Testimony to Lanka's hydrological engineering

Text and pix by Gwen HERAT

In Abhayagiri, Anuradhapura dreams can come true for those who seek. Discover our ancient glories, scattered, hidden, garbed in nature's splendour, they are everywhere, reminding us of our spectacular history.

The dynasties of our great rulers, their traditions and court histories dating back to centuries, became part of Sri Lanka's heritage.

The arrival of Buddhism with its convictions upon the nation of Sri Lanka, formed an intellectual community through spiritual belief. All these are written upon what is found in Anuradhapura; be it water, stone or environment. One could feel its charm and tranquillity all over.

It was the rebel prince, Pandhukabhaya who founded this great city of Anuradhapura. He became king and was responsible in bringing together the original settlers of the island to co-ordinate with the Sinhalese but made sure to demarcate village boundaries for the whole country.

Well-planned

Thus, Anuradhapura was well-planned and firmly established. With all these thoughts spanning my mind, Anuradhapura beckoned me.

One need not be a hydrological engineer nor a water-management expert to assess and explore the glorious wonders of our water reserves.

The development of hydrological engineering in ancient Sri Lanka has marvelled the world over and over again. But how far does our island nation know about its existence, its eloquence, glories and near-miracles. I could for months, explore and digest its wonders, mercifully preserved and restores, though my knowledge in archaeology is limited to what I read.

Side view with four Punkalas Kuttam Pokuna Front view of Kuttam Pokuna

While I fail to understand its intricate miracles, as an artist, some of her visions are clearly mirrored in my mind when as a student, I drew them. Its meaning, culture and her significance had no impact on me as a young art student but dawned on me, years later.

Always the twin-ponds fascinated me. Its vastness, the stone sculpture, like poetry upon nature's granite. Its naga symbols dating back to the sixth to eight centuries, simply awed me.

Our royals of the past made sure that the naga symbol is founded upon at water inlets and outlets and finding them in the architecture of the Kuttam-Pokuna (twin pond) did not surprise me. Kuttam-Pokuna is not only significant in hydrological engineering but in its vibrant artistic innovations.

The Kuttam Pokuna is majestic in its standing against all weather conditions in the past numerous centuries and its polished stone slabs bear testimony to its weather resistance of any nature. They dip the steps, entrance to the pond that flanked by two stone Punkalas or better known as pots of abundance.

It is possible that the bhikkhus who used to bathe here, using pots, the embankments enabled their bath. What is remarkable is the fact that water was supplied through underground conduits. They were first conveyed to stone chambers and to silt-traps from where it was filtered before flowing into the ponds.

No one knew how the water flowed out until later during repair where the discovery was made at the bottom of each pond. It was during the time of one of our great historians, Dr. Senarath Paranavithana that the Kuttam Pokuna was restored and during its excavation, small clay figures were found.

There is a myth that beneath its far bottom, treasures have been buried. Archaeologically, the Kuttam Pokuna reveals that one is bigger than the other. It was built in the third century A.D. as a bathing pool for bhikkhus and suggests that 500 bhikkhus would bathe at the same time.

This water wonder is regarded as a masterpiece and one of the best from the ancient world, even surpassing Cleopatra's gilded bath. The sensitivity with which these are designed is reflected in a framing shallow pool surrounding the two baths that retain a six-inch depth of water to cool off the feet before diving into the greater depths.

Thus remain the wondrous Kuttam Pokuna.