Sri Piyaratana Tissa Mahanayake Thero | |
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දොඩන්දුවේ ශ්රි පියරත්න තිස්ස මහ නායක ස්වාමින් වහන්සේ | |
Personal | |
Born | 12 December 1826 [1] |
Died | 20 May 1907[5] | (aged 80)
Religion | Buddhism |
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
School | Theravada |
Lineage | Amarapura Nikāya Sect. |
Known for |
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Other names | Ven. Dodanduwa Piyaratana Mahanayaka Thero |
Relations |
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Sri Piyaratana Tissa Mahanayake Thero (Sinhala: දොඩන්දුවේ ශ්රි පියරත්න තිස්ස මහ නායක ස්වාමින් වහන්සේ; 12 December 1826 – 20 May 1907), also known as Dodanduwa Piyaratne Thero, was the Mahanayaka Thero of the Amarapura Nikaya (circa 1860s), and the Sanganayake of the Southern Province. He popularised the 'Poruwa' ceremony at Buddhist weddings.
He established Sri Lanka's first Buddhist school in 1869,[2] Jinalabdhi Vishodaka,[3] now known as Dodanduwa Piyarathana Vidyalaya.[5][6] He is believed to be the founding father of Buddhist education in Sri Lanka.[according to whom?][7][8][9][10]
He was a member of the Weerasooriya family of Dodanduwa and Hikkaduwa,[3][11] he was the brother of David Weerasooriya and uncle of Arnolis Weerasooriya.
The Tibetan Monk S. Mahinda was ordained by him. He was also a close friend of Henry Steel Olcott and administered 'pansil' to him.[12][13][14][15][16]