Quotes:Sumangala

Zirkoff, Boris

Sumangala Unnanse H. Renowned Ceylonese Buddhist priest and scholar. He was born on January 20, 1827, in the village of Hikka- duwa, Ceylon, the fourth son of Don Johannes de Silva Abeyewera-Gunawardana; was a precocious child, and his parents saw at a very early age what the trend of his life was likely to be. When five years old, he was already dedicated to the monastery, and at the age of twelve was admitted to the Order as a samanera or novice; it is recorded that in his studies he already then surpassed those who were far older than he. He placed himself under the tuition of a Sanskrit pundit, a Brahman a from India, and made very rapid progress. When 21, he went to Kandy, the ancient capital of the Island, and received the full ordination of a monk at the hands of the Chief High Priest. He astonished his examiners by the depth of his scholarship, the wide range of his reading, and the ease with which he handled both Sanskrit and Pali. He then returned to his native village where he was appointed as tutor to the monks, spending there twelve years of his life. Transferred later to a higher appointment at Galle, where he spent the next six years as priest in charge of the temple, continuing also as tutor to the monks. Having special aptitude for languages, he learned Elu, the classical language of Ceylon, English and French.

After six years at Galle, he was elected High Priest of the Srîpada—the temple of the Holy Footprint on the mountain of Adam’s Peak. At at later date, he became also High Priest of the District of Galle, and Examiner-in-Chief of the candidates for ordination 532 in Ceylon. In 1873, he moved to Kotahena in Colombo, and shortly afterwards to Maligakanda, where he founded the Vidyodaya College for monks, of which he remained Principal during the rest of his life.

Sumangala was a voluminous writer, but his works are mostly unknown in the West. He was a friend of F. Max Muller, Prof. Rhys Davids, Prof. C. R. Lanman of Harvard, Sir Edwin Arnold and Sir Monier-Williams. His first contact with Theosophy took place in 1880, when the Founders first visited Ceylon. From then on a strong friendship existed with them, and he speeded Col. Olcott on his mission to Japan in 1889 (See the Colonel’s Old Diary Leaves for complete account).

When quite old, Sumangala fell down a short staircase, rising one morning in the dark, as he always did, and fractured his hip bone. The shock was too much for the aged body, and he passed away nine days after, April 30, 1911. The ceremony of cremation at Colombo was the greatest they ever had, and all combined to render him their respects. He was succeeded as Principal of the College by his pupil Nanissera.

For all practical purposes, Sumangala was the Head of the Southern Church of Buddhism, as a whole. He was also one of the Honorary Vice-Presidents of the Theosophical Society, and both Founders held him in the greatest esteem.

(See his portrait in Vol. II of present Series, facing page 208.)

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 3, pp. 531-532