Download

Xxxxxx Xxxxx
11
is the rock temple of Galvihara
on the northern edge of Alahana
Parivena. It was a shrine created by
Parakramabahu I, the central feature
of which is four images, probably
all of the Buddha, carved into
the face of a massive granite rock.
These include an enormous
recumbent figure, a large standing
figure, one seated cross-legged
and another seated inside an artificial
cavern. The remains of
brick walls suggest that originally
each had its own image house.
The lavish scale of the growth
and development of Polonnaruwa
under Parakramabahu I and
Nissankamalla impoverished the
city and, when Nissankamalla died
without a designated heir, chaos
ensued. Renewed fighting with
the Tamils led to looting and the
eventual destruction of the city.
It was abandoned as a capital in
AD 1293 and the Sinhalese migrated
south, establishing capitals at
Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola
and Dedigma.
The following three or four centuries
represent a complex and
disordered period in Sri Lankan history
in which different factions vied
for power and the island was vulnerable
to attack by invaders from
China, Malaya and Burma.
In the midst of this, the Tamils,
whose numbers had grown significantly,
set up an independent kingdom
in the north of the island,
centred on Jaffna. The Dedigma
kings were eclipsed by a new set
of rulers based in the city of Kotte
on the west coast, and the monarchy
based in Gampola moved to
an obscure town in the hills called
Senkadagala. The latter subsequently
became known as Kandy,
11. The Thuparama is
the oldest dagoba
in Anuradhapura.
Reconstructed during
the 19th century, it
was originally built
to protect the right
collarbone of the
Buddha, which was
brought to the city in
the 3rd century BC.
Photo: Ray Dunning.
12. Another reclining
Buddha, one of 153
statues of the Buddha
at Dambulla. There
are also three statues
of Sri Lankan kings
and four of deities,
including Hindu
gods. 1st century
BC, repaired and
repainted during
the 11th, 12th and
18th centuries.
Photo: Ray Dunning.
home of the last independent
Sinhalese kingdom on the island
from 1592. It remained independent
and survived two centuries of
colonial incursions before finally
falling to the British in 1815.
As the capital, Kandy became
home to the Tooth Relic following
a 4th-century tradition that placed
a responsibility on the Sinhalese
monarchy to protect this physical
remnant of the Buddha. Hence
the Temple of the Tooth Relic was
built originally as part of the Royal
Palace complex. The palace, which
now houses the National Museum
of Kandy, was the last to be built in
Sri Lanka.
Today Kandy is both an administrative
and religious centre. It is
one of the most venerable places in
the world for Buddhist pilgrimage
and it perpetuates rituals and ageold
traditions that remain an integral
part of the life of the people.
These reach a climax in August on
the night of the full moon when
everyone turns out to pay homage
to the Sacred Tooth as it is paraded
12
through the streets.
It was this synthesis of living tradition
with the physical remains of
the Kingdom of Kandy, more than
consideration for any particular site,
which led to the city’s inclusion in
the Cultural Triangle Project. Hence
the restoration work involves not
only excavation and restoration but
also the clearing of modern accretions
and work to return the inner
city to its original glory.
Given the problems which continue
to afflict the far north of Sri
Lanka, it is important to note that
the UN’s involvement with the
island is not restricted to preserving
the material remains of the past.
The UN Development Programme
also supports many projects to help
the country meet its own development
goals, to reduce poverty and
to foster peace and recovery.
That said, the Cultural Triangle
Project is important, not only to
preserve for posterity the remains of
one of Asia’s longest-lasting civilisations,
but also for the future economy
of the country. n
Minerva January/February 2013
49