Dimbulagala Raja Maha Vihara is situated 16 kilometres south east of the ancient city of
Polonnaruwa
Poḷonnaruwa, ( si, පොළොන්නරුව, translit=Poḷonnaruva; ta, பொலன்னறுவை, translit=Polaṉṉaṟuvai) also referred as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa Dis ...
,
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
. The
Dimbulagala
Dimbulagala also known as Gunner's Quoin or Gunner's Rock during the British colonial period, is a rock formation in the Polonnaruwa District of Sri Lanka. By the time anthropologist Charles Gabriel Seligman visited the location in 1911, a cave wi ...
range houses a number of caves cut into the rock with Brahmi inscriptions over their drip ledges. This forest hermitage of medieval times and holy abode since time immemorial, home to some of the most valued fragments of early frescoes was called the ''Gunners Quoin'' by the British. This Buddhist monastery which was abandoned after the times of the
Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa ( si, පොළොන්නරුව රාජධානිය, Polonnaruwa Rājādhaniya) was the Sinhalese kingdom that expanded across the island of Sri Lanka and several overseas territories, from 1070 until 1232. ...
was restored to the present status in the 1950s due to the efforts of
Kithalagama Sri Seelalankara Thera
Matara Kithalagama Sri Seelalankara Thera (29 May 1924 - 26 May 1995), also known as Dimbulagala Hamuduruwo, was a 20th century Sri Lankan Buddhist monk. He was a pioneer in restoring the ancient Buddhist monastery Dimbulagala Raja Maha Vihara i ...
, who was the chief incumbent of the Vihara until his death in 1995.
Pulligoda
Passing the Dimbulagala temple, the only landmark being a water tank at which point you turn to the left and continue on an unsealed road which passes the delightful ''Hitcha Pitcha weva'' (weva is a reservoir), another turn off which is almost at the foot of a rocky outcrop. A short climb up and through jungle and rock boulders, brings to this forgotten fresco considered to be an important milestone in the history of the artistic heritage of
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
.
The frescoes
The frescoes at ''Pulligoda'' were reported by ''Bell'' in 1897, a series of fragmentary remains of old paintings in a shallow cave shrine. Today a fragment of what once may have been a larger scene of devotees in the attitude of veneration, consisting of five male figures seated on lotus cushions placed on a broad seat. The dating of these frescoes are subject to debate.
Coomaraswamy
Kumaraswamy or Coomaraswamy or Kumarasamy ( ta, குமாரசுவாமி; kn, ಕುಮಾರಸ್ವಾಮಿ) is a South Indian male given name. Due to the South Indian tradition of using patronymic surnames it may also be a surname ...
and
Vincent Smith dated the paintings to the 8th century. ''Paranavithana'' ascribed them to a period earlier than the 12th century but with a likelihood of being contemporary with the
Polonnaruwa
Poḷonnaruwa, ( si, පොළොන්නරුව, translit=Poḷonnaruva; ta, பொலன்னறுவை, translit=Polaṉṉaṟuvai) also referred as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa Dis ...
paintings (12th century). ''Raja de Silva'' referring to the material technology of ''Pulligoda'' being common to paintings of the earlier
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුරය, translit=Anurādhapuraya; ta, அனுராதபுரம், translit=Aṉurātapuram) is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central ...
period dates them to as early as the 4th century. ''Dr. Raja de Silva'', (former Archaeological Commissioner of Sri Lanka) in a study of early period paintings from 247 BC to 800 AD defines several of the characteristics and elements of the ''Pulligoda galge'' frescoes. He describes that the male figures depicted here have reached a stage of attainment (''sovan'', ''sakrudagami'', ''anagami'' or ''arhat'') as signified by the oval aura shaded red behind each head. The saintly figures are all seated with their legs crossed. The soles are painted red with cosmetics, like the palms. The lower garments are pantaloons of plain red or stripes reaching down to the ankle. Their headdresses vary distinguishing two figures as Brahmins. Another wears a white band of sacred thread across the bare upper body marking a sage. Ear rings, necklaces armlets, bracelets are also worn. One figure is green in complexion. The ''asana'' (seats) on which the lotus cushions are placed is ornamented. Only a small fragment was all that remained to be admired, it radiated a state of spirituality, serenity and peace that these forest hermits would have enjoyed. It speaks of elegance, refinement, poise and beauty. One figure held a lotus bud by the stalk while the left arm was folded across the chest in a charming gesture of offering. The others seem to hold their palms together gracefully. The pigments of earthy red, ochre, yellow and green stood on a background of white with small circular designs. The frescoes even after many years still remain vibrant. Dr. de Silva says that the characteristics of drawing, shading, perspective and stylistic methods of outlining features at ''Pulligoda'' bring to mind the paintings in
Sigiriya
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (''Lion Rock'' si, සීගිරිය, ta, சிகிரியா/சிங்ககிரி, pronounced see-gi-ri-yə) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla ...
implying that the artists at both sites were of the same conservative school of temple painting. Further up is an interesting rock cave naturally resembling the formation of a house with a slab roof.
Namal Pokuna, rock pools
The ''Namal Pokuna complex'', also in the vicinity and lies 2 kilometres before the ''Dimbulagala'' temple. There is also a small temple inhabited by monks at the bottom of this ancient forest hermitage. The way to the ruins is uphill along a scorching rocky-face passing strange crevices and little rock pools. The ruins of a monastery including a ''Chaithiya'', ''bodhigara'', ''poyage'', ''dhamma saba mandapaya'', ancient guard stones and moon stones are evident. The ruins are enclosed by a stone parapet with four cardinal entrances, immediately outside was a pokuna (bath) and a stone bridge. The jungle path leading further up leads to the ''Akasa Chaithiya'' on the summit of ''Dimbulagala'', passing ancient caves of the forest hermitage. One such imposing rock formation allowed the wattle and daub walls to be built dividing the cave into many rooms including a little verandah as well. Further up are the curative waters of the famed Namal Pokuna, and the maravidiya caves..
King Pandukabhaya
It is said that
Pandukabhaya of Anuradhapura
Pandukabhaya (474 BC – 367 BC) was King of Upatissa Nuwara and the first monarch of the Anuradhapura Kingdom and 6th over all of the island of Sri Lanka since the arrival of the Vijaya; he reigned from 437 BC to 367 BC. According to many hist ...
lived here for a short period in the 4th century. In the
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුරය, translit=Anurādhapuraya; ta, அனுராதபுரம், translit=Aṉurātapuram) is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central ...
period there was an important ''vihara'' here. An inscription of ''Sundaramaha devi'' in the 12th century says that 500 monks resided there at that time.
King Parakramabahu II
A most notable period of its history is associated with King Parakramabahu I, in the 12th century where the ''Dimbulagala Maha Kassapa Thera'' helped the King with the purification and renewal of the Buddhist order. In the early centuries ''Dimbulagala'' was known as ''Dhumarakkhapabbata'' or ''Udumbarapabbata''.
See also
*
Dambulla cave temple
Dambulla cave temple ( si, දඹුල්ල රජ මහා විහාරය, Dam̆būlla Raja Maha vihara, Vihāraya; ta, தம்புள்ளை பொற்கோவில், Tampuḷḷai Poṟkōvil) also known as the Golden Temple ...
References
{{Polonnaruwa period topics
Buddhist temples in Polonnaruwa District
Buddhist caves in Sri Lanka
Archaeological protected monuments in Polonnaruwa District