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Unusually for a Theravada teacher, he publicly studied some other traditions, such as Mahayana Buddhism, mantra and esoteric yoga. Thero entered Ananda College, Colombo in 1919 and became a teacher of the same school in 1922. Thero continued his studies after becoming a monk and later became a scholar in Buddhism and languages. Balangdoda Ananda Maitreya Thero received his Upasampada on 14 July 1916 at Olu Gantota Udakukhepa Seema, Balangoda. He was ordained under the guidance of Daamahana Dhammananda Thero and Deniyaye Seelananda Thero was his primary teacher ( Upaadhyaayanwahanse). Punchi Mahattaya had his primary education at Kumara Vidyalaya, Balangoda.Īt the age of 15 he had decided to enter the order of Buddhist monks and was ordained as a Samanera at the temple Sri Nandaramaya, Udumulla, Balangoda on 2 March 1911. Because Punchi Mahattaya's mother died when he was 14 days old, he was brought up by his father's brother and his wife. His birth name was Punchi Mahattaya aka William. īalangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero was born on 23 August 1896 in Kirindigala, Balangoda, to the family of N. Later in March 1997, the Burmese government conferred on Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero the highest Sangha title, "Abhidhaja Maharatthaguru" (Most Eminent Great Spiritual Teacher), which is equivalent to Sangharaja, in honor of his unique service to the Buddhist religion. In recognition of his valuable service at the Sixth Buddhist council held in Burma, the Burmese government conferred on him the title "Agga Mahapandita" (Chief Great Scholar) in 1956. Sri Lankan Buddhists also considered Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero as a Bodhisattva, who will attain Buddhahood in a future life.īalangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero lived a modest life and did a great service for the propagation of Buddhist philosophy. He was highly respected by Sri Lankan Buddhists, who believed that he had achieved a higher level of spiritual development. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Thero ( Sinhala: අග්ග මහා පණ්ඩිත බලංගොඩ ආනන්ද මෛත්‍රෙය මහා නා හිමි 23 August 1896 – 18 July 1998 commonly known in English as Ananda Maitreya ) was a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who was one of the most distinguished scholars and expositors of Theravada Buddhism in the twentieth century.