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Three months after the tsunami, monks conduct ceremonies in Sri Lanka help spirits be reborn
Associated Press ,
Fri 25th Mar 16:35GMT.
JANAGANGARAMA TEMPLE, Sri Lanka (AP) - At a 300-year-old Buddhist temple, atop a hillock and close to where the Dec. 26 tsunami swept a train and up to 2,000 people to their deaths, dozens of Buddhists invoked blessings Friday for the wandering spirits of the dead.
``The three month period is very important for the dead and their relatives,'' said Palatuwe Jinaratna, 50, a monk for 35 years who has joined in many such ceremonies to help spirits be born again to a good life.
As night fell on this southern coastal area, one of the worst devastated by the tsunami, dozens of monks began an all-night ceremony, chanting hymns. Women wearing white saris sat on mats and prayed with folded hands, some holding the holy Lotus flower and some burning incense sticks.
Three months ago, waves described by survivors as big as elephants, smashed into Sri Lanka's coastline, killing at least 31,225 people in the worst ever tragedy on this ancient tropical island of 19 million people.
Special prayers will be held at the weekend for the residents of Peraliya, a village annihilated in the disaster and close to the Janagangarama temple. It was at Peraliya where the Queen of the Sea train was swept away, reportedly killing 2,000 people - both passengers and villagers who had jumped aboard seeking safety, or were crushed by the carriages. More than 850 bodies have been recovered.
``We will pray and invoke blessings for those who died in the train,'' said Ghanaratana Thero, the 51-year-old top priest of the temple.
Three of the right battered, rust-colored coaches stand on parallel tracks as a memorial. It remains a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of Sri Lankans who come to pray for the dead.
``We may not have a home, but we will do anything to ensure that the spirits of our dead relatives get a better life,'' said Chandra Gamage, a 58-year-old woman whose small village nearby lost 38 people. She would not say if any of them were her relatives.
On Friday, she collected donations from other villagers and cooked a meal of rice and bean curry and fed 12 monks to invoke their blessings. The monks were also served ice cream and fruits.
Sociologists believe the rules serve a social purpose.
``The ceremonies make the families feel that there are so many others who care not only for them, but for also their dear ones who are dead,'' said Colombo-based sociologist, Siri Hettige.
``This has nothing to do with spirits,'' he said.
But Sujatha de Silva, who lost a close friend in the disaster, is visiting a temple near the capital Colombo to offer gifts to the monks and take part in a prayer ceremony so that her friend is reborn to a better life.
``This is very important for us, the three month period, when we try to invoke as many blessings as possible for those who were dear to us,'' said De Silva. ``We don't know if they are reborn so we take no chance and take part in the ceremony to help the spirits to return to life.''
Buddhists believe that only those who had done good ``karma'' or deeds and want to renounce worldly things get salvation from rebirth.
``We chant for all of them, including the spirits with bad deeds so that they are reborn. The merits, or blessings they get, decide how will be their next life,'' said Jinaratna, the monk.
Thousands of smaller ceremonies were being held across this predominantly Buddhist country over the weekend to mark the three month anniversary.
Published: Fri Mar 25 11:40:57 EST 2005
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