SIGIRIYA

Location	Central province
Elevation	349 m
Built for	King Kashyapa of Sri Lanka
Visitors	1 million

Sigiriya is an ancient rock fotress located in the northern Matale        District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka.  It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that  dominatedby a massive column of granite approximately 180 m . 

Sigiriya mirror wall

 The Mirror Wall is a plastered brick parapet wall with a two-meter-wide inner passageway. The outermost section of this passageway is built up to create a protective wall. It is believed that the inner surface of this wall had a mirror-like sheen which was achieved by using a special plaster made of fine lime, egg whites, and honey. The surface l was then buffed to a brilliant luster with beeswax. Its luster is still visible today.

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Lion's paws  -  These are the most recognizable feature of  Sigiriya. It is located at the summit of the lion mouth.

Sigiriya water gardens and fountains

Symmetrical Design: The water gardens are a complex masterpiece of irrigation engineering. They consist of pools, fountains, and lawns arranged symmetrically. A main pathway divides a central pool into four sections, with an island at the center. 

Sigiriya as the UNESCO heritage site                                     

On 17th December 1982, after assessing the aforementioned outstanding values in Sigiriya, the World heritage committee decided to inscribe the site a World Heritage Site under Criterion II, III, and IV of the operational Guidelines.

  

  

          

    POLLONNARUWA  GAL  VIHARAYA

 Where is Gal Viharaya situated ? 

The Gal Vihara, also known as Gal Viharaya, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. Constructed in the 12th century by King Parakramabahu I, it features four remarkable rock relief statues of the Buddha carved into a large granite gneiss rock. These sculptures include a large seated figure, a smaller seated figure inside an artificial cavern, a standing figure, and a reclining figure.

What is the importance of Gal Viharaya ?

Gal Vihara, also known as Gal Viharaya, holds deep spiritual significance for Buddhists. It’s a place for meditation, reflection, and paying homage to the Buddha.

 

Conclusion

Just think about how our ancestors create these statues very keenly through heavy rocks and think about how they try to get those facial expressions fom those havy stones.

  

                               DAMBULLA   TEMPLE

About Dambulla Cave

The Dambulla Cave Temple, often known as the Royal Rock Temple, is a cave temple complex in the centre of Sri Lanka. It is made up of series of 5 caves instilled with over 20 centuries of history and imbued with religious significance. The temple contains a wealth of Buddhist art, including numerous statues and murals of Buddha

      

History of Dambulla Cave

In the 1st century AD, the caves began to be transformed into shrines, which continued into the 18th century. Most of the building work was carried out during the Anuradhapura .

During the 18th century, the temples were restored and painted by the Kingdom of Kandy. These paintings cover the the rock ceilings, which are decorated with intricate religious images which follow the contours of the rock.

In 1938, the architecture was embellished with gabled entrances and arched colonnades.

There are over 80 documented caves in the surrounding area; however, major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. The largest and grandest of the caves is the second one, known as Maharaja Vihara.

   

Conclusion 

Today, the Dambulla cave monastery is still functional, and remains best-preserved ancient edifice in Sri Lanka. 

                            

                              AVUKANA  STATUE

The Avukana Buddha statue stands near Kekirawa in North Central Sri Lanka. Carved during the 5th century, this magnificent stone sculpture depicts the Buddha with a hand raised in reassurance—a variation of the Abhaya mudra.

Archeological Significance

       The Avukana Buddha carving, positioned atop a lotus flower pedestal, stands at an impressive height of 46 feet. From head to toe, the statue measures 38 feet and 10 inches. The head alone reaches a height of 6 feet and 6 inches, while the foot spans a width of 6 feet and 1 inch. Crafted almost entirely in the round from a single square boulder of similar height, the statue remains remarkably well-preserved. It is delicately attached to the original rock behind it by a narrow strip at the waist. Facing directly eastward, the statue looks on towards the majestic Kalawewa Reservoir (Wijesekera,1962).

The face of the statue is oval-shaped, although the Buddha statues of this era depict round faces. The face typifies deep feeling and is serene. The ripples of the robe, though featuring the Amaravati style, show more finesse and simplicity. Although it is said that this image is in the Abhaya mudra the right hand is placed in a different position. For the Abhaya mudra, the palm of the right hand must face forward with the fingers slightly bent. This feature is seen in the Ras Vehera statue. In the Avukana statue, the palm is raised and the fingers are held straight. Thus some say it is the Ashir-mudra. 

Conclusion

This is also one of the marvelous creation  of our ancient king and ancestors. We hould appreciate those of  creations which  give us proud.

                     

                                 SRI MAHA BODHI

The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred Bo tree located in the Mahamewna Gardens of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It holds immense religious and historical significance.

1. Origin and Significance:

• The tree is believed to have grown from a cutting of the southern branch of the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India.
• The Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya is where Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) attained enlightenment.
• In 236 BC, the Buddhist nun Sangamitta Maha Theri, daughter of Indian Emperor Ashoka, brought the tree cutting to Sri Lanka during the reign of Sinhalese King Devanampiya Tissa.
• It is considered the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date, surpassing 2,300 years of age.
  
  
  

2. History and Vandalism:

   • The tree has a recorded history dating back to Lord Gautama Buddha’s time.
   • It endured acts of vandalism, including a terrorist attack by the LTTE in 1985, where around 146 pilgrims were massacred.
     
     
     

                             THUPARAMA STUPA

                             

       Thuparama Temple was the first stupa in Si Lanka.

Constructions and Significance

• Built: Thuparamaya is believed to be the first Buddhist dagoba constructed in Sri Lanka.
• Date: It dates back to the 3rd century BCE during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa.
• Purpose: The stupa was built to enshrine the right collarbone relic of Buddha, brought by Mahinda Thero, who introduced Buddhism to the island.
• Blessed Site: According to the Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka), Buddha himself blessed this location during his third visit to Kelaniya in Sri Lanka.
• Sacred Ranking: Thuparamaya is one of the Solosmasthana (Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites) and an Atamasthana .

Architectural Features

  

  

• Stupa: The stupa was initially built in the form of a paddy heap (Dhanyakara).
• Vatadage: King Vashaba later added a unique architectural feature called the Vatadage (also known as Stupaghara or Stupa House). It completely housed the stupa and had a roof supported by concentric circles of decorated stone pillars.

 

                               JETHAWANARAMAYA

Located in the historic city of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, the Jethawanaramaya is a remarkable architectural masterpiece that stands as a testament to the grandeur and sophistication of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. This colossal stupa, constructed during the reign of King Mahasena in the 3rd century AD, is not only a revered Buddhist site but also an engineering marvel. With its rich history and awe-inspiring presence, the Jethawanaramaya continues to captivate visitors from around the world.

Historical Marvel

The Jethawanaramaya holds great historical significance as one of the largest brick structures in the world and a significant landmark in the ancient city of Anuradhapura. This sacred site was built to enshrine the relics of Gautama Buddha and served as a place of veneration for Buddhist pilgrims. The stupa was initially constructed to a height of approximately 400 feet (122 meters), making it the third tallest monument of its time.

Architectural Splendours

The Jethawanaramaya is a testament to the architectural brilliance of ancient Sri Lanka. Constructed entirely out of bricks, it boasts a unique design characterized by concentric rings and intricate carvings. The stupa was adorned with lavish decorations, including statues of deities, elephants, and lions, which have unfortunately been eroded over time.

Conclusion

 

The sheer magnitude of the structure, coupled with its aesthetically pleasing design, reflects the architectural prowess of the ancient Sri Lankan civilization.