In a momentous and historically significant event, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, visited the Kallanchiya Vihara on July 11, where he met Jayawardena, the current head of the temple and a direct descendant of the ancient guardians of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi tree.
The Kallanchiya Vihara is one of the venerated temples established in ancient times to safeguard the Sri Maha Bodhi. The origins of this sacred mission trace back to 236 B.E., when Venerable Sanghamitta Theri, daughter of Emperor Ashoka, arrived in Sri Lanka with a sapling of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Accompanying her were bhikkhunis, princesses, and skilled artisans from India—entrusted with the sacred duty of protecting and performing daily pujas to the Sri Maha Bodhi. These responsibilities were entrusted to them as the Sri Lankan monarch at the time lacked an understanding of the rituals associated with the Bodhi tree.
These envoys settled near the Tissa Lake and established monastic centers in areas that later became known as Bulankulama, Palugama, Kallanchiya, and Medawachchiya. Acting under the guidance of Arahant Mahinda Thero, King Devanampiyatissa officially entrusted the ongoing protection and veneration of the Sri Maha Bodhi to the descendants of the original delegation. Among these early guardians were Prince Bodhigupta and Prince Sumitta, from whom Jayawardena, the current head of Kallanchiya Vihara, claims descent.
During his recent visit, High Commissioner Santosh Jha met with the present-day custodians—the headmen of the nine villages historically assigned the task of preserving the Sri Maha Bodhi and conducting its rituals. Jayawardena proudly conveyed that these duties, passed down through generations, continue to be performed today with the same devotion and reverence.
What made the occasion even more profound was the symbolic and ancestral connection revealed during the High Commissioner’s meeting with the Atamasthanadhipathi of Anuradhapura, Most Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero. It was disclosed that the delegation accompanying Venerable Sanghamitta centuries ago originated from the Indian state of Bihar—where High Commissioner Santosh Jha himself hails from.
In his address, the High Commissioner referred to the current custodians as his “relatives,” a statement that deeply moved the headmen of the nine villages. His words were received with great pride and emotional significance, underscoring the unbroken historical and spiritual bonds between India and Sri Lanka.
This visit also marks a renewed acknowledgment from Indian leadership of this ancient connection. While past Indian monarchs and post-independence leaders have shown limited engagement with the legacy of those who accompanied Sanghamitta Theri, current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated exceptional reverence. On every visit to Sri Lanka, he pays homage to the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi, reflecting a deep respect for its spiritual and historical importance.
For the Buddhist people of Sri Lanka, having a leader in India who honors the sacred tree, and a High Commissioner from Bihar—a region so intimately tied to the origins of the Sri Maha Bodhi legacy—is both a blessing and a source of spiritual comfort.
— Pradeep Gamage
