The Fracture in the Robe: How Feudal Politics Shaped Monastic Caste Rules in Kandy
In 1753, with the help of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha, Veliwita Sri Saranankara Thero successfully re-established Higher Ordination ( Upasampada ) in Sri Lanka by bringing Siamese monks led by Upali Thero, forming the Siyam Nikaya (Siam Opasa). Grounded in canonical Buddhist philosophy—which strictly rejects caste hierarchy in the Sangha—Saranankara Thero initially ordained individuals based on learning and devotion rather than caste. Among his early distinguished pupils was Sitinamaluwe Dhammajoti Thero , a brilliant southern scholar from a non- Govigama caste. What Happened to the Katikawata? Pressure from the Kandyan Aristocracy ( Radalas ) The Kandyan nobility and feudal chiefs strongly objected to lower-caste individuals receiving higher ordination. They feared that if non- Govigama monks held senior positions in the Sangha, it would disrupt the traditional land-tenure system, control over monastic lands ( Viharagam ), and social hierarchy of the Kandyan Kingdom. The Enactment of ...