Monk's 'rathagaya' which snatched a darling son from the mother!

Monk's 'rathagaya' which snatched a darling son from the mother!

Weddagala is a charming village. The chirping of birds who keep flying to this village from Singharaja forest from time to time is heard like a sweet melody of music. One should be blessed to be born in a village like that.

 Madhusha Lakshan the nineteen year old young boy has had the fortune to be born in such a charming village and from the humanistic, friendliness and humbleness was the calmness linked to someone born to a village of such type. Madhushan was born on 26th October, 2000. His mother is Achala Chandani Ariyaratna (52) while father is M.R. Ariyasena. Lakshan had only one elder brother. He was the eldest in the family. His brother who is married is without a job. Lakshan's mother Chandani is a teacher. At present she is attached to Uthuru Weddagala Vidyalaya. Everyone respects this teacher who strives to open the eyes of her school children, appreciating her valuable service. Lakshan's father on the other hand was subjected to a sudden accident and wounded with losing one of his legs, as if indicating that that was the initial stroke of fate.

However, under these circumstances this courageous teacher was successful in providing everything to the two children without anything lacking. Lakshan had his education at Kalawana national school. Prasad Priyadarshana was his bosom friend and both of them of similar age. Though Prasad had his education at Gamini Mady Vidyalaya, since both of them lived in adjoining houses in the same village, it did not create a block for their friendship as such.

It was a few days back before the accident that the youth in the village decided, "Let's start a cricket tournament". Lakshan and the crowd who awaited results from his G.C.E. ordinary level exam had even fixed a date for the cricket tournament and that was last 13th and it happened to be a Monday. Lakshan got on to his bosom pal Prasad's motor cycle with the idea of finding a patron for the trophy relevant to the cricket tournament.

Thus the motor bike commenced its journey across Weddagala Pirivena Road and Prasad sat himself on the pillion. The motor bike steadily and slowly proceeding along Pirivena Road in search of parliamentary member Mr. Premalal Jayasekera's house in Nivithigala. When both of them were reaching Dekadakade area along Ratnapura Road on the motor bike, Lakshan received a call on his mobile phone. The speed of the motor bike lessened. After stopping it by the side of the road, the friend too got down from it and proceeded to a side of the road. By that time the time was passing 12.45 in the afternoon. Neither Lakshan nor his friend were to realise that it was fate's hour. Fate in fact came in search of them through a cab. By that time it was a saffron-robed monk who had been seated at the driver's seat inside the cab.

Sri Lanka happens to be a Buddhist country. There was a period when some argued that this Buddhist country was not a Buddhist country. Whatever those arguments were, there is no sanction for monks to obtain driving licenses which means that the law prohibits monks adorned in robes to take to the wheel. Fate then happened to get the best advantage from it and decided to grab the lives of Lakshan and his friend by swerving the cab away from the road. Thus the cab took on devil's guise and after running over these two boys ultimately ended up by testing the strength of a coconut tree, so to say.

From this unanticipated accident, Lakshan fell into a pool of blood. The friend too got thrown and fell some feet away from Lakshan. With this shocking accident, people around came rocking there. The monk seated at the driving seat in the cab has then got down from it and has asked for pardon saying, "The fault is mine". This monk was Urugampola Kusalagnana thero at Pothupitiya, Pilimathalawa Aranya Senasana. It is understood that the thero had been on his way in a hurry for a teaching matter at a pirivena.

"I couldn't control the vehicle!" was the thero's reply. Whatever it is, Lakshan on his way to hospital and struggled with destiny and finally stopped breathing owing to a fault of a thero. The deceased's friend Prasad Priyadarshana on the other hand regained consciousness in hospital. The words "Machan .. Lakshan left all of us" by friends in the village who visited the hospital were strong enough to wet the bed sheet in the hospital with tears that flowed from Prasad's eyes.

The friends embraced each other and wept when Lakshan's body was brought to his home. Some of Lakshan's village as well as his schoolmates even fainted on the floor because this friend was such an affectionate and loving individual. Lakshan's mother's moment of wailing of course is something that couldn't be given ear to. That wailing was strong enough to soften one's heart and her words when heard stabs someone's heart because those words penetrates anybody as feelings for a child by a mother is common to each and everybody.

"It is I who was to die. My sn whom I brought up with so much suffering has been robbed by thieves! How much hopes I had about that child! The child who told me ... very soon when results come; I will treat you well, mother. All my dreams were robbed. How can I bear this pain?" Such was the wailing of this mother. The loss of Lakshan's bereavement is mostly a loss felt by that family. If ever there was a tomorrow for the mother, father ... it was in the hands of Lakshan.

There are those who ask as to what a stroke of fate that the life of Lakshan who in fact was counting his fingers to open up a new leaf of life after results coming his way and to pursue a stream of studies of technology after doing his advanced level has thus come to an end at the hands of a stubborn-headed thero. We have heard of young people who are making sketches of art over walls all over the country. This Lakshan too has made his art on walls in Rakwana town in the company of friends and it is with tears in their eyes that they remember those instances. Those memories too has now become a sketch of art now. That then is life. Though some were able to make up their minds thinking so, for friends who understood Lakshan and associated him, it was not possible to take him out of their minds. Though some had forgotten Lakshan, for his mother, father and brother.. that memory was indeed a matter of tears. I know that those hearts would be pricked in pain and sorrow .. renewing memories of Madhushan.

Lakshan faced this accident last 13th and young people who streamed in continuously and a sigh with tears had no end. Tears of one village so began to flow in that manner because he was a lovable friend ... someone noble at heart as a friend as well as in character. The evening dawned on the 16th. Sun was setting in the Western skies. Smiles which were seen on faces of villagers of this pleasant village has withered and chirping of birds has faded away ... bringing out sounds of weeping. Finding someone without a tear in his eyes was like searching for a mustard seed from a house which had no death. When the mother and father shed tears with words "My darling son .. don't leave us ... take us also with you!" ... the lid of the coffin where Lakshen had fallen asleep never to wake again .. was closed.

The  crime committed by a hard-hearted thero and who went on a uncalled for journey is by no means something to be dismissed. But now everything has come to an end. Though the fault appears to be an ordinary fault, it is the helpless parents who suffer infinitely. To quell that pain .. it is to go in search of theros themselves. That is but a part of the samsara journey.