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| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
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Junior Observer |  |
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The world famous statue
Although the Samadhi Statue is generally said to belong to the fourth or fifth century, some believe it to be much older. There are signs that the stone-carved statue was colour-painted at one time and that there were gems for the eyes. The Maha Vihara tradition has been followed in carving the statue. As a result of excavations conducted at the site, archaeologists have come to think that the Samadhi is one of four statues originally kept at the four sides of a Bo tree. A few stumps remain of the pillars that were part of the square building built around the statue. The world famous statue is carved out of a single rock. It is triangular in shape and is seven feet and six inches in height. The distance between the knees, crossed over each other, is about seven feet. The artist had not paid much attention to the seat of the statue; it is a plain stone slab about two inches thick. The late Indian Prime Minister Jawahal Lal Nehru, who had seen the statue, is said to have found peace, meditating with his eyes on its photograph during his imprisonment. ###### First dagoba in Sri Lanka
King Devanampiyatissa built the dagoba under the advice and guidance of Mahinda Thera, who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. It is said that the dagoba was built to enshrine the right collarbone of the Buddha, which was brought down from India by Sumana Samanera, who was in Mahinda Thera's mission to the island. The dagoba was originally constructed in the shape of a paddy heap. However, it had gone into ruin by the seventh century, and was renovated by King Agbo II. The dagoba acquired the present bell shape after renovation activities carried out in 1862. The Thuparama is built on a circular platform of 164 1/2 foot diameter, rising 11 feet 4 inches from ground level. Three concentric (having the same centre) circles of large upright stone pillars, diminishing in height from the inner-most circle, are found around the dagoba. These pillars are said to have supported a conical (cone-like) roof above the dagoba at some time in its history. Such a dagoba with a roof is known as a 'Vatadage'. One of the oldest water reservoirs in the country, the Abhaya Weva (Basawakkulama) is situated close to the Thuparama. ###### The palace of pillars The Lovamahapaya, also in Anuradhapura, is known as the Brazen Palace as it once had a bronze roof.
According to the Mahavansa, each storey in the building had had 100 window chambers, which were overlaid with silver and decorated with precious stones and little silver bells. King Dutugemunu had initiated construction of the complex over 2000 years ago, but it was rebuilt many times over the years. The splendour of the palace had diminished slightly with each construction. It is believed that the superstructure of the building was in wood as the complex is said to have been destroyed by a fire during the reign of King Saddhatissa (137-119BC). He repaired the building; with only seven storeys. It had existed in the 10th century and was destroyed during the Chola invasion in the 11th century. The last construction is attributed to Parakramabahu the Great around the 12th century and it is believed that the 1,600 pillars came in during this construction. The present pillars have different designs and constructions and are believed to have come from various different sites. Even the foundation stones in the present edifice are thought to be from various other older structures. |
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The Samadhi Buddha Statue at Mahamevna Uyana in Anuradhapura is one of
the finest Buddha statues in the country. It is located in a beautiful
wooded area in the Abhayagiri Vihara grounds. It is a seated statue and
depicts the Buddha's kindness and compassion.
The Thuparama in Anuradhapura is one of the most important dagobas in
the country despite its small size as it was the first dagoba built in the
country.
Although it had originally been a huge palace with nine storeys
providing accommodation to over 1,000 monks and their attendants, only
1,600 columns remain now. They now stand as 40 rows with 40 pillars .
