Ruwanweli seya

Ruwanweli seya


From Rainwater reservoir to temple & then to dagoba.
While Sri Lanka's irrigation network formed the basis for a thriving economy with a large agricultural surplus that sustained a vibrant Aryan Sinhalese civilization, Buddhism gave that civilization dignity and elegance. It inspired the architectural and sculptural splendours of ancient Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa were transformed into bejeweled testaments to the wealth and refinement of Sri Lanka's ancient Aryan Sinhalese Buddhist civilization.

Anuradhapura awed visitors with its magnificent stupas. The stupa or dagaba, an architectural innovation imported from northern India usually enshrined sacred relics of Buddha and other celebrated illuminati of early Buddhism. That makes them objects of veneration even today. These solid hemispherical domes provided a subdued but effective expression of the quintessence of Buddhism. In spite of the imposing size of the stupas, they blend simplicity with serenity.

To house the relics of the Buddha & the Arahat disciples, stupas were built. And why shouldn't we commence with the crowning achievement of the most illustrious kings of Lanka, the great benefactors of Lanka, the hero of the nation, King Dutugamunu of Ruhuna (161-137 BC). Standing at 300 feet, the wondrous Stupa, Ruwan weli seya (meaning Golden Sand Stupa in Sinhalese) at Anuradhapura of north-central Sri Lanka is one of the world's major archaeological sites.

Stone tablet laid courtyard.
Through one of the frontpieces (Vahalkadas), we enter into the stone tablet laid courtyard (Salapatala). We take few steps down to arrive at the compound made of Sand (Valimaluwa). On the four sides of the compound are whitewashed perimeter parapet walls with an army of 1900 life size sculpted elephants in low relief, now renovated, standing ear to ear are 475 elephants on each side. Elephant, recorded association with which dates back to 1st century BC on an inscription at Navalarkulama in Panampattu in the East of Lanka, was afforded the highest honour & complete protection by the ancient royal decree of the Sinhalese. It had been the bulldozer & bulldog of ancient Lanka.

Models
In the temple courtyard are the old models of Ruwan Weli Seya made of stone, a statue of King Dutugemunu worshipping the dagoba. In the image house are 4 statues of the Buddhas who have attained Buddhahood in this aeon (kalpa) & future Buddha Maitri. All these creations are very old.

Inspiration from a bubble of air floating on water
Much restored, the great dome, painted a gleaming white is busy with pilgrims throughout the day on any day of the year. It is believed the hero of the nation, King Dutugamunu was inspired by seeing a bubble of air floating on water. In spite of the height of 100 meters & thousands of tons of bricks, the attempt has been a success: all you see is the skin of white paint that seems to envelope a pocket of air. The pinnacle of Golden Sand Stupa is 24 ft, in height. The crest gem on the pinnacle is a gift from Burma. Within the dome in a closed chamber are enshrined sacred relics of Buddha, valuable gems, statues made of gold & various valuable objects.

Aukana

Aukana



Some 30km northwest of Golden Dambulla Rock Temple, the village of Aukana located close to the large ancient Kala Wewa rainwater reservoir, is home to the most perfectly preserved ancient statue in Sri Lanka. The perfect & elegant 12m-high standing Buddha is adored all over the island to such an extent, that several full scale copies have been erected in the island: Colombo, Dondra, Ratnapura, and Trincomalee. The statue was erected in the same period as those at Polonnaruwa's Gal Vihara & Lankatilaka Vihara as well as Buduruwagala & Maligawila all of which emphasis on Buddha's superhuman, transcendal powers.

Bless you
Unlike other great statues in the island which are carved in "Abhaya Mudra" (Have no fear), the Aukana statue is in the "Asisa Mudra", the blessing position, with the right hand turned sideways to the viewer. The figure is carved in the round, narrowly connected at the rear to the rock.

The perfect Buddha statue
Carved out of the living rock with supreme assurance, Aukana Buddha is a magnificent image. His expression is serene & from his curled hair there sprouts the flame called siraspata signifying the power of supreme enlightenment. Although the statue is large & stands straight up with feet firmly planted on the lotus stone pedestal, the body retains a graceful quality enhanced by beautifully flowing drapery clinging to the body.

The tallest Buddha statue in the world
The magnificent free-standing statue carved out of a single rock is the tallest Buddha statue in existence today. Following the destruction of similar but much larger statues at Bamiyan in Afghanistan, the Aukana Buddha has gained even greater significance in the Buddhist World.

The whole of cultured world was horrified at the savagery & barbarity inflicted upon the colossal Bamian Buddha statues carved from the cliffs that dominate the dusty plains in the heart of Hindu Kush which have watched serenely for 15 centuries as the fortunes of the city beneath them waned from Silk Road metropolis to remote Afghan backwater.

In honour of the destroyed & in defiance of intolerant, China quietly goes with its own form of defiance: in their territory, carving, sculpting, erecting two statues similar in every conceivable way, to the two Buddha Statues destroyed by Taliban. In the ancient times Bamiyan, the region where Mahayana Buddhism originated, was known as Vokkana or Avakana. Do we have a clue to the name Aukana? In Sinhalese there is no such word as Aukana meaning sun eating as erroneously proclaimed.

Best time to see
The best time to see the magnificent statue is at the crack of dawn when the first rays of sun light up the east-facing statue's finely carved features.

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