Plus

Visitors to the Ruwanveliseya will have an opportunity to savour the rich history of the dagoba, through exquisitely crafted stone slabs

What do we, as we gaze in wonderment at the Ruwanveliseya in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, bathed in the mellow light of the setting sun or the ethereal gleam of a full moon night, know about this colossus?

For most of us Sri Lankans the only knowledge we have is that it was built by King Dutugemunu. That is also the only information on a small wooden board hanging on a tree at the entrance to this dagoba, one of our most prized possessions.

This is the vacuum that an enthusiastic group of people are attempting to fill by undertaking not only a laborious task, but also meticulously collecting each and every scrap of information available on the history of the Ruwanveliseya.

One by one, stone slabs with Ruwanveliseya’s history carved on them – shila lekanayak –both in Sinhala and English, are appearing by the pathway leading to the dagoba, so that by the time the white-clad devotee or the visitor walks up to this monument its history is at their fingertips.

“We are planning to have six stone slabs,” explains Nalaka Lankasena of the Ariyamagga Organisation, which came up with the idea of setting up the stone inscriptions. The organisation which works under the guidance of well-known meditation monk, Nauyane Ariya Dhamma Thera hopes and aims to promote Buddhism among the youth in the country.

How did it all start? Nalaka recalls the day that his group of friends held a mal pooja at the Ruwanveliseya. “It was the poya of March 14, and we made large wooden frames right round the Ruwanveliseya and covered those with nelum, both red and white. We used 300,000 flowers,” he said.

It was during the arrangement for the pooja that the idea blossomed into the major project now underway with the blessings of many monks, including their mentor and also the Nayake Hamuduruwo of the Ruwanveliseya, Pallegama Hemarathana Thera. “The Archaeology Department and the Central Cultural Fund are very supportive, while we are being advised by Mrs. Chandra Ariyaratne and Prof. Nimal de Silva of the Moratuwa University,” said Nalaka.

The 8’X5’ stone slabs will cost Rs. 3 million, he said, adding that the sandblasting technique is used to get the outline of the inscriptions, followed by careful hand-chiselling. Donations for four slabs have been collected from Sri Lanka itself, while the other two will be funded by the people of Japan and China.

According to Nalaka, in Sri Lanka the teaching of three past Buddhas – Kakusanda, Konagamana and Kassapa – who appeared on earth during the Maha Bhadra Kalpa or Great Auspicious Aeon, was established. Thereafter, the land was sanctified as a Land of the Buddhas by the visit of the Gautama Buddha on three occasions. Later when Arahat Mahinda arrived in Sri Lanka to establish the Buddha Sasana, during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa, he had forecast that a stupa would be built enshrining the Buddha’s relics by King Dutugemunu, a grandson of the king, at the hallowed spot. “Overjoyed by this proclamation, Devanampiyatissa installed an inscribed pillar on that spot and had the forecast inscribed on gold-leaf placed in a casket, which was deposited in the royal palace,” says Nalaka.

The rest is history most of us know – King Dutugemunu who ascended the throne in 382 BE (Buddhist Era) arriving in Anuradhapura from Magama, fighting invaders and uniting the country under one banner… revival of Buddhism… construction of Mirisavati stupa, followed by the Lovamahapaya (Brazen Palace)… and delighted on reading the inscription on the stone pillar set up by Devanampiyatissa, resolving to build the great Ruvanmali.

However, there is a lot more history that most of us still do not know about the Ruwanveliseya. It will all be there cut in stone and crystal clear very soon. “The work is due to be completed by September,” he says.