Friday, April 1, 2011

History of Ancient Thammana

History of Sri Lanka ( 543 BC - 505 BC King Vijaya)


Ancient Thammana
Prince Vijaya is a son of King Vijeyabahu, who was a provincial King in ancient India.
The Prince was expelled from the Kingdom along with 700 followers after the King couldn't put up with Prince's mischievous behavior.


The Vessels carrying the Price and his entourage harbored the Northwest cost of Sri Lanka.
After defeating the local tribes with the help received from yaksha tribe princess "Kuweni" the prince establishes a Kingdom in Thammana, and ruled the country for 38 years. Kuweni was expelled by King lately and married to an Indian princess after his coronation.


It's Believed that Kuweni had two children named Deegahatta and Visala from Kiong Vijaya.
They supposed to have gone to the Jungle after Kuweni was Killed by her relatives for betraying them.
The Veddhas believe that they are decedents of Deegahatta and Visala the Children of King Vijeya and Princess Kuweni.

Pictures of Ancient Anuradhapura & Polonnaruwa


















































Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Kings of Anuradhapura

History of Sri Lanka
Kings of Anuradhapura
  
Vijaya  543 BC
Upathissa  505 BC 
Panduwasdeva  504 BC 

Abhaya  474 BC 
Pandukhabaya  437 BC 
Mutaseeva  367 BC 
Devanam Piyathissa  307 BC 
Uththiya  267 BC 
Mahasiva   257 BC
Sooratissa   247 BC 
Sena & Guthtika   237 BC 

Asela   215 BC 
Elara   205 BC 
Dutugemunu   161 BC 
Saddhatissa   137 BC 

Tullaththana   119 BC 
Langitissa   119 BC

Kallatanagha   109 BC 
Walagambha  (First Time)  103 BC 
Poolahaththa   103 BC 
Bhabhiya  100 BC 

Panaya Mara  98 BC 
Piliya Mara  91 BC

Datiya  90 BC 
Walagambha (Second Time)  89 BC

Mahasilu Mahatissa  76 BC 
Choranaga  62 BC
Tissa-Kudatissa  50 BC 
Queen Anula  47 BC

Kutakanna Tissa  42 BC 
Bathiya,Bathika Abeya Bathiya Tissa   20 BC

Maha Daatiya Maha Nagha  09 AD 
Amanda Gamini  21 AD 

Kanirajanu Tissa  30 AD 
Choolabeya  33 AD 

Seevali Queen  35 AD 
Ilanagha  35 AD  
Chandamukasiva   44 AD 
Yasalalaka Tissa  52 AD 

Sobaraja  60 AD 
Wasabha  66 AD 

Wankanasikatissa  110 AD 
Gajaba  113 AD 

Bathiya Tissa II  141 AD 
Kanittatissa  110 Ad 

Choolanaga  193 AD 
Kunchanaga  195 AD 

Sirinaga  196 AD 
Choharikatissa  215 Ad

Abeyanagha  236 AD 
Sirinagha II  244 AD 
Vijayakumara  246 AD 
Sanghatissa  247 AD 
Sirisanghabodhi   251 AD 
Gothabeya  253 AD 

Detutissa I   266 AD 
Mahasen  276 AD 

Sirimevan  303 AD 
Detutissa II  331 AD 
Buddhadasa  340 AD 
Upatissa I  369 AD 

Mahanama  410 AD 
Soththisena  432 AD  
Wattagrahaka  432 AD 
Miththasena   433 AD 

Pandu  434 AD
Parindha      Kudaparindha  
Tirithara    Dhatiya    
Peetaya    Dathusena  459 AD
Kasyapa  477 AD

Mugalan  495 AD
Kumaradasa  512 AD

Keerthisena  521 AD
Seeva  521 AD
Upatissa II  521 AD
Silaakala  522 AD
Dhatappabhuthi  535 AD
Mugalan II  535 AD

Kithsiri Mevan  555 AD
Mahanaga  573 AD

Agbho I  575 AD
Agbho II  608 AD
Sangatissa  618 AD
Mugalan III  618 AD 
Aseegrahaka  623 AD
Agbho III (First Time)  632 AD
Pettatissa III 632 AD
Agbho III (Second Time)  632 AD

DathasivaI  648 AD
Kasyapa II  650 AD
Dappoola I  659 AD
Hatthadasa  659 AD 
Agbho IV  667 AD 
Dattha  683 AD 

Hatthadatha  684 AD 
Manavamma  684 AD 
Agbho V  719 AD 
Kasyapa III  725 AD

Mahinda I  731 AD 
Agbho VI  733 AD 

Agbho VII  772 AD 
Mihidhu II  778 AD 

Dappoola II  797 AD 
Mihidhu III  802 AD 

Agbho VIII  805 AD 
Dappoola III  816 AD
Agmho IX   831 AD 
Sena I  833 AD 
Sena II  853 AD 
Udaya II  887 AD

Kasyapa IV  898 AD 
Kasyapa V  915 AD 
Dappoola IV  924 AD 
Dappoola V   924 AD 
Udaya II  935 AD 
Sena III  938 AD 
Udaya III  946 AD 
Sena IV  952 AD 

Mihidhu IV  955 AD 
Sena V  972 AD 

Mihidhu V  982 AD 

Ancient Anuradhapura

History of Sri Lanka

Ancient Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura Kingdom was built by King Pandukabhya, son of Princess Unmada chithtra.
The city was the first of it's kind with well designed sanitary system, Gardens, Irrigation and Water supply systems,
Temples, cemeteries and burial grounds, etc. The city was then became the capital city of Sri Lanka and flourished under
many subsequent Kings ruled for centuries.

Anuradhapura Kingdom was highly vulnerable to invasions from South India and suffered usurp of throne several times,
by invading Kings from south India. Singhalese Kings have managed to defeat the invaders after reorganizing the troops,
although the invading kings ruled in the mean time. One such historic battle held Between King Dutugamunu and
South Indian King, Elara. In that, King Elara was defeated and King Dutugamunu ruled the country in single sovereignty.

The Anuradhapura Kingdom was under constant threat from south Indian kingdoms. The King Mahinda V
ascended to throne in 982 A.C, and was the last Sinhalese king to rule the country from Glorious city.
At this time the South Indian realm Chola, became very powerful under the Great Rajaraja (985- 1018 A.C) and conquered
Sri Lanka. The King Mahinda was captured and imprisoned in South India.

The South Indians ruled the country for next 75 years. They shifted the Capital city to Polonnaruwa due to
strategic reasons after considering the vulnerably for attacks from both native Sinhalese people and other south Indian Kingdoms.


Ancient Places of Polonnaruwa

History of Sri Lanka
Ancient Places of Polonnaruwa


Galviharaya

Images of Gal Viharaya are the most impressive sculptures found at Polonnaruwa built in 12th century A.D. by
 King Parakramabahu the 1st. The great Buddha images of different postures are carved in one granite rock.
The first is a samadhi image in meditation posture while the second is inside a cave and the third standing buddha
 image with crossed arms and the fourth is a recumbent Buddha image depicting the passing away.
The third standing Buddha image is highly appreciated as it indicates Buddha's great mercy and sorrows also see
the ability of the artist who made the black patch going over the nose and avoided going over the eyes.


Lotus Pond (Nelum Pokuna)

A little north of Polonnaruwa Gal Vihare complex, is the late 12th century Lotus Pond.
 This unique stone bath is built to represent an eight petaled lotus with four tiers. It is believed to be a part of the Jetavana
 Monastary complex, which consisted of some five hundred buildings at its peak.


Lankathilaka

The large Gedige Lankathilaka, the image house with a Buddha statue, had 5 stores.
It has walls which are 4m trick and still stand 17m high, although the roof has crumbled. The design illustrates the
development in thinking which underlay the massive building, for it marks a turning away from the abstract from
 of the dagaba to a much more personalized faith in the Buddha in human form.
The building is essentially a shrine, built to focus the attention of worshippers on the 18m high statue of the Buddha
 at the end of the nave. Though built of brick and covered in stucco, the overall design of the buildings shows strong
Tamil influence. The exterior bas relief sculpture, most of which is in very impressive, shed light on contemporary
architectural style. 
Parakrama Samudraya

The huge lake upon whose northeastern shore Polonnaruwa rests is an inland sea known as the Parakrama Samudra.
The largest irrigation tank of Parakramabahu I . It was the life-blood of the ancient city in the same way that it is the
blood life of the religion today, providing water for the growth of thirsty rice crops and other foodstuffs. Its 5,600 acres
of  water irrigated an estimated 18,200 acres of paddy land.
Five minor lakes were incorporated in the building of the Parakrama Samudra, whose 8 1/2- mile bund contains 4 1/2 million
 cubic yards of earth. One thousand men employed in the hand labor of the period, working 24 hours a day. could scarcely
 have completed the job in 12 years.

Vatadage

The Vatadage (hale of the relic) near the entrance is a circular building with a dageba on concentric terraces with sculptured
railings, the largest with a diameter of 18m. A superbly planned and executed 12th century masterpiece attributed to
 Naissankamalla (187-1196), the Vatadage has modest proportions but remarkably graceful lines. It was almost certainly
 intended to house the Tooth Relic. There are impressive guard stones at the entrance of the second terrace and wing
 stones with makaras enclosing lion figures; the moonstone to the north entrance of the top terrace is superb.
The dagaba at the center has four Buddha's (some damaged) with later stone screen.


Royal Citadel

The Citadel housed the palace and the administrative buildings of King Prakramabahu, the Great (12th century AD) and is
enclosed by a huge rampart more than a metre thick. According to historical records the King's Palace had been seven stories
high with a thousand chambers. The remains of three stories and a few of the chambers can be seen. The Council Chamber
where the King met his ministers is situated a few metres away in front of the palace. It is an impressive building with fine
stone carvings. The Royal Bath is outside the rampart with a flight of steps leading to it. The beautiful bath is made of
stone with a small pavilion probably used as a changing room.


Kiri Vehara

  Kiri Vehera - the best preserved of all Sri Lanka's un-restored dagabas built in the 12th Century by Queen Subhadda
one of the wives of King Parakramabahu, where the original plaster is still intact.


Alahana Pirivena

A Monastic university complex extending over more than eighty hectares erected by King Parakramabahu I in the 12th Century.

Galpotha  (The Stone-book)

A huge stone inscription of King Nissankamalla (12th Century) on a granite block measuring 8 metres in length
and 4.3 metres in width recording among other things the King's invasion of India.


Hatadage

 A relic chamber built by King Parakramabahu I to house the sacred Tooth Relic.

Lankatillake

 A large Buddha image house with a collosal Buddha image built by King Parakramabahu.

Nissanka Latha Mandapa

 A stone structure with pillars built in the shape of floral stems constructed by King Nissankamalla (12th century) to listen
 to the chanting of Pirith (recital of Buddhist scriptures) by the monks .


Ronkoth Vehara

 A fairly well preserved large dagoba built by King Parakramabahu emulating the Ruwanvelisaya of Anuradhapura.

Demala Maha Seya 

A Dagoba that King Parakramabahu wanted to build in Polonnaruwa using South Indian prisoners of war to surpass the
mighty Ruwanvelisaya of Anuradhapura but was never completed.


Tivanka Image House

Largest among the brick - built shrines of Polonnaruwa. In the narrow antechamber, beautiful Devas,
and the Bodhisattvas above, beckon the worshipper into the inner sanctum. Here stands the mighty Tivanka image of the Buddha,
depicted in the 'thrice curved pose'.


The Satmahal Prasada

A square pyramidal tower in seven tiers - a Dagaba of novel design. Each side of each tier is ornamented by a figure of a
deity in an arched niche. The simple, stepped design is a very ancient form of architecture which occurs in the step pyramids
of Egypt, and the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. Another building of this type occurs in Thailand in the monastery of
Vat Kukut at Lamphun, and both are probably derived from an earlier Indian prototype.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

History of Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa Era existed between AC 1065- 1120.
The governing period of this time was about 186 years and 19 rulers had sat on
 the throne in that period. During the final period in the Anuradhapura era, the
cholas shifted the political power to Polonnaruwa, which was situated in the eastern
side of the dry zone. The main reason was security, as it was regarded as a strategic
 location to guard against an invasion from Ruhuna, the refuge of the Sinhalese liberation force.

Still the Cholas were unsuccessful in defending themselves against Vijayabahu?s
offensive riot against Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa had its own fabulous Buddhist architecture and irrigational network
 that had been built over the centauries by earlier sinhala rulers.
The First Sinhalese king to rule in this period was King Wijayabahu who ruled for 55 years
after he defeated the cholas. He restoered Buddhism to its former glory
and was also responsible for economic regeneration.

The Next famous King to take over from Vijayabahu is King Parakramabahu (AC 1164-1197)
 He unified the country under one rule and built a remarkable series of irrigation work including
 the massive Parakrama Samudraya.

Nissanka Malla was also a king to take notice of, because he also stabilized Sri Lanka
during his period. But his death brought instability & a pirate named Magha, who came
from south India conquered Polonnaruwa & executed many years of ruthless control over
the island.

 

History of Sri Lanka

Yakkha and Naga

Yakkhas confined to the center of the Island and Naga dominated
the northern and western parts in sixth century B.C.
Therefore North of the Island was called Nagadipa.

The Fa hien, monk had told there were no human inhabitations, but was occupied by Nagas
 and spirits, with which the merchants of various countries carried on a trade. The spirits never
 showed themselves ,they simply set forth their precious commodities ,with indications of the
 price attached to them, while merchants made their purchases according to the price.

Nagas was so called because they were serpent-worshippers.
 Archaeologist conjectured that the name was derived from the fact that their head
 covering was in the shape of the hood of a hydra-headed cobra.

Aryan emigrated to Ceylon and spread their power across the country.
Eventually Naga and Yakksha population was reduced because of Aryans.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

The Story of Sigiriya

 History of Sri Lanka - The Story of Sigiriya



HistoryIn 477 CE, prince Kashyapa seized the throne from King Dhatusena, following a coup assisted by Migara,
the king’s nephew and army commander.
Kashyapa, the king’s son by a non-royal consort, usurped the rightful heir, Moggallana, who fled to South India.
Fearing an attack from Moggallana, Kashyapa moved the capital and his residence from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura to the more secure Sigiriya.




Kashyapa was defeated in 495 by Moggallana, who moved the capital again to Anuradhapura.
Sigiriya was then turned back into a Buddhist monastery, which lasted until the thirteenth or fourteenth century.
After this period, no records are found on Sigiriya until the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when it was used as an outpost of the Kingdom of Kandy.



When the kingdom ended, it was abandoned again.
The Mahavamsa, the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kashyapa as the son of King Dhatusena.
Kashyapa murdered his father by walling him alive and then usurping the throne which rightfully belonged to his brother Mogallana, Dhatusena's son by the true queen.
Mogallana fled to India to escape being assassinated by Kashyapa but vowed revenge.




Chronicles and lore say that the battle-elephant on which Kashyapa was mounted changed course to take a strategic advantage, but the army misinterpreted the movement as the King having opted to retreat,
prompting the army to abandon the king altogether.
It is said that being too proud to be surrendered he took his dagger from the waist band, cut his throat, raised the dagger proudly, sheathed it and fell dead.




Alternative stories have the primary builder of Sigiriya as King Dhatusena, with Kashyapa finishing the work in honour of his father.
Still other stories have Kashyapa as a playboy king, with Sigiriya a pleasure palace.
Even Kashyapa's eventual fate is mutable.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Kingdom of Ruhuna

Kingdom of Ruhuna



The Kingdom of Ruhuna was a medieval era Sinhala kingdom located in the south of Sri Lanka.
The capital was known as Magama, near between modern Ambalantota and Tissamaharama in the Southern Province. The boundaries of the Kingdom of Ruhuna are Mahaveli River from North, and Kalu Ganga River from North West.

Deegawapi Dagoba

                                                                (1) Deegapapi Temple



                                                          (2) Deegawapi chaithya






This is one of the country’s holiest centres of Buddhist pilgrimage,
being a site where the Buddha is said to have meditated.
Deegawapi Dagoba was built by Prince Saddhatissa,
younger son of King Kavantissa of Ruhuna (3rd BC).
This ancient site has suffered much destruction.
Excavations have reveiled many ancient ruins.
This is a place where the Lord Buddha sat on his last visit to Sri Lanka ,
attracts thousands of pilgrims even today.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

History of Sri Lanka






Pre Historic Times

                                                              (1) Ibbankattuwa

Sri Lanka has a recorded history since 543 B.C. Although records are not found of civilizations before 543 B.C., historical facts reveal that a civilization existed even long before from Rawana Times.
It's believed that an Expelled prince Vijaya to be the first Aryan King of Sri Lanka.
Since then many Kings Ruled Sri Lanka Till 1815.





The Homo Sapiens first appeared in Sri Lanka about 400,000 B.C.
Few artifacts have been found dating back to subsequent Paleolithic culture of the second Stone age period.
Stone cultures endured until about 1000 B.C.
The second phase of stone age may have ended some few centuries later with the establishment of metal.
The Stone working culture was known as Balandoga Culture.
They first made an impression on island life about 5000 B.C and spread through out the Sri Lanka.
The Balangoda Manawaya survived until about 500 B.C and faded out under the advance of early settlers from India.