The Chief Incumbent of the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya, Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera passed away at the age of 81 on Friday. Also popularly known throughout the island as Podi Hamuduruwo, the Ven. Thera was born on December 13, 1943. He was just 10 years old when he was ordained on November 8, 1954 in the village of Galaboda in Matara. After finishing his primary education, he entered the Vidyodaya Pirivena in 1961 and graduated with a degree in the Bachelor of Arts.
Blessing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Gangaramaya
At the age of 17, he took up the reins at the Gangaramaya Vihara, Colombo, with the passing away of his preceptor, the Ven. Devundera Sri Vachissara Thera. Podi Hammuduruwo was a humble, dexterous, resolute and a dedicated bhikkhu who helped to transform Gangaramaya into an inspiring and popular temple.
Podi Hamuduruwo constructed the Sri Jinarathana Technical Training Centre close to the Beira Lake to assist the youth in gaining valuable experience in numerous fields. One of his primary purposes was to redirect the misguided children, who went astray after the JVP insurrection, and to mould them into disciplined future citizens of Sri Lanka. The industrial training programs have diversified into many areas such as electrical house wiring, motor mechanism, printing, and computer technology. In 2003, the Ven. Thera was appointed as the Chief Sanghanayaka of the Western Province by the Malwatta Chapter.
Navam Maha Perahera
Podi Hamuduruwo with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a religious ceremony at the temple
The prelate took a significant role in the yearly Navam Maha Perahera of the Gangaramaya which parades through the streets of Colombo with pomp and grandeur. Under his guidance, the Navam Maha Perehara became a symbol of the annual procession that revolutionised the Sri Lankan Perahera culture. To date, the Gangarama Navam Perahera, the only major Perahera in Colombo City, is second in scope, grandeur and fame only to Kandy and Kelaniya Pereheras.
The erudite bhikkhu had cordial relations with the late President J.R. Jayewardene. However, this was severed when President J.R. Jayewardene signed the Indo-Lanka agreement.
This angered the Venerable Thera who opposed the signing of the peace agreement by carrying black flags. Podi Hamuduruwo said that he did not identify himself with any politician or political party, but questioned Heads of State when they went off track. He had a cordial relationship with all Heads of States who followed President Jayewardene, but he mingled equally with the ordinary people who came to worship at his temple.
With a foreign religious dignitary
Despite encountering multiple challenges and hardships throughout his life, Ven. Gnanissara Thera remained inspirational and selfless. Podi Hamuduruwo’s unyielding confidence in the Dhamma helped him motivate innumerable people from Sri Lanka and overseas. His instructions emphasise the significance of inner harmony, selflessness, and the cultivation of morality for the spiritual advancement of oneself and the wider society.
Podi Hamuduruwo’s innovative oversight of the Gangaramaya Temple transformed the temple into a vibrant centre for spiritual development, instruction, and community empowerment right in the heart of Colombo.
It was frequented by locals and foreigners alike. Once inside the temple, the hustle and bustle of Colombo simply disappeared, replaced by the tranquility that can only come from the Dhamma.
Apprenticeship programs
With his guidance, the temple led diverse projects including occupational apprenticeship programs, educational workshops, and many humanitarian undertakings towards boosting the lives of people from all walks of life, regardless of their ethnicity and religion.
Ven. Galboda Gnanissara Thera
Kompanna Veediya is, anyway, a multicultural oasis in Colombo, with temples, churches, kovils and mosques located next to each other. The Ven. Thera’s vision for religious and ethnic amity fitted well into this milieu.
As a respected spiritual leader and empathetic mentor, Podi Hamuduruwo touched the hearts and minds of many people around the world with his deep wisdom, compassion, and tireless commitment towards the well-being of others and in the propagation of the Dhamma. He dedicated his life to the uplift of the Gangaramaya temple and has rendered a yeoman service to humanity.
Sri Lankans and indeed Buddhists all over the world will feel the void left by his demise for many decades to come. The only silver lining is that his protégé Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Thera has pledged to carry his legacy forward and make Gangaramaya an even more vibrant centre for the dissemination of Buddhist ideals and values.
