The traditions behind appointing Anunayakas at Asgiri Temple

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake would induct the Anunayake of Asgiri Maha Viharaya Ven. Panditha Narampanawa Ananda Thera who is also the Director of the Asgiri Maha Viharaya Privena.

- By L.B.Senaratne

Ven. Panditha Narampanawa Ananda Thera

Asgiri Maha Viharaya claims its lineage from the 'Asgiri Talpotha' - the history of the Maha Vihayara.

Even during the time of Gautama Buddha, there were two sections of monks, the Text learning monks (granthadhura) and those engaged in deep meditational practice (Vidarshana dhura)

During the Kandyan period it was also found that Asgiri Maha Viharaya consisted of meditation monks and the Poyamaluwa group consisting of text learning monks.

During the Anuradhapura period, it is believed that monks belonging to the Thuparama tradition practised 'insight' meditation in the forest reserves of Dimbulagala. In this context, Dimbulagala Maha Kashyappa Thera is placed in a high pedestal in the Buddhist history of the country.

In the course of time, an institution for forest dwelling monks was developed and named 'Walasgala'. The name for this institute derived because of 'the mountain of bears'.