Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 1

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Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 40 Sheet of Copper Stones Mountain Crystals Iron Bars Bricks Butter Clay Crushed Stones Silver Plate (7” thick) 500 ft On top of the copper plate, seven inch thick silver plate was placed. 10.5 ft (Author’s Note: Placement of a seven inch thick silver plate is an exaggeration). Whole city rejoiced during construction of Mahathupa. Many bhikkus from foreign countries came to see the construction activities. Bhikkus from Rajagaha, Isipathana, Jethavana, Mahamevna and Gositharama came to see the construction of Mahathupa. Circular Outline Ceremony for Mahathupa: King Dutugamunu organized the ceremony for the circular outline of Mahathupa. All the bhikkus stood around the foundation for the great ceremony. A post was erected at the center and a rope was attached to it. A marker was attached to the other end. The circular outline was drawn using the marker. King Dutugamunu Interviews Engineers: After marking the boundary of Mahathupa, King Dutugamunu ordered top master builders of the country to come to the palace. Five hundred master engineers came to see the King. King asked the first engineer “How are you planning to build the Thupa?” The first engineer replied “I will use one wagon of sand every day”. The King was not happy with this answer and rejected him. (Author’s note: Mahavamsa does not tell why the first engineer was rejected. The reason for the rejection of the first engineer was given in Mahavamsa Tika. According to Mahavamsa Tika, King Dutugamunu told the first engineer “If you use one wagon of sand every day to mix cement, the Thupa would be a heap of sand and fall to the ground”).
Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E., Sinhalanet.com 41 The King asked the same question from the second master builder. The second builder stated that he would use half a wagon per day. The King rejected him as well. Similarly, King rejected builders who stated that they would use quarter wagon and one eighth of a wagon. Seeing King’s anxiety, one experienced master builder stated that he would crush the sand and sift it prior to use. That way he would have to use only one Ammana of sand per day. (One Ammana is equal to 700 handfuls). (Author’s note: It is no secret that adding more sand to a mortar would diminish its strength. Mortar was used to bind bricks. Mahavamsa does not say what other material was used to prepare the mortar mixture. Previously mentioned butter clay could have been used as the cementing agent). King accepted the last master builder’s proposal. King’s next question was regarding the appearance of the Thupa. King asked “What’s the shape and form of the Thupa?”. The master builder took two bowls of water and poured one bowl into the other. When he was pouring water, bubbles were formed and rose to the surface. The engineer answered that the shape and form would be similar to the rising bubbles. King accepted the shape and form of bubbles as a model for the Thupa. King Dutugamunu’s Concerns: • How to Construct The Mahathupa Without Taxing People: King ordered that no person should be forced to work without pay. He ordered to place gold coins, garments, ornaments, food and sugar at each gate for the workers. Unauthorized Participation of Bhikkus: • A bhikku who wanted to participate in the construction work to acquire merit for himself, brought a brick made of clay prepared by himself and gave it to a workman. The workman placed the brick without the knowledge of the overseer. When the overseer found out about the unauthorized brick, a dispute occurred. The King heard of the dispute and came to the site. The King questioned the workman who placed the unauthorized brick. The worker stated that a foreign bhikku gave the brick to him to be placed. The King sent people to find the foreign bhikku. When King’s people found the bhikku, the King ordered his men to give Jasmine blossoms removed from Sri Maha Bodhi to the foreign bhikku. (Author’s Note: This Mahavamsa story indicates strict quality control protocol at the site. It seems, each and every brick placed in the structure was accounted for by overseers.). • Second bhikku also wanted to participate in the construction work. He found out the exact dimensions of bricks at the structure from a relative working at the site. He prepared a brick, similar to the bricks in the site and gave it to his relative to be placed in the Mahathupa. The relative placed the brick in the structure. When one of the overseers found out of the unauthorized brick, a dispute started. The King heard of the dispute and came to the site. The King asked the workman whether he could recognize the unauthorized brick. The worker said he could not. The
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