S. Mahinda Thero | |
|---|---|
පූජ්ය එස්. මහින්ද හිමි | |
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| Personal life | |
| Born | Pempa Tendupi Serky Cherin 1901 |
| Died | 16 March 1951 (aged 49–50) |
| Nationality | Sikkimese |
| Education | Vidyodaya Pirivena, Maradana |
| Known for | Poet, author, Sri Lankan Independence Movement |
| Other names | Sikkim Mahinda, Tibet Jathika S. Mahinda Himi |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
| School | Theravada |
| Senior posting | |
Venerable Sikkim Mahinda Thero (Sinhala: සිකිම් මහින්ද හිමි), commonly known as S. Mahinda Thero (Sinhala: එස්. මහින්ද හිමි), was a Buddhist monk from the state of Sikkim. He was a poet and author, and participated in the Sri Lankan independence movement. Although he was from Sikkim, he identified himself as a Tibetan, presumably because it was more well known in Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka).
S. Mahinda thero arrived in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) at a young age and was ordained as a Buddhist monk by Ven. Dodanduwa Sri Piyaratana Tissa Mahanayake Thero. Having learned the Sinhala language, he became a poet, creating several literary works inspiring patriotism among the Sinhalese and urging them to fight for their freedom during the Sri Lankan Independence movement. He is now considered a national hero of Sri Lanka and one among the greatest of Sinhalese poetry figures of all time.