By the Ven. Aggamahapandita Dr. Walpola Piyananda, Chief Sangha Nayake of America
Birthday tributeView(s):
A ten-year-old boy from Matara was brought to Colombo by the Ven. Galboda Devananda Nayaka Thera and handed over to the Ven. Vachissara Nayaka Thera of the Colombo Hunupitiya Gangaramaya temple. The well-known monk, the Ven. Morontuduwe Sri Dhammananda Thera read the young boy’s horoscope and determined that he was suitable for ordination as a samanera. The wise Venerable said he was “a saviour who should be ordained for the welfare of everybody.”
Eight days after his arrival in Colombo, on November 8, 1954, the boy was ordained and given the name Galboda Gnanissara Thera. It did not take long for the ten-year-old to become a favourite at the temple, and they nick-named the active child “Podi Hamuduruwo” because of the smallness of his physical stature and his quick energy. Even today, the Ven. Gnanissara is known as “Podi Hamuduruwo”, though he grew up to bec