In ancient Sri Lanka Mihintale was a much revered place of worship as it is today.
Several roads led to Mihintale and one of them was by the river Kadhamba.
Robbers
One day, a gang of robbers decided to make their camp by this river and they started robbing travellers on this road, They were so wicked that they even robbed pi;grims going to the Mihintale temple.
Word about the robbers spread and people and pilgrims avoided this road. The Mihintale temple lost support and revenue.
Chief Bhikkhu
Bhikkhu Abaya, a kind and wise bhikkhu was the Chief Bhikkhu at the Mihintale temple. He realised that the pilgrims were getting less to the temple and investigated the matter. He found that it was because of the robbers.
One day, the Chief Bhikkhu was informed that the robbers were planning to rob the temple that very night. He thought long and hard about what to do.
He called the other bhikkhus and the lay workers and told them to feed the robbers well when they came. The temple had plenty of food.
Feeding the robbers
When the robbers stealthily came to the temple that night they were surprised to be warmly welcomed and fed well. They had never had such delicious food before.
The robber leader asked the temple helpers why this was so. They rold him that the Chief Bhikkhu had asked them to do so.
The robber leader then asked to be taken to the Chief Bhikkhu and confessed everything to him. He also said that from then on the robbers would guard the temple and help the pilgrims. T This they did and soon, the people and pilgrims heard about this. More and more pilgrims came to the temple and after they had worshipped the robbers saw them on their way safely.
But some bhikkhus and lay workers were unhappy that the robbers were treated well. They complained to the Chief Bhikkhu.
The wise Chief Bhikkhu told them that the cost of the food was far less than the temple treasures and they accepted that.
