Saturday, July 12, 2014

Thantrimale, Sri Lanka.

A water reservoir.
A sapling from the Sacred Bo Tree at Anuradhapura.
Stairways cut in granite.

A view of the statue of Lord Buddha.
'Thantrimale' has a recorded history of more than two thousand years. This word can be broken into two separate words - 'Thanthri ' meaning a war Lord ( compare 'Manthri meaning a civilian administrator) and 'Malai' meaning a mountain.

1. It was the place where the procession carrying the branch of the Sacred Bo Tree from Gaya, India, brought by the Ven.Theri Sangamitta, in the Second Century BC, had a nights rest, before proceeding to Anuradhapura to its present site.

2. It was the place where Prince Saliya, the son of King Dutugemunu, found refuge after he married Asoka Mala, the beauty from a lower caste, against the wishes of his father. The Monk here is said to have acted as a peace maker between Prince Saliya and his angry father the King.

3. The artisans, who worked the statues in stone found here of Lord Buddha, fled during foreign invasions. They settled down in various parts of the Island like Polonnoruwa, Aukana, and Maligawila. Their descendants inherited their craftsmanship in stone and subsequently created the masterpieces that we see and admire today.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Pesalai to Thantrimale by road, Sri Lanka.

A house near Pesalai.

Water in the 'Giants Tank', Murungan.

A railway bridge near Cheddikulam.

Railway line from Madhawachchy to Mannar.

Flower sellers at the entrance to the Thantrrimale complex.

Please click on web-link below:-

http://youtu.be/8DNWfqU39es

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Thirukketheeswaram to Pesalai, a road journey, June 2014.

Entrance to the Thirukketheeswaram temple. 
The Dutch Fort, Mannar.
Old wood-burning light house, Pesalai.

Please click on the web-link below:-

http://youtu.be/XL1njx133Uw

Monday, July 7, 2014

Vallipura Aalvaar temple, Point- Pedro, Sri Lanka.

Road from Nagar Kovil to Vallipuram temple.
The 'Gopuram' of the Vallipuram AalvaarTemple.
Mechanised drum and bells of the temple.
Steps leading to the 'Ther' - chariot of the temple.
One of the few temples of Lord Vishnu in the Jaffna peninsula, this temple has a history of more than 2000 years when a legendary city and sea-port was situated here. The famous 'Vallipuram gold plate' - a gold plate containing sanskrit mahayana Buddhist inscriptions was found here. It is a very active center of worship drawing thousands of devotees during its festive season.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

The new building replacing the old market.

Road of the round-about surrounding the market.

Another side of the market. looking from the 'Odaikkarai' side.

The old Light-house at Munaiady.