Soratha Podinama's role ...an insult to Samanero Bhikkshu -- Hegoda Vipassi Thero
Rev. Hegoda Vipassi Thero points out that the character of Samanera in the popular teledrama Sindu which is being broadcast these days over the Derana Channel is being brought to society portraying an incorrect notion in relation to the Buddha Sasana. The thero who says that exposing the Samanera role in respect of the perspective thrown on children is something that is not at all suitable and that the
genuine Sangha generation is not so though it is depicted in that manner. The thero subsequently adds that the said child in the tele-drama is motivated through this form of solecism towards the destruction of the Sasana which the creators of the tele-drama are engaged in.The thero who writes to a newspaper in this connection has expressed his opinion in this manner: "The Samanera era is the preliminary period of the Sangha which incidentally was the essential period for the heroic existence of the Sambuddha Sasana which actually originated prior to a period of over a lengthy period of 26 centuries. The consciousness of the Buddhist public which has got driven into the blood, bone and marrow of the Bhikkshus has remained continuously upto now from generation to generation in the form of an absolute holistic honour. The holistic character which has been embedded into the public consciousness of Sri Lankan history is being roughly handled within a narrow perspective and is being subjected reducing it to a total ridicule as portrayed in the tele-drama Sindu. We bring out this point based upon the the basic principles of literature ... as an act of outrage.
Sindu is a child who is born in England and in the instance he arrives in Sri Lanka he is abducted. The abductors take him to a difficult village in Raja Rata area. He then comes across a Samanera bhikkshu in a temple in this area which is associated with a wonderful rural culture. It is across this setting that this tele-drama is broadcast.
A news item which was published in a newspaper in this connection says: 'It is only the acolyte, the uncle and the cat called Sarana who happens to be the only source of banishing the loneliness of the Podi Hamuduruwo who is brought up amidst Loku Hamuduruwo's harsh administration. It was rather unexpectedly that Podi Hamuduruwo meets Sarana which incidentally was living a playful life". It appears that the tele-drama deals a deadly blow on the role of the bhikkshu, with this introduction.
The theme song of the tele-drama too is composed by the producer Janaka Siriwardena. The creator of this drama views the Samanera bhikkshus who are preceptors, in a totally narrow-minded angle. As an example it could be attributed to as 'denna dethenaka thiyagena pawan salanawada ... amma langa nethi dukata mage pana andanawada?' When a child is ordained the Guru Teacher cares for him with affection and protects him. A weakness which emerges in certain instances being exposed on the entire Bhikkshu Sasana is of course erroneous. If mentioned in simple terms ... if at least not the only monks who have already passed away but if thoughts are directed to some monks who are engaged in distinguished service in modern times, this becomes clear when delving into their own childhood. It is not justified to interpret the Samanera character from the same perspective targeted at children.
It must be questioned from the producers of this tele-drama whether it is justified to use the child portraying the role of Soratha to a scandalous action which destroys the Sasana.