The Late Ven. K. Gunaratana Nayaka Maha Thera

Born 5 April 1891 • Passed Away 19 January 1964

2nd Chief Monk of Mahindarama Buddhist Temple 1933-1964

In the early seventies, a small library started at a corner at the back of the lecture hall of the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple with just 200 Dhamma books inside a small cupboard to cater for students of the Mahindarama Sunday Pali Schoo [MSPS].

The K. Gunaratana Memorial Library was later established in August 1976 in memory of the Late Ven. K. Gunaratana Nayaka Maha Thera for his dedicated, invaluable and distinguished services to the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple and the Buddhist community in Penang.

A sub-committee was formed to manage the library with the then fourth Chief Monk of the temple, Ven. Pandit P. Pemaratana Nayaka Maha Thera as the Religious Adviser, Mr. Lim Eng Chuan and Mr. Yew Lye Hin as Hon. Lay Advisers and Mr. See Chim Han and Mr. Wee Chong Hoe as Patrons. The library was then moved from the back of the lecture hall to a portion of a building next to the lecture hall. The library was further renovated and additional cupboards, tables and chairs were added in 1979.
When Wisma Mahinda was completed in May 1989, the library finally moved to a more spacious and conducive environment on the ground floor with a mezzanine level of Wisma Mahinda. In February 2018, upon the request of the fifth Chief Monk of the temple, Ven. (Dr.) E. Indaratana Maha Thero, the library was closed for renovation and upgrading with new shelves and fittings, given a new coat of paint with electrical and lightings improved. The books cataloging was upgraded to a Cloud System for the convenience of administrators and users. It was then reopened on 15 March 2020 with a new refreshing look.