Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The 'Ruwanvali Saeya', Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Sri Lanka,
considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world. It was built by King Dutugemunu c. 140 B.C., who became lord of all
Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elara, was defeated. It is
also known asMahathupa, Swarnamali
Chaitya, Suvarnamali
Mahaceti (in Pali) and Rathnamali Dagaba.
This is
one of the Solosmasthana (the 16 places of veneration) and the Atamasthana (the 8 places of veneration in the
ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura). The stupa is one of the world's tallest
monuments, standing at 338 feet (103 m) and with a circumference of
950 ft (290 m). [1]
The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda in Sagaing, Myanmar is modeled after this stupa.[2]
Ruwanwelisaya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
The construction of Ruwanwelisaya Stupa (or Stūpa Ruvanveli)
was prophesied by missionery Arahat Mahinda Thera, who brought Buddhism to Sri
Lanka from India in III century BC. Having heard about the prophesy that a
century later a Great King will build a Grand Stupa, King Dewanampia Tissa
buried a pillar in the destined place with engraved prophesy. A century later
King Dutthagamani found the hidden pillar and took up the construction.
According to the legend during the construction of the stupa, different materials were used, such as gold, silver, pearls, corals, steel, clay bricks and precious stones. The construction of stupa was launched on full moon of Vesak month. All the important events in Sri Lanka took place on this very night: Buddha’s birth and death, his arrival to Sri Lanka etc. In the center of the stupa King put 8 big pots of gold and 8 pots of silver. He also put 108 vases around them. In the each of 8 corners of the stupa he put a gold bar, surrounded by 108 silver bars. However he wasn't able to see his creation fully completed: king Dutthagamani died when the roof was being finished. His brother had to continue the construction.
According to the legend during the construction of the stupa, different materials were used, such as gold, silver, pearls, corals, steel, clay bricks and precious stones. The construction of stupa was launched on full moon of Vesak month. All the important events in Sri Lanka took place on this very night: Buddha’s birth and death, his arrival to Sri Lanka etc. In the center of the stupa King put 8 big pots of gold and 8 pots of silver. He also put 108 vases around them. In the each of 8 corners of the stupa he put a gold bar, surrounded by 108 silver bars. However he wasn't able to see his creation fully completed: king Dutthagamani died when the roof was being finished. His brother had to continue the construction.
Ruwanwelisaya is one of the world's tallest historical monuments, standing at 91 m and with a diameter 90m. It used to be the center of first Buddhist monastery in Sri Lanka, and about 10 000 monks lived here. According to the legend Buddha's relics are kept here. It's supposed that the architect got the inspiration of the stupa shape when watching an air balloon fly on the water. Despite its height and hundred thousand tons of bricks used for the construction, the initial "balloon" idea isn't corrupted: when looking at this huge building painted in white one can't get rid of the feeling of lightness and calm. The precious stone on the tip of the building is a gift from Myanmar (Burma).
Monday, December 2, 2013
Sunday, December 1, 2013
The 'Alms Hall' of the Mahavihara sect, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Guard-stone at the entrance to the 'Alms Hall'. |
A stone 'rice bowl' which was filled with boiled rice and was used to feed around 3000 Buddhist monks in the 2nd Century BC. |
'Over much of the early history of
Buddhism in Sri Lanka, three subdivisions of Theravāda existed in Sri Lanka,
consisting of the monks of the Mahāvihāra, Abhayagiri Vihāra, and the Jetavana Vihāra.[2]Mahāvihāra
is the first tradition to be established, while Abhayagiri Vihāra and Jetavana
Vihāra is established by monks who separated from Mahāvihāra tradition.[2] According to A.K. Warder, the Indian Mahīśāsaka sect also established itself in Sri
Lanka alongside the Theravāda, into which they were later absorbed.[2] Northern regions of Sri Lanka also
seem to have been ceded to sects from India at certain times.[2]
According
to the Mahavamsa, the Mahavihara
was destroyed during sectarian conflicts with the Theravada monks of the Abhayagiri
Vihara during the 4th
century.[3] These Mahayana monks incited King Mahasena to destruct the Mahavihara. As a
result of this, a later king expelled the Mahayana monks from Sri Lanka[citation
needed].
The
traditional Theravadin account provided by the Mahavamsa stands in contrast to
the writings of the Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian (Ch. 法顯), who
journeyed to India and Sri Lanka in the early 5th century
(between 399 and 414 CE). He first entered Sri Lanka around 406 CE and began
writing about his experiences in detail. He recorded that the Mahavihara was
not only intact, but housed 3000 monks. He also provides an account of a
cremation at Mahavihara that he personally attended, of a highly respected śramaṇa who attained the arhatship.[4] Faxian also recorded the concurrent
existence of the Abhayagiri Vihara, and that this monastery housed 5000 monks.[5] In the 7th century CE, Xuanzang also describes the concurrent
existence of both monasteries in Sri Lanka. Xuanzang wrote of two major
divisions of Theravāda in Sri Lanka, referring to the Abhayagiri tradition as
the "Mahāyāna Sthaviras," and the Mahāvihāra tradition as the "Hīnayāna Sthaviras."[6] Xuanzang further writes:[7]
The Mahāvihāravāsins reject the
Mahāyāna and practice the Hīnayāna, while the Abhayagirivihāravāsins study both
Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna teachings and propagate the Tripiṭaka.'
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
'Sri Maha Bodhi', Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
The 'Makara' emblem used to line a stairway of an old building at the site. |
'The makara has the trunk of an elephant, the feet of a lion, the ears of a pig, the body of a fish living in water, the teeth turned outwards, eyes like Hanuman's, and a splendid tail'. -'Mediaeval Sinhalese art' by Ananda K Coomaraswamy (1908)
Water lily flowers awaiting sale to the devotees. |
Buds of water lilies. |
Flowers on a tree in the premises. |
Thursday, November 28, 2013
'Sri Maha Bodhi', Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
The entrance to the site. |
An ancient 'Guard-stone' chiselled out of granite.. |
Devotees offering fresh flowers. |
The sacred 'Bo tree' with a fence of gold railings. |
After bringing Buddhism to Sri Lanka by
Mahinda Thero in 250 BC Emperor Asoka in India sent his daughter Theri
Sanghamitta to the island with a branch of the Sacred Bodhi obtained from the
main stem of the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya under which Buddha attained
enlightenment. The king Tissa received the sapling and planted it at the
present site in 249 BC. Taking this information to account today (in 2013) the Sri Maha Bodhitree
is exactly 2263 years old. Thus this tree is the oldest tree in world in the
recorded history. Even after the Anuradhapura was deserted as the capital of the country and
encroached by the jungle, pious people nevertheless tendered to the tree
effortlessly. The villagers lit bonfires to frighten off wild elephants. As the
time went on the villagers made it a habit to collect firewood for the whole
year on one single day. This possession was called “Daramiti Perahara”
(Firewood Possession) which continues up to this day.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Mirisawetiya Dagoba, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
The Mirisaveti Stupa is
situated in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.[1] King Dutugamunu built
the Mirisaveti Stupa after defeating King Elara. After placing the Buddha relics in the sceptre, he
had gone to Tisawewa for a bath leaving the sceptre. After the bath he returned
to the place where the sceptre was placed, and it is said that it could not be
moved. The stupa was built in the place where the sceptre stood. It is also
said that he remembered that he partook a chilly curry without
offering it to the sangha. In
order to punish himself he built the Mirisavetiya Dagaba. The extent of this
land is about 50 acres (20 ha). Although the king Kasyapa
I and Kasyapa
V renovated
this, from time to time it was dilapidated. What stands today is the renovation
done by the cultural Triangle Fund.
Web-link:-
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Saturday, November 23, 2013
'Sivura paevareema', Sri Jayabodhi Viharaya, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.
The procession conducting the monks to the site of the ceremony. |
The 'confession'. |
Getting onto the 'Seemaa maluwa' float. |
The donation of the robe. |
"Gaathaas' being recited. |
Click on the web-link below to view some videos I took and posted on my site, on Youtube.:-
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