Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Dambulla cave temple-දඹුලු ලෙන් විහාරය

Dambulla cave temple-දඹුලු ලෙන් විහාරය

Dating back to the 1st century BC, this is the most impressive cave temple in Asia. It has five caves under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. In 1938 the architecture was embellished with arched colonnades and gabled entrances. Inside the caves, the ceilings are painted with intricate patterns of religious images following the contours of the rock. There are images of the Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses.

The Dambulla cave monastery is still functional and remains the best-preserved ancient edifice in Sri Lanka. This complex dates from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, when it was already established as one of the largest and most important monasteries. King Valagambahu is traditionally thought to have converted the caves into a temple in the 1st century BC. Exiled from Anuradhapura, he sought refuge here from South Indian usurpers for 15 years. After reclaiming his capital, the King built a temple in thankful worship. Many other kings added to it later and by the 11th century, the caves had become a major religious centre and still are. King Nissanka Malla gilded the caves and added about 70 Buddha statues in 1190. During the 18th century, the caves were restored and painted by the Kandyan Kings.

Cave of the Divine King

The first cave is called Devaraja lena (lena in sinhalese meaning cave), or "Cave of the Divine King." An account of the founding of the monastery is recorded in a 1st-century Brahmi inscription over the entrance to the first cave. This cave is dominated by the 14-meter statue of the Buddha, hewn out of the rock. It has been repainted countless times in the course of its history, and probably received its last coat of paint in the 20th century. At his feet is Buddha's favorite pupil, Ananda; at his head, Vishnu, said to have used his divine powers to create the caves.


Cave of the Great Kings

In the second and largest cave, in addition to 16 standing and 40 seated statues of Buddha, are the gods Saman and Vishnu, which pilgrims often decorate with garlands, and finally statues of King Vattagamani Abhaya, who honored the monastery in the 1st century BC., and King Nissanka Malla, responsible in the 12th century for the gilding of 50 statues, as indicated by a stone inscription near the monastery entrance. This cave is accordingly called Maharaja lena, "Cave of the Great Kings." The Buddha statue hewn out of the rock on the left side of the room is escorted by wooden figures of the Bodhisattvas Maitreya and Avalokiteshvara or Natha. There is also a dagoba and a spring which drips its water, said to have healing powers, out of a crack in the ceiling. Valuable tempera paintings on the cave ceiling dating from the 18th century depict scenes from Buddha's life, from the dream of Mahamaya to temptation by the demon Mara. Further pictures relate important events from the country's history.

Maligawila-මාලිගාවිල

Maligawila-මාලිගාවිල

Maligavila Buddha Statue,Maligawila Buddha Statue
Restored Buddha Statue of Maligawila





Maligavila Buddha Statue,Maligawila Buddha Statue
Restored Buddha Statue of Maligawila
Maligavila Buddha Statue,Maligawila Buddha Statue
Restored Buddha Statue of Maligawila
Maligavila Buddha Statue,Maligawila Buddha Statue
Restored Buddha Statue of Maligawila




Maligawila Bodhisattva staue, Maligavila Bodhisattva statue

Maligawila Inscription
Pillar Inscription in Dambegoda

Maligawila lies about 15 kilometres off the Buttala town towards Okkampitiya. Famous for its giant free standing buddha statue of the 7th century, this monument was found fallen and broken in to pieces in 1951. An attempt was made in 1974 to raise this statue and failed. But in 1980 a local engineering team was able to raise this statue and restore it back to the ancient glory. This statue is carved out of a single limestone rock and stands about 14.5 metres high. This is the tallest free standing buddha image in the country. This statue is thought to be done by a prince called Aggabodhi who ruled the "Rohana" region of Sri Lanka in the 7th century. There has been a image house surrounding this gigantic statue. The remains of this image house can still be seen.

About 500 metres away from this is another image carved from rock. This is thought to be the image of the Maithree Natha Bodhisattva also some times identified as Avalokithswara Bodhisattva. This image also called Dambegoda Bodhisattva statue.

Just left to the stair way to the Bodhisattva statue you will find a pillar inscription protected by a newly built structure. This stone pillar has been placed by the king Mahinda IV (956-972 AD) on his 10th year of reign. This inscription records the work done by the king for the upliftment of the Buddhism and has some rules laid down by him in Administration of Buddhist sites.

Other historical sites in this area are Buduruwagala, Yudaganawa and Dematamal Viharaya

How to reach

You can reach the site from either Wellawaya or from Kataragama depending on which route you take.

You can reach Wellawaya in through many roads. If you are coming from Badulla or Bandarawela you must tale the Ella Road which lies between Badulla-Bandarawela Road. On the way you will also pass the beautiful Ravana Ella too on the way. There is a another road from Koslanda. Taking this road will take you through the 220 metre high waterfall Diyaluma. Koslanda lies between the Balangoda – Haputhale Road.

If you are coming from Kataragama, use the Buttala Road and the turn off is just before the Butala main junction. The temple is about 20 kms form the turn off from Buttala. From Buttala any person can direct you to the temple.

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Getabaruwa ගැටබරුව


Getabaruwa ගැටබරුව




Raja Maha Vihara temple at Getaboruwa which is well known throughout the Sir Lankan territory is a significant sacred premises associated with not only the people of Ruhuna but also with the masses of this whole country.


Numerous are the Buddhist temples situated in various locations of the Country. It has been a common practice to call even recently built Viharas as Raja Maha Viharas. Even such temples follow the traditional practice of conducting Perahera festivals (processions). That is a notable aspect.


Although there are numerous temples and continuous preaching’s of the Dhamma, the society has resorted to a vain and meaningless way of life forgetting in turn our religion, dhamma and morality. Even the Triple Gem has been forgotten. They do not believe in gods or the Self Awakened One. It is during such an era that the Raja Maha Vihara at Getabaru holds its Esala festival drawing attention of the people to our traditional Values.


Raja Maha Vihara at Getabaruwa is a Raja Maha Vihara in the real sense. There is evidence to the effect that the Raja Maha Vihara at Getabaruwa was built by king Valagamba during the time of his hiding in the Ruhuna Jungles and organizing his armies. He existing sleeping Buddha statue of 18 riyanas in length at the Vihara is a living testimony in this connection.


In the past people from distant places came on pilgrimage to Getabaruwa on foot and climbed the hillock to pay theirs vows to the god carrying with them the “panduru mitiya” and arecanut flower with much devotion to the Getabaru deviyo during the perahera season in July, the month of the god. Even today people from villages have their faith the God in tact. Esala Perahera at Getabaruwa commences on the day the devotees of Ruhuna reach the summit of the “Getabaru Kanda” From the days of yore this festival has been a complexed process of responsibilities and not merely a procession. Customs and religions observances play a vital part in this Perahera festival held annually is the major component. This is more complexed than what you see in the Perahara. A chain of responsibilities fulfilled throughout the year is associated with the Perahera.


History of the Raja Maha Vihara, Getabaruwa


Raja Maha Vihara of Getabaruwa is located on the summit of famous Getabaru Kanda at an elevation of 1500 feet above the mean sea level in the village of Katapola between 45-47 mile posts on Gall Deniyaya main road, and within the area of authority of Divisional Secretary’s division of Kotapola in historic Matota, the birth place of many learned and wise sons and daughters of Mother Lanka. The mountain which gives a charming splendid scenic beauty even at a distance is surrounded by many guardian attendant mountains. On one side it is connected to Rakwana hills and the virgin Sinharaja forest and on the other side to Morawak Kanda mountain and is extended to the thick forest.

Natures splendid Inheritance


Natural beauty around the temple is charmingly attractive to the eye. It is rich with rare medicinal plants and local animal species. The peak is a unique creation of Mother Nature. The Raja Maha Vihara of Getabaruwa located on the peak is 1 ¼ miles from Kotapola Bazaar.
This age old rock temple is located in a cave of 30 feet which is a majestic creation of the Nature. Inside the care,there is a sleeping Buddha statue of 18 “riyanas” in length. On the side of the Vihara there

is the devale of god Ragguru Bandara and on the other side are the devalas of gods Vishnu and Kataragama.


Sri Dalada Maligawa ශ්‍රි දළදා මාලිගාව


Sri Dalada Maligawa ශ්‍රි දළදා මාලිගාව



Main article: Temple of the Tooth The Sri Dalada Maligawa or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the only surviving relic of Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists. The relic has played an important role in the local politics since ancient times, it's believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great effort. Kandy was the capital of the Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815, fortified by the terrain of the mountains and the difficult approach. The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO, in part due to the temple. Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily ritual worship in the inner chamber of the temple, in annual rotation. They conduct these services three times a day: at dawn, at noon and in the evening. On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and flagrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present. The Temple has sustained damage from multiple bombings by terrorists in the past, but has been fully restored each time.

Sigiriya සීගිරිය


Sigiriya සීගිරිය




Sigiriya, considered by some as the eighth wonder of the world, consists of an ancient castle used by King Kasyapa of the 4th century AD. The Sigiriya site has the remains of an upper palace sited on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes, the lower palace that clings to the slopes below the rock, and the moats, walls and gardens that extend for some hundreds of metres out from the base of the rock.


The site is both a palace and fortress. Sufficient remains to provide the visitor with a stunning insight into the ingenuity and creativity of its builders.


The upper palace on the top of the rock includes cisterns cut into the rock that still retain water. The moats and walls that surround the lower palace are still exquisitely beautiful.

Anuradhapura අනුරාධපුර

Anuradhapura අනුරාධපුර


Anuradhapura, (අනුරාධපුර in Sinhala), is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, world famous for its well preserved ruins of the Great Sri Lankan Civilization. The Civilization which was built upon this city was one of the greatest civilizations of Asia and in the world. The city now a UNESCO heritage site, lies 205 km (127 mi) north of the current capital Colombo in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. Founded in the 4th century BC it was the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom till the beginning of the 11th century AC. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. It was also a wealthy city which created a unique culture and a great civilization. Today this ancient city of Sri Lanka, which is sacred to the Buddhist world, which its surrounding monasteries covers an area of over sixteen square miles ( 40 km²) and is one of the world's major archaeological sites.

Galle ගාල්ල

Galle ගාල්ල



Galle town situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km (74 mi) from Colombo. Galle was known as Gimhathiththa (although Ibn Batuta in the 14th century refers to it as Qali) before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, when it was the main port on the island. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British, who developed the harbor at Colombo.

On 26 December 2004 the city was devastated by the massive Boxing Day Tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake that occurred a thousand miles away, off the coast of Indonesia. Thousands were killed in the city alone.