The arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka is one of the most significant events in the island’s history, transforming its culture, art, architecture, and way of life for over two millennia. This is the story of how the teachings of the Buddha reached the shores of Lanka.
The Mission Begins
In the 3rd century BCE, Emperor Ashoka of India, having embraced Buddhism after the bloody Kalinga War, decided to spread the Buddha’s message of peace and compassion across Asia. He dispatched missions to nine different regions, entrusting his own son, Arahat Mahinda, with the mission to Sri Lanka (then known as Lanka or Tambapanni).
The Journey to Lanka
According to the Mahavamsa, the ancient chronicle of Sri Lanka, Arahat Mahinda and his companions didn’t travel by conventional means. Through supernatural powers acquired through meditation, they flew through the air, crossing the straits between India and Sri Lanka.
On the full moon day of the month of Poson (June), they landed on Mihintale mountain, about 8 miles from the capital city of Anuradhapura.
The Royal Encounter
King Devanampiya Tissa, unaware of the momentous event about to unfold, was enjoying a royal hunt on Mihintale mountain. As he pursued a deer, the animal mysteriously led him to a clearing where he encountered a group of monks in saffron robes.
The Test of Wisdom
Mahinda, recognizing the king, didn’t immediately preach the Dhamma. Instead, he tested the king’s intelligence with a series of questions:
Mahinda: “What is this tree called, O King?” King: “This tree is called a mango tree.” Mahinda: “Is there any other mango tree besides this one?” King: “There are many mango trees.” Mahinda: “Besides this mango tree and the other mango trees, are there any other trees?” King: “There are many other trees, but those are not mango trees.” Mahinda: “Besides the other trees and the mango trees, are there any other trees?” King (after reflection): “There is this mango tree.”
Satisfied that the king possessed sufficient wisdom to understand the subtle teachings of Buddhism, Mahinda began his first sermon.
The First Sermon
Standing beneath the trees on Mihintale, Mahinda delivered the Chullahatthipadopama Sutta to the king and his retinue. The discourse explained the Buddha’s teachings on suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to liberation.
As Mahinda spoke, the king and forty thousand of his subjects attained the first stage of enlightenment, becoming stream-enterers (Sotapanna) who had glimpsed the truth of the Dhamma.
The Royal Conversion
Overwhelmed by what he had heard, King Devanampiya Tissa invited Mahinda to Anuradhapura. The next day, the king gathered his court and citizens in the royal pleasure garden, Mahamegha Park, where Mahinda delivered another sermon.
The impact was profound:
- The king offered his royal garden as a monastery (which became the Mahavihara)
- Princes and nobles ordained as monks
- Thousands of citizens embraced the new religion
- The queen and women of the court requested female ordination
The Sacred Bodhi Tree
Recognizing the need for female ordination, a message was sent to Emperor Ashoka requesting that his daughter, Sanghamitta Theri, come to Sri Lanka. She arrived bearing a precious gift: a sapling from the very Bodhi tree under which the Buddha had attained enlightenment.
The planting of this tree in Anuradhapura became a symbolic act—Buddhism was now rooted in Sri Lankan soil. That tree, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, still lives today, over 2,300 years later, making it the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world.
The Transformation of a Nation
The arrival of Mahinda catalyzed a complete transformation of Sri Lankan civilization:
Immediate Changes:
- Construction of the first Buddhist monasteries
- Establishment of the Sangha (monastic community)
- Creation of Buddhist education centers
- Development of Pali literature
Long-term Impact:
- Buddhism became central to Sri Lankan identity
- The island became a bastion of Theravada Buddhism
- Buddhist values shaped law, governance, and social structures
- Art and architecture evolved around Buddhist themes
The Legacy
Today, Mihintale remains a sacred pilgrimage site. Every year, on Poson Full Moon Poya Day, hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans climb the mountain’s steps to commemorate Mahinda’s arrival.
The mission of Arahat Mahinda succeeded beyond imagination. Sri Lanka didn’t just adopt Buddhism—it became its guardian. When Buddhism declined in India, it was Sri Lankan monks who preserved the teachings and texts. When Buddhism revived globally, Sri Lankan scholarship and practice provided the foundation.
Mihintale Today
Visitors to Mihintale can still walk the ancient stone steps, explore the cave dwellings of early monks, see the ruins of monasteries and stupas, and stand at the exact spot where tradition says Mahinda met the king.
The site includes:
- The Ambasthale Dagoba (marking the first sermon)
- The Mahaseya Dagoba (containing relics of Mahinda)
- Ancient hospital ruins
- Monks’ meditation caves
- The Et Vehera stupa
Standing on Mihintale, looking out over the plains toward Anuradhapura, one can imagine that fateful day when a king’s hunting expedition became a spiritual awakening that would echo through the centuries.
Conclusion
The arrival of Buddhism wasn’t just a religious conversion—it was the beginning of a new civilization. From that moment on Mihintale mountain, Sri Lanka’s destiny was forever intertwined with the teachings of the Buddha, creating a unique Buddhist culture that has endured for over two millennia and continues to thrive today.