S. Mahinda
Encyclopedia
Sikkim Mahinda, commonly known as S. Mahinda, was a Buddhist monk from the state of Sikkim
. He was a poet and author, and participated in the Sri Lankan independence movement. Although he was from Sikkim, he identified himself as a Tibet
an, presumably because it was more well known in Ceylon.
S. Mahinda arrived in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
) at a young age and was ordained as a Buddhist monk. Having learned the Sinhala language, he became a poet, creating several literary works inspiring patriotism among the Ceylonese and urging them to fight for their freedom. He is now considered a national hero of Sri Lanka.
, the capital of Sikkim. He had three brothers; the first would later become a lecturer of Calcutta University, the second would be the prime minister of the king, and the third would join the Buddhist priesthood. His childhood friend Tashi Namgyal
would become the king of Sikkim. S. Mahinda had used his name as a pseudonym in Sri Lanka, leading to the belief that it was his real name.
Serky received a scholarship, with an annual allowance of six rupees, to study Buddhism in Ceylon and arrived there in 1912 or 1914. At the time, the country was under British
rule. Sikkim Punnaji, his elder brother who was already a Buddhist monk, accompanied him.
, and learned Buddhism under a monk named Gnanaloka. He was then sent to the Vidyodaya Pirivena
in Maradana
, and admitted to a school there to learn English. After this, he returned to the temple in Polgasduwa, and learned Sinhala and Pali
languages. With the outbreak of World War I
, his mentor Gnanaloka, a German national, was arrested. His brother Sikkim Punnaji also appears to have died around this time, while he was himself interned twice by the government.
He was later ordained into the Amarapura Nikaya
as Sikkim Mahinda, although he used his name as S. Mahinda. He was re-ordained into the Shyamopali Nikaya on 16 June 1930, and obtained Upasampada
later that year. He identified himself as a Tibet
an, presumably because it was better known in Ceylon and was a leading Buddhist country in Asia.
He was also a member of the temperance movement, which served as the basis for the independence movement of Sri Lanka. After the country gained independence in 1948, he was acknowledged as a national hero for his literary works inspiring the independence movement. He died on 16 May 1951.
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
. He was a poet and author, and participated in the Sri Lankan independence movement. Although he was from Sikkim, he identified himself as a Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an, presumably because it was more well known in Ceylon.
S. Mahinda arrived in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
) at a young age and was ordained as a Buddhist monk. Having learned the Sinhala language, he became a poet, creating several literary works inspiring patriotism among the Ceylonese and urging them to fight for their freedom. He is now considered a national hero of Sri Lanka.
Early life
S. Mahinda was born around 1901 in Sikkim and named Pempa Tendupi Serky Cherin. His family lived in GangtokGangtok
Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Gangtok is located in the Shivalik Hills of the eastern Himalayan range, at an altitude of . The town, with a population of thirty thousand belonging to different ethnicities such as Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutia, is administered...
, the capital of Sikkim. He had three brothers; the first would later become a lecturer of Calcutta University, the second would be the prime minister of the king, and the third would join the Buddhist priesthood. His childhood friend Tashi Namgyal
Tashi Namgyal
Tashi Namgyal was the ruling Chogyal of Sikkim from 1914 to 1963...
would become the king of Sikkim. S. Mahinda had used his name as a pseudonym in Sri Lanka, leading to the belief that it was his real name.
Serky received a scholarship, with an annual allowance of six rupees, to study Buddhism in Ceylon and arrived there in 1912 or 1914. At the time, the country was under British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
rule. Sikkim Punnaji, his elder brother who was already a Buddhist monk, accompanied him.
Buddhist priesthood and life in Ceylon
The two brothers stayed at a temple in Polgasduwa in southern CeylonBritish Ceylon
British Ceylon refers to British rule prior to 1948 of the island territory now known as Sri Lanka.-From the Dutch to the British:Before the beginning of the Dutch governance, the island of Ceylon was divided between the Portuguese Empire and the Kingdom of Kandy, who were in the midst of a war for...
, and learned Buddhism under a monk named Gnanaloka. He was then sent to the Vidyodaya Pirivena
Vidyodaya Pirivena
The Vidyodaya Pirivena was one of the prominent piriven in Sri Lanka.-Name:...
in Maradana
Maradana
Maradana is a suburb of Colombo city, Sri Lanka. Maradana is the site of Maradana Railway Station, one of the primary railway hubs in the country, serving intercity rail and commuter rail. Maradana also has many railway yards and running sheds...
, and admitted to a school there to learn English. After this, he returned to the temple in Polgasduwa, and learned Sinhala and Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
languages. With the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, his mentor Gnanaloka, a German national, was arrested. His brother Sikkim Punnaji also appears to have died around this time, while he was himself interned twice by the government.
He was later ordained into the Amarapura Nikaya
Amarapura Nikaya
The Amarapura Nikaya is a Sri Lankan monastic fraternity founded in 1800. It is named after the city of Amarapura, Myanmar , the former capital of the Burmese kingdom...
as Sikkim Mahinda, although he used his name as S. Mahinda. He was re-ordained into the Shyamopali Nikaya on 16 June 1930, and obtained Upasampada
Upasampada
Upasampadā literally means "approaching or nearing the ascetic tradition." In more common parlance it specifically refers to the rite of ordination by which one undertakes the Buddhist monastic life....
later that year. He identified himself as a Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an, presumably because it was better known in Ceylon and was a leading Buddhist country in Asia.
Literary work and nationalism
S. Mahinda soon became fluent in the Sinhala language, and established himself as a poet and author. He has written over 40 books, most of them poems inspiring patriotism. His first book was Ova Muthu Dama, which was written around 1921. His final book is believed to be Sri Pada. He also appears to have created a number of unpublished works. In his works, he has focused on the past glory of the country, and the weaknesses of its people in the present, urging them to work towards their freedom. He also wrote several books for children as well, and in these too he has tried to inspire patriotism upon the reader. His most famous works include Nidahase Dehena, Nidahase Manthraya, Lanka Matha, Jathika Thotilla, Ada Lak Mawage Puttu, Nidahasa, Videshikayakugen Lak Mawata Namaskarayak and Sinhala Jathiya.He was also a member of the temperance movement, which served as the basis for the independence movement of Sri Lanka. After the country gained independence in 1948, he was acknowledged as a national hero for his literary works inspiring the independence movement. He died on 16 May 1951.