Venerable Thalangama Devananda Maha Thero (Bhante Devananda) was born in 1972. He was ordained June 17, 1982 and took high ordination (Upasampada) ten years later under Bhante Anuruddha. Bhante Devananda is the Abbot (Vihara Dipati) and Meditation Instructor of Indiana Buddhist Temple.

He founded Indiana Buddhist Temple in 2003. He is also the Deputy Incumbent (Vihara Dikari) of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya, Kotte, Srilanka. He has performed dharma services on highly demand, in various states in the USA and internationally, for Dhammadesana, Meditation Retreats, Special Chanting & Blessing Ceremonies. In November 2020, Bhante Devananda was elected to be the Abbot for Lankarama Buddhist Temple, Los Angeles. California USA. In July 2021, Bhante accepted a historical church in Bryan Ohio and transformed the church to be Father John’s Loving Kindness Meditation Society.

Some of his works were published on the following

• 2014 “Living Mindfully” Living Fort Wayne: Monthly Magazine May Edition

• 2005 “If each of us lives with love for others, world’s problems will melt away” Fort Wayne: The Journal Gazette, People of Praise, Saturday, June 25, 2005

• 2004 “We’re dependent on each other” Fort Wayne: The Journal Gazette, People of Praise, Saturday October 9, 2004

• 2014 “Living Mindfully” Living Fort Wayne, Monthly Magazine May edition

• 2004 – Present, recorded CDs of Buddhist Chants: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion), Bojjhanga Sutta (the Seven Factors of Enlightment), Maha Mangala Sutta Pali and English, Dhammapada Verses in Pali and English, Gilana Sutta, Dhajagga Sutta, Maha Pirith, Seth Pirith, Ashirwada Pooja, Jinapanjara and many more.

Indiana Buddhist Temple was featured in MSNBC – Faith in America: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07NZ5E8Rnsw. Indiana Buddhist Temple is open to all people interested in the study and practice of Buddhism, meditation, mind training toward compassion and loving kindness. The temple operates to spread Buddhist education, morality and charity.

Indiana Buddhist Temple was featured in Buddhistdoor Global: Spreading the Light of Compassion across America’s Heartland: https://www.buddhistdoor.net/features/indiana-buddhisttemplespreading-the-light-of-compassion-across-americas-heartland The temple serves Northern Indiana focusing on the Fort Wayne known as the City of Churches with a population of 615,077, a Christian dominant demographic area. School groups and Sunday schools from churches frequently visit our facility for cross cultural discussions. In 2013, Bhante Devananda ordained a Jewish American born to be a Samanera at Indiana Buddhist Temple.