Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication,
Sri Lanka Export Development Board
It is being organized to celebrate the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the Buddhist Flag worldwide on the 28th of April, 2010. The inaugural ceremony of the Buddhist Flag designed and introduced by Sri Lanka was held on April 28, 1885 on a Vesak Full Moon day an Adhi Vesak day. The special feature this year is the coincidence of the 125th anniversary and Adhi Vesak Full Moon happens to be on the very same day.
In view of media publicity 125th Anniversary of the Buddhist flag has been scheduled to be celebrated at Deepadutharamaya, Kotahena.
Sri Lanka with nearly 500 year long history as a leading nation of Theravada Buddhism was ruled by three Western Colonial Powers since 1505 until 1948 when Independence was gained from the British rule. Sri Lankan Buddhists had to launch an island wide campaign to secure Buddhism from external interference by repeated foreign invasion. During 1850s various local groups of powerful movements rose up hand in hand by explicit campaign over tendency for the renaissance of Buddhism.
In mid 19th century new movements on theory of liberalism spread out in Europe with innovative thoughts particularly on Liberalism. The people who obtained their education in the West returned to Sri Lanka with new concepts of Liberalism and the environmental background congruent at the time encouraged them to kick off reawakening movements in Asia. This transition of the society with new liberal ideas was the main cause for the renaissance of Hinduism in India and Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
It was non-Buddhists and Europeans who monopolized business in Sri Lanka at the initial stage. Subsequently a class of Sinhala Buddhist entrepreneurs entirely new emerged into the business community playing a significant role by investments and active partnership in reviving Buddhism from foreign involvement. Mr Thomas Silva Amarasuriya,Mr Don Carolis Hewavitharana, Mrs Sisiliya Dias Ilangakoon, Mr William Fernando , were the great pioneers who were instrumental in breaking the monopolized business with their indefatigable effort of joint contribution in securing the existence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Ven Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero and Ven Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thero the leading Buddhist monks articulated with historical evidence of Buddhist culture through media in the mid 19th century against unscrupulous elements of anti-Buddhist campaign. In consequent to the arguments made in the press by the leaders the status quo turned to the hottest public debates. Many public debates were held in Baddegama, Gampola and several other cities in the island. It was the emergence of the debate in Panadura in June 1873 known as “Panadura Vadaya” that influenced the international Buddhist society. The eloquent speech delivered by Ven Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero attracted the entire Buddhist world and in consequence Mr John Cooper the editor of Times of Ceylon not only gave wide publicity but also distributed thousands of copies of the summary of this debate with an English translation reported by Mr Edward Perera throughout the globe. Encouraged by logical arguments of Ven Migettuwate Gunananda Thero, Colonel Henry Olcott a retired American military official acquainted with the Buddhist scholar immediately by correspondence. This cordial relationship convinced the Colonel to arrive in Sri Lanka for the benefit of the country.
One person died due to disturbance erupted at a massive procession in 1883 organized by Buddhist citizens led by Ven Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero. Fortunately the Colonial Government favored with the Buddhists in this instance and Colonel Olcott successfully had discussions with the government on the frustration of the Buddhists making various demands including declaration of Vesak Full Moon day a public holiday. The birth of the Buddhist flag highly recognized by the global community of Buddhists occurred with congruence of this environment.
Colombo Committee composed of prominent leaders as Ven.Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero, Don Carolis Hewavitharana (father of Anagarika Dharmapala), Andris Perera Dharmagunawardana,William de Abrew, Peter de Abrew, Charles A. De Silva, H.William Fernando and N.S.Fernando chaired by Ven.Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thero with Carolis Pujitha Gunawardana as the Honorary Secretary originally designed the Buddhist Flag in 1885. The main objective of this Committee was to design the Buddhist Flag for hoisting on the first Vesak Full Moon Day the historic public holiday declared by the government.
Publication of the first Buddhist Flag in “Sarasavi Sandaresa” newspaper of April 17, 1885 was viewed by the general public as their first experience in life. Subsequently the first Buddhist Flag was hoisted by Ven.Migettuwatte Gunananda Thero on April 28, 1885 Adhi Vesak Full Moon Day at Deepdutharamaya, Kotahena. This became history being the first public holiday declared by the Western colonial rulers.
Later it was realized that the nature of the flag did not meet the requisite importance for general use. Hence the Buddhist Flag redesigned by Colonel Henry Olcott with scholarly advice of the Buddhist clergy was published in Sarasavi Sandaresa of April 17, 1886. The hoisting ceremony took place on Vesak Full Moon Day in May 1886. A speculation is that the modern flag was designed jointly by Mr J.R.de Silva and Colonel Henry Olcott.
The five colors in the flag symbolize significant aspects of Buddhism. Aura - (Buduress) is the sparkling light emanating from Buddha ’s divine body. It is the symbolic depiction of Mettha (Loving-Kindness), Karuna (Compassion), Muditha (to be pleased with happiness of others) and Upekkha (Contentment- to bear balance of Mind). Designed with five horizontal color stripes and a vertical stripe at the end combining all five colors the flag admirably depicts the strength of Buddhism.
The five horizontal color stripes are represented by:
Blue: (Neela) - Loving Kindness, Tranquility and Universal Compassion
Yellow (Pitha) - Middle Path - abstaining from extremes of luxury and suffering
Red (Lohitha) - Achievement, Wisdom, Virtue, Fortune and Dignity
White (Obatha) - Purity and Emancipation
Orange (Manjestha) - Essence of Buddhism with Wisdom, Strength and Dignity.
The vertical stripe symbolizes Truth with all five colors.
Sir Henry Olcott and Anagarika Dharmapala played an exemplary role in propagating the Buddhist Flag around the globe. It was initially presented to the Japanese Emperor and introduced to Japan in 1989 and subsequently to other Buddhist nations in Asia Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand et al. Recognition of this sublime Buddhist flag for the use of Buddhists around the world was unanimously approved by the Second World Buddhist Fellowship Conference held in Japan on 25th May, 1950.
In the midst of intense pressure against the Buddhist flag in later years, Ngo Dinh Diem President of South Vietnam a Buddhist nation banned all the flags and ordered the use of only the National Flag mainly to impede the emergence of the Buddhist flag. However it lends a degree of credence to the Liberation of South Vietnam and the merge of North & South as one country by the government of which the ban was removed.
Today it is a resounding pride for Sri Lanka to have gifted the Buddhist flag of Loving Kindness recognized by the international Buddhist community as the unique symbol of Buddhism. Blessed with the tranquil nature of the Buddhist flag it is anticipated that it will remain highly esteemed by the international Buddhist society in the infinite duration.
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By T.K.Premadasa
Colombo Today January 18 2011
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