Candavimala

Rerukane Chandawimala Thera (Pali spelling: Chandavimala) was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk and author. A personality of Sri Lankan Buddhism in the 20th century, he has been regarded as one of the finest scholars of Tripitaka, the sacred canon of Theravada Buddhism. He was also a Buddhist meditation master, professor of Abhidharma and a former Maha Nayaka of the Swegin Chapter of the Amarapura Nikaya. Rerukane Chandawimala Thera was a highly reputed author of Theravada Buddhism, especially on Abhidharma. His books are considered as text books by other authors as well as students.

Early life and education Rerukane Chandawimala Thera was born on 19 July 1897 in the Rerukana village in Kalutara District, western Sri Lanka. His lay name was Rubel Gunawardene. The eldest of a family of six children, Rubel's parents were Don Bastian de Paules Gunawardene and Munasinghage Podi Nona. After having his school education at Veediyagoda school up to grade 2, young Rubel entered the order of Buddhist monks as a Samanera (novice monk) on 8 January 1906. His teacher was Burmese Buddhist monk U. Vinayalankara Maha Thera who resided in Pokunuwita Temple those days.

Rerukane Chandawimala Thera received lot of honorary titles and degrees for his service to the Buddhism. He received the honorary degree of ‘’Sahithya Chakarawarthi’’ (Emperor of Literature) from Vidyalankara University in 1963. Vidyalankara University also offered him the honorary post of professor of Abhidharma. In addition to those degrees he also received the Panditha degree conferred by the ‘’Pracheena Bhashopakara Samagama’’. Rerukane Chandawimala Thera became the Mahanayaka of Sri Lanka Swegin Chapter of the Amarapura Nikaya in 1976. In 1995, he received the titles ‘’Pravachana Visharda’’ and Amarapura Maha Mahopadyaya Shasana Sobhana at the age of 98.

Death and funeral Rerukane Chandawimala Thera died on 4 July 1997, due to natural causes at his temple in Pokunuwita at age 99. His funeral was done according to the last will and the instructions he has given to his pupils in the early 1980s. Maha Nayaka Thera requested for no state funeral, no publicity in the media, no banners, no ringing of his temple bell and stated that all he had wanted was for his body be cremated within the temple premises, with no coffin.