About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a
country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as
Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island Surrounded by the Indian Ocean . It is a part
of South asia.It is located in th parth of major sea routes and in ancient time
too. It was an important stop on the ' Silk Route.
Sri Lanka has been the center of Buddhist religion and Culture from ancient
times. The sinhalese community forms the majority f the population and Tamils
the largest ethnic minority. Other community include Muslims, Burghers, Malays
and theaboririginal Adi vasi (Veddah) people. Sri lanka is a republic and a
unitary state governed by a Presidential system.
The country is famous for Tea, Rubber and coconut. Sri Lanka tea is
acclaimed the world's best. Coffee, Cinnamon, Cardamoms and Cloves also are
produced as export crops. Rich in mineral resources, Sri Lanka is a major
exporter of precious and semi-precious stones.
The country has one of the longest and colorful histories of over 3000
thousand years, in the world. The rich culture can be attributed to it is
ethnic diversity.
Within the boundaries of this one small island you find more than 1000 miles
of sunny, palm fringed beaches, breathtaking scenery up in the hills covered
with lush tea plantation, cascading water falls, wonderful architecture of the
ancient past, brooding jungles and wild life and the fascinating art and
culture.
Sri Lanka is a founding member of SAARC and a member of the United Nation,
Commonwealth of Nations, G77 and Non Alignment Movement.
Introduction of Buddhism
According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles (such as the Dipavamsa), Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE by Venerable Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiya Tissa. During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree
was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries and Buddhist
monuments were established. Among these, the Isurumuni-vihaara and the
Vessagiri-vihaara remain important centers of worship. He is also
credited with the construction of the Pathamaka-cetiya, the
Jambukola-vihaara and the Hatthaalhaka-vihaara, and the refectory. The Pali Canon, having previously been preserved as an oral tradition, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BCE.
The Stuga
According to
the Sri Lankan chronicles, the Mahavamsa, one of Ashoka's sons, the monk
Mahinda, supervised construction of monastic buildings nearAnuradhapura.
Simultaneously, he sent to India for relics. These, say the histories, included
the Buddha's alms bowl andhis right collarbone. Later a hair relic, and in the
4th century AD, the Buddha's tooth would be taken to Sri Lanka. The tooth is
still preserved in Kandy where daily rituals venerate the Buddha's tooth relic
in Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy 16th Century.
To house the
relics, stupas were built. Standing at 300 feet, Ruwanweliseya, or the
"Great Stupa" is regarded as one of the most important stupas at
Anuradhapura in north-central Sri Lanka: Much restored, the great dome, circled
with old columns, is still to be seen in Anuradhapura, now a great park. During
major festivals it is crowded with hundreds of thousands of devotees in family
groups, who picnic happily among the ruins and offer puja at the Bodhi tree.
There are other important monuments nearby at Mihintale, the site of Mahinda's
first sermon to King Devanampiya-Tissa. The ruins of the later capital at
Polonnaruwa (9th century AD onwards), showing Hindu and Mahayana cultic
influence, are yet more elaborate. The stupa in Sri Lanka is a circular drum on a square base with a long succession of compressed umbrellas forming a conical top over a box-shaped harmika, of which the Ruwanweliseya stupa, (above right) at Anuradhapura (3rd century BC) is a fine example.
The Dambulla cave Temple
This temple complex dates back to the 1st century BC. 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.
This temple complex dates back to the 1st century BC. 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.
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