Exhibition of Dutugemunu ashes during Vesak season

by Padma EDIRISINGHE

The story of the discovery and identification of ashes of the mighty monarch Dutugemunu (161-137BC) who passed away some 2147 years ago makes tantalising reading. It is however less tantalising than this ruler's feat of ending a 44-year-old alien rule and restoring Lanka to her own indigenous monarchical line. Hailing from Ruhuna the prince trekked along the shores of Mahaweli in his triumphant campaign Northwards. It all happened so long ago yet touches us so close in certain ways as in the Trail of the Ashes.

According to Wimal Rubasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage, the exhibition of Dutugemunu ashes is one of the major highlights in the array of Cultural Ministry activities during the 2010 Vesak season in Anuradhapura. This cannot be considered a coincidence. The twinning of Lanka's national resurgence and her religious efflorescence needs no reiteration.

In the immediate years prior to 2009 we were almost on the brink of dismemberment due to the activities of a paranoid group and it is nothing but fitting that when fortunes have now reversed for the better due to able leadership that the island should show its gratitude to this royal mentor of far off days who having brilliantly orchestrated the politically needful went on to restore Buddhism to its full glory mainly by the most outstanding feat of the construction of the Maha Thupa thus enhancing the piety of the citizenry...

Initial thread

To come back to the story of the ashes one is at a loss where to pick up the initial thread for over the years it has become so tangled. Perhaps the identification of Dhakkina Stupa would be a good starting point for this stupa rose over the ashes. Here is a relevant quote from the report of the committee appointed to examine the ashes of king Dutugemunu.

"Historical evidence persists that Chaityas were built on the cremation sites of royalty". The learned panel who submitted the report supplies examples as king Dutugemunu himself ordering a Stupa to be built on the cremation site of king Elara, the Damila king whom he vanquished and the construction of Chaityas on the cremation sites of Sirisangabo, queen Ratnavali and Princes Ashvagiri. Literary and religious sources for these are quoted.

Now where were we? Yes. At Dakkina Stupa. Of course it was all in pieces thanks or no thanks to the Chola destructors and march of Time, come the 19th and 20th centuries.

No one exactly knew what it was, In fact it was identified as Elara Sohona or the Tomb of Elara when the Archaeology Commissioner H.C.P, Bell declared it to be Dhakkina Stupa. But till epigraphic evidence buttressed this theory it was not accepted in toto. Meanwhile, treasure hunters had done their own illegal excavations and removed layers and layers of soil and charcoal and rocky debris in search of treasures while digging far into the pit of the Stupa.

Now comes into the scene our wonder archaeologist, Dr. S. Paranavithana who makes his own brilliant surmises based on archaeological, epigraphic and literary evidence.

1. That the Stupa now in shambles is definitely Dakkina Stupa.

2. That the esplanade in which it was built is Pulila Maluwa which got its name from a Pulila (cotton?) or Imbul tree

3. That the ashes discovered in the depths of the pit could be those of king Dutugemunu. Signs of a blazing fire are evident in the charcoal filled depths that could indicate an ostentatious cremation ceremony.

These conclusions were arrived in 1948 after which the eminent archaeologist had the ashes deposited in the Anuradhapura Museum. Thirty years later the issue of the ashes opened up again.

The then Minister of Cultural Affairs, E.L.B. Hurulle summoned some of the cream of Lanka's academia to ascertain whether the ashes are truly those of the great warrior king. Following decisions were arrived at:

1. To send the ashes to the Govt.Analyst to ascertain whether the ashes are those of a human

2. To explore further the literary evidence unearthed by Professor Paranavithana who had used quotes from texts as the Mahavamsa to substantiate the theory that the king was created in Pulila Maluwa. Here is the relevant quote pertaining to the request by king Dutugemunu as he draws closer to death.

"For 24 years I tended to the Sangha. Now let my body perform it. Cremate this body of mine who is only a Sanghadasa (servant of the Sangha) in the Kammamalaka from where is visible the Great Stupa.

"(This is Ruwanweli Seya built by him) The compilers of the Report makes extensive analysis of this location. The word "Kammamalaka" occurs first in the MV when king Devanampiya Thissa demarcates the boundaries for a Sangha kammamalaka.

The panel responsible for the report aided by the professor's initial findings conclude that this Kammamalaka where the king's cremation took place is nothing but this. Many other sources too are quoted. It is interesting to note that the committee without sitting under fans in a plush office in Colombo and deliberating had actually had travelled to Anuradhapura, gone to the site of the Kammamalaka in Pulila Maluwa and perhaps laid in the same last position of the king for they discover that Maha Thupa or the Swarnamali chaitya is quite visible in that posture.

Ward off doubt

This was necessary to ward off a doubt that had sprung that the Maha Stupa is not visible from the Pulila Maluwa circumscribing Dhakkina Stupa. According to an official prelude to this report the Govt. Analyst has since declared the ashes to be a human's ashes while relevant institutions of England and France along with Dr. Granville Dharmawardena, one of our own eminent scientists have ascertained that the ashes correspond in time to the regnal years of the deceased monarch.

The writer apologises for omitting to mention the roles played by eminent persons such as Dr. Roland De Silva, Prof. P. L. Prematileka, Dr. Nandadeava Wijesekera and Prof. Sirimal Ronowella headed and also the other committee members as the topic does not entail such details.

It is an episode in history that rises above such details. A passage of 2171 years! Yet crystallised or shrunk into a little chunk of history. As one views the ashes a curtain gets drawn aside and there emerges the figure of a great monarch who knew his political priorities and acted accordingly with the unity and sovereignty of his country dangling before him crying to be concretised.. A mandate was on him to perform and he did perform and remarkably so.

History, they say is nothing but repetition... Yet he was mortal subject to Anithya and there in the Pulila Maluwa he breathed his last. Heartless robbers plundered the repository of his ashes and left half way disappointed that there were no treasures.

Yet a part of it has come to us through the endeavours of concerned individuals. It is indeed a tantalising story. Maha Thupa Ruwanweli Seya). Its Foundation - laying ceremony is said to be aligned to the world's first International Conference, according to Prof. A. V. Suraweera.