Outrigger canoe, Kallady, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Almost all of the photographs were taken by the owner of this blog and are his property.Click on each picture below to see an enlarged view.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
'Nillakkagama" Bodhigara inscription, 9th to 10th Century AD, Sri Lanka.
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| The 'wewa' by the side of the 'Bodhigara' |
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| The environs of the 'Bodhigara' |
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| The 'care-taker' |
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| Panel put up by the Archeological Department |
Story related by the care-taker
During the time of the 'Chola invasion' in the 9th Century AD, the venerated Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, was smuggled out from its repository in Anuradhapura, by a Buddhist monk who disguised himself as a 'Chetty'. He hid the Relic in his garments and was traveling towards the East, to find a safe hiding place for the relic.
He spent the night at this spot and wended his way, the next morning.
When the Cholians were thrown out, King Aggabodhi the Fourth, came to know of this incident. He ordered one of his ministers to build a stone memorial at this site. A branch of the Sacred Bo Tree at Anuradhapura was planted here.
The pictures show its present status
The site is approachable from the Ambanpola road from the highway from Padeniya to Anuradhapura. A few Kms after passing Ehatuwewa, you have to turn to the left opposite large Muslim palliya. A few kilometers further a cart road on the left leads to the site.
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| The 'Bodhigara' |
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| A 'mal aasana' - Stone platform to place the offering of flowers. |
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| Rampant lions on a lotus motif |
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| Add caption |
Sunday, March 3, 2019
At an Aranya at Ehatuwewa in the Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka.
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| The young Bo Sapling |
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| The surrounding hills |
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| The residence - 'Aawasa' built for the Rev, Nawale Dhammananda |
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| Rev Nawale Dhammananda |
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| The approach road to the Kutys |
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| The approach to the 'Kuty' - cave dwellings |
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| The cave dwellings |
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| Centuries old broken pottery |
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| Brahmi cave writings |
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Journey to the Elephanta caves, Mumbai, India, January 2019
Please click on each of the web-links below, in sequence:-
1. Journey to the Elephanta caves – Mumbai – Part A
1. Journey to the Elephanta caves – Mumbai – Part A
2. Journey to the Elephanta caves – Mumbai – Part B
Monday, January 28, 2019
On board the Cruise ship Neo Cosa Riviera, January 2019.
Please click on each of the web-links below :-
On board the cruise ship Neo Cosa
Riveira - A
On board the cruise ship Neo Cosa
Riveira - B
On board the
cruise ship Neo Cosa Riveira - C
Friday, January 25, 2019
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Tale of a premonition
It was the time of intrigue in the last days of the Kandyan Kingdom.
King Sri Wickremasinghe Rajasinghe was on the throne. The British were
in control of most parts of the Island and were planning an assault on
Kandy. A childhood friend of the King was aged and was dying. He had a
premonition of things to come and sent a message to King Rajasinghe
through an intermediary. The message was very poetic in its composition
and it went as follows in a translation into English -
'Far away I see a hornets nest gather. It is a 'Yak debara' ( a vicious breed of hornets). Tell the King not to throw stones at it'.
'Far away I see a hornets nest gather. It is a 'Yak debara' ( a vicious breed of hornets). Tell the King not to throw stones at it'.
What happened subsequently is history.
History has a habit of repeating itself many times.
(Story from the book ' In the days of King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe by Dolopihillle)
History has a habit of repeating itself many times.
(Story from the book ' In the days of King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe by Dolopihillle)
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Friday, August 24, 2018
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