Polonnaruwa Kingdom - Sri Lanka

Krish's Photography & Information

Location :- Kandy
Camera  :- Canon 6D
Date       :- 6th September 2018

 

Polonnaruwa the second kingdom of Sri Lanka. Located 7 miles to the north east from where Mahaveli river and Aban river connected together. Polonnaruwa was chosen as the capital for the first time by Indian invaders name Soli about 985 AD. But this has been use as a sub capital by the kings in Anuradhapura. The main reason for that is polonnaruwa has proper areas for farming and it’s very rich with natural water resources. In this reason polonnaruwa have many lakes made by several kings name Mahasen, Vasaba, Uptissa, Agbo ii. 

Around in 10^th century kings in Anuradhapura have paid their more attention about Polonnaruwa as a well safe place. In 11^th century king Vijayabahu rescue polonnaruwa from Indian invaders and he also chooses this city as the kingdom due to the economic and political reasons. Then he renovated most of destroyed temples and monasteries by the Indian invaders. 

Polonnaruwa has completely developed and make as a kingdom full of everything by the king Parakkramabahu. Also he didn’t forget to develop and rebuild the temples and monasteries same as king Nissanka Malla also did his best to protect the country and religion. But after him, the other kings wasn’t power enough to protect the country and continue the economic and political situation in safe. Everything collapsed. 

Indian invaders invade the country again and destroyed the whole city and the kingdom. After the kingdom changed to the north east of the country. After that this city was gone wild. Nobody was in there until the British colonial period. They have started conservation projects to protect and conserve those historical sites. 

Places can visit in Polonnaruwa

Museum of Polonnaruwa

Many antiques and ruins found during the excavations done in Polonnaruwa kingdom are in here. Most of these antiques belongs to 12^th century A.D. and all others are 9^th, 10^th and 11^th centuries. 

Dvipa uyana

This park was built by greater king Parakramabahu during his kingdom period. It faced out as an island attached to the Parakrama Samudra reservoir. Later in king nissankamalla’s period he used this as his palace. 

Council chamber of king Nissankamalla

This is the most attractive erection in the island garden built by king nissankamalla. One of most beautiful building must see in there which has so may beautiful carvings on wooden beams in the past which supported the roof.

Pothgul Viharaya

At the first time anybody see this statue can realize it is a replica of a greater person. It’s bearing signs of intelligence, activeness and good organizing power. But the statue no ornaments to be seen traditionally worn by the kings. With the dresses and style of the statue can realize this can be a sage. Hence there are few things can compare to prove this is not a statue of a king

Palace of King Parakramabahu

King parakrama bahu build this palace complex accompanying fully equipped 1000 buildings and the chief palace consisting seven storeys. According to the history the palace of King Vjayabahu was burnt in a revolt by his hired foreign army. According to the information’s in the past this palace should have been within this area. But cannot find yet. Maybe king parakramabahu build his palace in the same place by removing previous one. The ground floor and second floor was built by burned bricks and rest 5 floors built by timber. during Indian invaders invasion this palace were burned by them easily in the reason of making it by timber. 

Vatadage

Royal tooth relic palace built by king parakramabahu. A stupa in the middle and four Buddha statues around it. A wonderful palace covered by a roof hold on granite pillars. Guard stone and the moonstone in front of this are also a wonderful carvings which brings a good meaning to a person who entering to this premises. 

Galvihara

One of a beautiful Buddha statues carved on a one giant granite rock. Built during king parakramabahu period. First meditation statue which is called Samadhi, then vidyadhara cave statue and Parinirwana statue symbolize Buddha’s passing away. Since king nissankamalla needs to do something for this creation, he has built the standing Buddha statue in between cave and end recumbent statue. 

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Tooth Relic Temple - Kandy

Krish's Photography

Location :- Kandy
Camera  :- Canon 6D
Date       :- 7th July 2018

 

At first this temple of tooth relic was built by king Wimala Dharma Suriya in 1592-1604 A.D. later it had changes by various kings in Sri Lanka. The present palace were done by king Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe in 1747-1781. 

When Buddha was passed away, after the cremation priests and kings of different countries and people gathered there and obtained relics for worship. The tooth of the upper jaw of left side was taken to Kalingu rata. Many kings kept this tooth relic with respectfully. after few centuries a nephew of a king name Ksheera Dhara came for war claiming the tooth relic. By that time king of Kalngu was Guha-Siva. He told to his daughter Hema Mala and son in law Dhantha, will not give the Tooth relic until his death, anyhow if he loses the war, advised them to flee to Sri Lanka with the tooth relic. This was the time Tooth relic arrives here. With guidance of Princess Hema Mala and Prince Dhantha, Sri Lankan king Keerthi Sri Megha Warna started do offerings and paying respect to the tooth relic. Also held annual ceremony in tooth relic temple. Its name Asala Perahera (Esala Profession). 

At the moment there’s a big procession joining with four processions starting from four Devalas Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and paththini. The credit goes to king Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe for organizing a procession by joining the tooth relic temple and four devalas. 

Places can visit in Kandy

Royal Council Hall

National Museum

Palace complex of Senkadagala Kingdom

Vishnu Devala

Natha Devala

Paththini Devala

St. Paul’s Church

Kataragama Devala

Royal Botanical Garden

Gadaladeniya temple

Ambakke Devala

Lankathilaka Temple

 

After the cremation of Buddha’s body, in the remaining relics of Buddha, there were four tooth relics. According to chronicles, from that four, three of those tooth relics are in Sri Lanka. From those, the right side tooth relic is in Somawathie Stupa in polonnaruwa which was built by king Giri Abha. Another tooth relic is in Tissamaharama Stupa built by king Kavanthissa. The tooth relic in Kandy temple is the left side tooth of Buddha. This left tooth relic bring to Sri Lanka from Kalinga district in India. 

After the cremation of Buddha’s body, monk Kemah took left tooth of Buddha and given it to the king of Kalinga name Brahma Daththa. His families were taking care and paying their respect to the tooth relic and other Hindu kinds wasn’t happy about this. Then a king name Pandya wanted to destroy the tooth relic, due to this reason king Guha Seeha decided to send the tooth relic to Sri Lanka with his daughter Hema Mala and his son in law Dhantha. The tooth relic were welcomed by king Keerthi Sri Megha Warna. Tooth relic were kept in a palace name Dhammachakkageha built by king Devanampiya Tissa. Then the tooth relic moved to Megagiri Temple and every once per year, it brings to Abhayagiri temple and kept it there for 90 days. This is for special annual worshipping ceremony. This convention kept continue till 10^th Century A.D.

Several types of offerings and worshipping were held by people and the king. This was an order from the king. Also held an annual ceremony in Abhayagiri temple for tooth relic. For several years this ceremony were held. But from mid of Anuradhapura kingdom information about the tooth relic in written history wasn’t found. Maybe it’s because of many important places like, Sacred Bo Tree, Ruwanvelisaya stupa and the biggest stupa also in Anuradhapura. 

History about Tooth Relic starting again in Polonnaruwa kingdom. Then Tooth Relic became very important for everyone. Because all other things in Anuradhapura cannot bring wherever people or king wants. Tooth relic was in a golden cascade and it’s easy to bring it when the kingdoms change and when each kings built a palace for it. This became as the most Honorable symbol of the government state. Whoever became as the king in Sri Lanka, if he became as the caretaker, people will not get him as the real inheritor of the government state. So, all the kings has done lots of duties to the Tooth Relic and introduced many of offerings and worshipping systems. King Parakramabahu IV has made a constitution to worship the Tooth Relic. Due to these reasons every kings has built a palace for the tooth relic next to the royal palace. Present palace in kandy also built next to the King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s palace. 

North of Sri Lanka were invade by Indian Soli. Then the monks in Abhaya giri denomination were kept and protect the tooth relic. Then King Vijaya Bahu fight against invaders and got the control of North again. After that he bring the relic to his kingdom polonnaruwa and kept it in a special palace name Atada Geya. The responsibility of it given to Velakkara army. After King Vijaya Bahu, King Parakrama Bahu and Nissanka Malla were kept tooth relic in a palace name Hatada Geya and protected it. 

Due to enemies invasion kingdom has been changed from polonnaruwa to Dambadeniya. There were two palaces built. One on the rock mountain. In a short time that kingdom also were changed and King Buwaneka Bahu I were the king in Yapahuwa Kingdom. After the invasion of Pandya tooth relic were brought back to india. Then Parakrama Bahu III were make a good friendship between Pandya King and got the tooth relic back to Sri Lanka. 

Once in Portuguese colonial period, kings decided to make many models of the tooth relic. For the safety of it. Then in 1560 Portuguese told they’ve brought it to Goa and destroyed. Unfortunately that’s wasn’t the real one. It’s a model. Before it was destroyed king in Burma were made a request to get it back by paying as much money they want. But Portuguese rejected that. Then in 1566 a group of Burma ambassadors were came to Sri Lanka and worship the real tooth relic. 

In 18^th century king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe has done lot’s of things for the relic and paid his big attention on safety of the tooth relic. Unfortunately in 1815 Sri Lanka became as colonial of British and by a big assay, British got the tooth relic and the control of the country. Then they’ve kept tooth relic in the present palace and provided the safety and security.

 

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