Colombo

Portrait of Anagarika Dharmapala taken in accordance with the World’s Parliament of Religions. Chicago, 1893, Public domain image.

Dark red waves at the hull give way to ropes of surf embracing the coast of Sinhala. And then shores of white sand, leading up to the dark jungles of palm trees. Behind all, mountains tear the bosom of the sky. Only in the golden Lanka can a sight like this be seen. Pearls are strewn about everywhere in the seabed. Corals, gems, sandalwood, ivory, ebony, all you can wish for, as much as you need. Coconuts and areca palms are floating in the gentle waves. Everything is available, but the presence of God and true devotion to religion is rare.8Mozoomdar, Letters, 9.

Mozoomdar’s description during his approach to Sri Lanka emphasizes two of his religious convictions. First, that the mark of God is manifest in all of the beauty and power of nature. Second, that despite abundant signs of divine presence, many have lost touch with the spirit of God.9Mozoomdar would later spell out these sentiments before the World’s Parliament of Religions in his lecture titled “The World’s Religious Debt to Asia.” See Mozoomdar, Lectures in America, 15-29.

PCM stopped for two days in Colombo, welcomed with generosity by Anagarika Dharmapala, the famous Buddhist revivalist who would also speak at the World’s Parliament of Religions. In a letter to Saudamini, Mozoomdar extolled the monk’s kindness for allowing him to board in his father’s house, feeding him a feast of fresh fruits and vegetables, and attending to his insomnia by providing good conversation throughout the night.10Mozoomdar, Letters, 11-12.

  1. Mozoomdar, Letters, 11-12. ↩
  2. Mozoomdar, Letters, 9. ↩
  3. Mozoomdar would later spell out these sentiments before the World’s Parliament of Religions in his lecture titled “The World’s Religious Debt to Asia.” See Mozoomdar, Lectures in America, 15-29. ↩