Mahayana and Terawada Buddism at King Mahasena Era

Описание: 👑 The Great Religious Struggle of Ancient Anuradhapura: King Mahasena's Era 🏛️

Time Period: 276 AD – 303 AD Location: Anuradhapura Kingdom, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

During the reign of King Mahasena, the ancient capital of Anuradhapura became the battleground for a fierce ideological clash between two major schools of Buddhism: the orthodox Theravada (guardians of the original tradition) and the reformist Mahayana (Vaitulya doctrine).

THE RISE OF MAHAYANA INFLUENCE ☸️⤴️ King Mahasena was tutored in his youth by a charismatic monk named Sanghamitta, a follower of the Vaitulya (Mahayana) doctrine. When Mahasena ascended the throne, Sanghamitta became his chief advisor.

The Conflict: Sanghamitta convinced the King that the orthodox monks of the Mahavihara (the center of Theravada) were undisciplined and did not teach the true "Vinaya" (monastic rules). 📜🚫

Royal Decree: The King issued a royal order forbidding citizens from giving alms (food) to the Theravada monks. Starving and persecuted, the monks abandoned the capital and fled to the hills of Malaya Rata and Rohana. ⛰️🚶‍♂️

THE FALL OF THE MAHAVIHARA 🏚️🔥 With the Great Monastery abandoned, Sanghamitta declared that "ownerless land belongs to the King."

Destruction: The King ordered the destruction of the sacred Mahavihara. Its magnificent buildings, including the seven-storied Lovamahapaya (Brazen Palace), were dismantled. 🚜🔨

Plunder: Valuable materials like gems and machinery were stripped from the Mahavihara and used to expand the Abhayagiri Vihara, which had become the stronghold of Mahayana Buddhism. 💎➡️🏛️

THE REBELLION & RESTORATION ⚔️🤝 The destruction horrified the public and the King’s own ministers.

The Rebellion: A close friend and minister, Meghavannabhaya, raised a rebel army in the south to fight the King. They met at the Duratissa Tank for battle. 🛡️🏹

The Reconciliation: The night before the battle, the two friends shared a meal. The minister asked, "Why did you destroy the Mahavihara?" The King, realizing his mistake, apologized and promised to rebuild it. 🍷😢

The Assassination: Shortly after, one of the King's wives (who was a devout Theravadin) hired a laborer to assassinate the monk Sanghamitta, ending his influence. 🗡️💀

A NEW BALANCE: THE JETAVANARAMAYA 🏗️🧱 Though he restored the Mahavihara, King Mahasena’s heart still leaned toward the new teachings.

The Third Sect: In the garden called Joti (within the Mahavihara's boundaries), he built the massive Jetavanaramaya Stupa—the tallest brick structure in the ancient world. 🌍🏗️

Legacy: This created a third major sect in Sri Lanka (the Jetavana fraternity), bridging the gap between the conservative Mahavihara and the liberal Abhayagiri.

📜 ANCIENT RESOURCES & EXTRACTS The primary source for this history is the Mahavamsa (The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka), specifically Chapter 37.

Extract 1: The Accusation against Theravada Monks "The dwellers in the Mahavihara do not teach the (true) vinaya, we are those who teach the (true) vinaya, O king." — The plea of Monk Sanghamitta to King Mahasena (Mahavamsa, Ch 37)

Extract 2: The Justification for Destruction "Ownerless land belongs to the king." — Sanghamitta convincing the King to seize the abandoned Mahavihara land (Mahavamsa, Ch 37)

Extract 3: The King’s Apology "I will make the vihara to be dwelt in yet again; forgive me my fault." — King Mahasena to his minister Meghavannabhaya (Mahavamsa, Ch 37)