Sunday, December 12, 2010
, Posted by lanka matha at 12:35 PM
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Abhayagiri Monastery spreading an area of 200 hectares, was founded by King Valagamba also known by Vattagamini Abhaya (109 BC-89-77 BC) following his accent to throne for the second time, having the Dravidian invaders put to sword and fire. The monastery was built following the destruction of the Jain hermitage, whose ascetic Giri had taunted King Valagamaba while he was fleeing from invaders from Southern India 14 years back. The monastery was donated to Buddhist monk Thera Mahatissa as a token of gratitude for the moral and material support extended to the king, at a time of adversity, in exile building an army to regain his kingdom.
The main stupa at Abhayagiri Monastery , Abhayagiri Stupa was built over a footprint of Buddha. The Bo tree at the monastery is an off-shoot of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree also at Anuradhapura. At 370 ft in height, when it was first built, Abhayagiri Dagoba was the second tallest dagoba in Sri Lanka. During its glorious days, Abhayagiri Monastery was home to one of the finest libraries in the world. In memory of the Chinese Buddhist monk Fa-Hsien who studied the Buddhist manuscripts therein in the 5th Century CE, a new museum was established by the Chinese government so that the archeological treasures discovered in the recent excavations could be deposited and displayed. |
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The 2m tall Buddha statue, popularly known as the Samadhi statue is a masterpiece of Sinhalese sculpture of Buddha in meditative posture carved in stone in the 4th century. It was one of the four Buddha statues placed around a Bodhi tree facing cardinal directions. Belonging to Abhayagiri monastic complex, the statue is sculptured out of dolomite marble seated in virasana and displaying the pose known as dhyana mudra. The hollow carved eyes were formally inset with crystal or precious stones.
Excavations conducted at the site revealed that the statue belongs to the fourth century, was one of the four statues originally placed around a Bodhi tree growing there.
Late Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who had visited the site was so taken up with the serenity of the statue, it was to make a lasting impression on him for the rest of his life. It is said during the period of his imprisonment by the British colonialists, Nehru found solace in meditating upon an impression ofSamadhi statue. |
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KUTTAM POKUNA (TWIN PONDS) |
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Kuttam Pokuna or twin ponds, a monument of great beauty and a superior engineering, were built for Buddhist monks at Abhayagiri Vihara for their daily baths. On architectural grounds, the ponds are assigned to the period between 8th and 10th century. The larger pond is 132 ft in length and 51 ft in breadth while the smaller pond is 92 feet in length and 51ft in breadth. The depth of the larger pond is 18 feet and 14 feet.
The supply of water to Kuttam Pokuna first flows into an enclosure built above the level of the ponds. The enclosure channel the water into the smaller pond through a stone carved Makara (Sinhala: dragon). The smaller pond, in return feed the larger pond of Kuttam Pokuna by means of a duct below the ground level. At the northern end of the smaller pond is a fine sculpture of a five hood cobra carved in the stone. The cobra or Naga is symbol of the guardian of water. |
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