Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Samstha

The (modern) history of arañña senasana or forest hermitages of Sri Lanka runs back to 1951, when Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinavamsa Mahathera (sometimes spelled Jinawansa) Thera, with the guidance of Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera, founded the Galduva Aranya, which was to become the centre point of the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha - the first Association of meditation monasteries in Sri Lanka.

Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinavamsa Mahathera himself was ordained at the age of 13, and founded the Thebuvana Granthakara Pirivena (monk school) when he was only 25 and served as head instructor for over 20 years. He started the Yogāśrama Sanstha at the age of 45, and enjoyed a long life of 98 years.

Following the way of the Buddha he strongly believed that all the riches of life meant nothing without vimukti (vimutti, "freedom" or "deliverance") which he understood was the goal of Buddhist meditation and the reason d'etre for Buddhist monks. Consequently, he left all his students except for one, Ven.Gatamanne Vimalavamsa Thera, who accompanied him in his quest for a fitting dwelling for deep meditation. The support rendered by Ven. Gatamanne Vimalavamsa Thera and Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera in this quest, was immense.

To commemorate the 2500th birthday of the Buddha Buddha Jayanti Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinawansa Thera founded the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha on 18 June 1951. Nimalawa Aranya Senasanaya in Kirinda was selected as the first aranya or hermitage of a number of aranya senasana which were all connected into an association named Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha. With the passage of time the fame of Kalyani Yogashrama grew. People in many walks of life flowed into the Aranya in search of the authentic way of meditation.

But setting up the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha was no easy task. Although most lay persons were attracted to Ven. Kadawedduwe Sri Jinawansa Theras extremely eloquent sermons, there were people, the lay and monks alike who resented and envied his success. But thanks to his conviction the Kalyani Yogasrama Sanstha now has over 150 Aranya with over 1500 monks.

After the establishment of Sri Kalyani Yogasrama Sanstha, the founder Kadawedduwe Sri Jinavamsa Mahathera was in need of finding a qualified senior bhikkhu as the Leader of the group. Then he had to invite Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera several times and fortunately got the invitation accepted at last. Until 1992, the great meditation master Matara Sri Nanarama Mahathera was the Maha Upajjhaya (chief mentor) of the Yogāśrama Sanstha.

Currently Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha has expanded in Sri Lanka with notable forest hermitages like Meethirigala Nissarana Vanaya (Where the first Maha Upajjhaya Matara Nanarama Maha Thero resided in), Na Uyana Aranya, Nimalawa Aranya (the first monastery), Kurunegala Nathagane Aranya, Buttala Budu Gallena Aranya, Koggala Aranya, Minneriya Mahasen Aranya, Kudumbigala Aranya, Kurunegala Ruwangirikanda Aranya, Ampara Piyangala Aranya, Colombo Sri Kalyanadharma Ashramaya (Where the current chief mentor residing in),Anuradapura Nuwarawewa Aranya Senasanaya (අනුරාධපුර නුවරවැව ආරණ්‍ය සේනාසනය), Thalangama Sri Shanthi Yogashramaya, Padaviya Galpiyuma Aranya, etc. However, Ambalangoda Galduva Aranya acts as the center monastery which facilitates for ordination ceremonies.

The initial meditation center was set up in Mitirigala Nissarana Vanaya, under Matara Nanarama Mahathera. Nissarana Vanaya was the main center of ascetic meditation of the Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha for decades. As a result of 'New Meditation System' developed by Matara Nanarama Mahathera, Nissarana Vanaya was identified as a well known meditation center in the Theravada world.[4]

Later, several monasteries have been converted in to meditation centers such as Na Uyana Aranya in Melsiripura and Sri Nanarama Vivekasramaya in Diyatalawa with the increasing demand for the meditation practice.

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1. Matara Nanarama Mahathera - The first Chief Mentor (Maha Upajjhaya) of Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha
2. Kadawedduwe Jinavamsa Mahathera - The Founding Father and second Chief Mentor of Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha
3. Mawatagama Gunananda Mahathera - Third Chief Mentor of Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha
4. Na Uyane Ariyadhamma Mahathera - Fourth Chief Mentor of Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha
5. Pahalavitiyala Janananda Thero - Fifth(Current) Chief Mentor of Śrī Kalyāṇī Yogāśrama Sanstha

• Gatamanne Vimalavansa Mahathera
• Asmandale Ratanapala Mahathera - A revolutionary monk who strictly refused the monks who are using money
• Madawala Dhamamatilaka Mahathera
• Mitirigala Dhammavasa Mahathera[5][6] - The most senior student of Matara Nanarama Mahathera and the third abbot of Nissarana Vanaya
• Katukurunde Nanananda Thero - A famous book author and a meditation master and a senior student of the first Chief Mentor Matara Nanarama Mahathera
• Udairiyagama Dhammajiva Mahathera[7] - A famous meditation master and the fourth abbot of Nissarana Vanaya
• Dankande Dhammarathana Thero[8]
• Kotte Devananda Thero[9]

• Sri Lankan Forest Tradition
• Ramanna Nikaya

• Most Venerable Matara Sri Nanarama Maha Thero
• Mitirigala Nissarana Vanaya Official Website
• Most Venerable UdaEriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero