|
|
|
| Sunday, 12 March 2006 |
 |
|
 |
Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Nalanda Gedige: A blend of Buddhist and Hindu architecture The eighth century temple Nalanda Gedige is situated in the village known as Nalanda, about 25km north of Matale and 20km before Dambulla. It is situated beside the Nalanda Lake. History books refer to Matale of the 12th century as 'Mahathil'. The fact that the Thripitaka was written down at the Alu Vihara, Matale, during the first century BC, indicates that the area may have been civilized for a long time. The Chulawansa says Parakramabahu the Great launched wars against the kings Gajabahu and Manabarana, using a fortress in Nalanda as a base.
Another story is that Nalanda is situated in the very centre of Sri Lanka. This also made it of strategic importance during battle times. It had been one of the most important bases during the rebellion of 1818. The first survey on Nalanda was carried out by the first Archaeological Commissioner of Sri Lanka, H.C.P. Bell. He claimed that the Nalanda Gedige was a solitary building in the site. However, villagers claim that it had contained many other ruins beside a vihara. There are signs to indicate that these were the quarters for monks, which idea was also held by renowned archaeologist Senarath Paranavithana. Nalanda was situated between the Malaya rata of yore and Anuradhapura, and held a strategic position during the battles of the day. The armies of the day comprised Hindu soldiers brought down from South India, and it is believed that a part of them were Pallava soldiers. It's with the aid of these Pallava soldiers that King Manavamma gained control of Sri Lanka. It's believed that the gedige was built at this spot for the use of these Hindu soldiers.
It is one of the rare examples of mixed Buddhist and Hindu architecture. It was built like the devalas of the Pallava tradition. The then relations with India led to the vast improvement of not only local architecture, but other forms of art, such as writing and literature. This influence is obvious in the sculptures of Nalanda Gedige. A unique feature of this building is that it has been built entirely of stone. Gedige means a building constructed entirely of stone or bricks without the use of wood. Only the gedige and a small stupa, located on a square foundation enclosed by a brick wall exists today. Both have been built facing the east. There had been a vahalkada with a stairway, as the entry point for these places. The Nalanda Gedige, built of sandstone, is situated on a decorated foundation, which is 65cm high. Two stone slabs with dragon motifs and an uncarved moonstone are also some of the features here. The wall made of sandstone is about 150cm thick. The centre of the building has been designed in a grand fashion. It has two columns of stone pillars, consisting of four pillars each. The design of these pillars has never been discovered at any other place. The pillars have been built in such a way that they can bear a lot of weight. They are situated on a square base, and are about 213cm tall. Images of a lotus or human face are carved on the top face of these pillars. The inside of the image house is small. Its ceiling is still intact, and is made of stone. The inside is rather bare, but the outside surface is very intricately decorated. The door leading to the room is equally beautiful, and it's believed that two pillars had stood beside the door, although only one, on the left side, remains now. The room of the chamber is 350cm tall, 500cm long and 320cm wide. Among the many statues of the gedige is a standing Buddha, which depicts the features of the statues of Andra, India. The body of the statue is light, the limbs long and the face oval-shaped and pleasant. One shoulder is covered. Among the ruins of the Nalanda Gedige had been found the torsoes of two Buddha statues, the feet of another statue, a stone slab depicting a Mahayana Bodhisatva and an image of God Ganesha. This indicates that the Mahayana influence may also have been strong when the structure was built.The Bovathanna reservoir came up on the site of the Nalanda Gedige in the 1970s, and so the ancient site was raised and placed on higher ground, on the same site. When the gedige was being lifted, the foundation of another structure had been found underneath it. It was placed on higher land on a stage about 25m high, in the same spot. Similar buildings have been found in Kanchipuram, India too. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
