Anagarika Dharmapala was a famous Buddhist monk. He was born in Lanka on 17 September 1864. His father’s name was Don Carolins Hewavitharan and mother’s name was Mallika.
Earlier Anagarika Dharmapala was named ‘Dan David’. From his childhood, he hated studying in Christian schools, European lifestyle and foreign rule.[1]
On completion of his education, he learnt Pali language and took initiation in Buddhism from the famous Buddhist scholar Bhadant Hiwakaduve Srisumangala and changed his name to ‘Anagarik (Sanyasi) Dharmapal’. Anagarik Dharmapal converted a motor bus into a home for public preaching and named it ‘Shobhan Maligaon’ and travelled from village to village spreading the message of boycott of foreign goods and Buddhism. During the First World War, he was put under house arrest in Calcutta (present Kolkata) for five years.[1]
Mahabodhi Sabha (Mahabodhi Society) was established due to the efforts of Anagarik Dharmapala. A foreign woman named Mary Foster was impressed by him and donated about five lakh rupees for Mahabodhi Society. As a result of Dharmapala’s efforts, after his death, Bodh Gaya was handed over to the Buddhists by President Rajendra Prasad on Vaishakh Purnima, Samvat 2012, i.e. 6 May 1955. Anagarik Dharmapala took the vows on 13 July 1931 and his name was ‘Devmit Dharmapala’. On 16 January 1933, the vows were completed and he took the Upasampada, then his name was ‘Bhikshu Shri Devmit Dharmapala’. On 29 April 1933, at the age of 69, Anagarik Dharmapala passed away. His ashes were kept in a small stone stupa on the side of ‘Moolgandha Kuti Vihara’.[1]
