 46 years in Lumbini and returned to Kathmandu in 1991 to become the abbot of Ananda Kuti Vihar at Swayambhu. He has translated Buddhists texts from Sinhala and Burmese into Nepal Bhasa and written and published 21 books.