A trove of knowledge for all those interested in our history
View(s):I read with great interest the newest addition to knowledge on art, architecture, literature and general subjects of interest to Sri Lankans titled, ‘String of Archaeological Sites on the East Coast and Other Articles,’ containing essays on archaeology, history, traditions and other subjects by Dr.P.G. Punchihewa, the well known civil servant and writer. It encompasses a glimpse of all relevant aspects of those disciplines.
The leading article gives the title to the book and Dr. Punchihewa describes the archaeological importance of Gurukanda, Sri Samudragiri Rajamaha Vihara, Arisamala, Tiriyaya, Gokanna Vihara, Rajagala, Pasana Pabbatha, Magulmal Vihara, Nilagiri and Dighavapi, all tracing back to the Sinhala-Buddhist heritage. How some of them have been destroyed by invasions, sea erosion and the population too getting pushed into the interior of the island, leaving only traces of them for future generations is described in these articles.
The East coast had provided ports of call as a mid-point on the sea route from East to West for traders and others. Thapassu and Bhalluka arrived in the island on the way to Myanmar with the Sacred Hair Relic Kesha Dhatu of the Buddha at Arisimale and had travelled to Tiriyaya. There they had placed the casket containing the Relics on the rock of Girihandu, before enshrining them in an appropriate stupa in the island. Strangely, symbolising the sacred nature of the environment, it is said that they could not lift the casket when it had to be taken. It demonstrated a definitive possession of divine influence and the two merchant brothers decided to enshrine the relics in a stupa built on this rock.
Similarly Princess Hemamali and Prince Danta from Kalinga arrived at another port in the East, known today as Lanka Patuna.It was to this port that the Sacred Tooth Relic was brought by Princess Hemamali and Prince Danta before being taken to Anuradhapura. Lankan Buddhists consider the Tooth Relic as their national symbol and insignia.
Dr. Punchihewa describes this history succinctly and takes the reader to Kuchchiveli Temple where the first inscriptions in Sanskrit in Sri Lanka belonging to the 7th century exist, and then proceeds to Velgamvehera which with its Dravidian influence is of special architectural value. He recalls the reader to Gokanna, the present Trincomalee where a vihara had been built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century (275-301 A.D.).Before that there had been a Jain temple and later a Hindu temple now named Koneshwara Temple. The present Buddhist vihara is situated at the same site of this sacred rock temple.
Dr. Punchihewa takes the reader to other Buddhist sites, Seruwila, Lanka Patuna, Pasana Pabbatha, Muhudu MahaVihara, Magulmal Vihara, Rajagala and the famous Deeghavapi, which have their own histories. Seruwila temple built during the reign of King Kavantissa, is a major attraction for pilgrims in their Buddhist pilgrimage-circuit.
Dr. Punchihewa’s book contains other articles on history, like the Saliya -Asokamala episode showing the magnanimity of King Dutugamunu and on our lost traditions, like the Tulabara Dana and on culture – the arrival of Mahinda Thera in the island.An essay titled Rekindling the Resistance to Foreign Yoke takes the reader to the 1818 uprising.The article on Eye witnesses at Executions deals with the experience of two civil servants Leonard Woolf and M. Chandrasoma who had to be present at executions which both of them found gruesome.Several articles he had contributed to Indonesian papers reflect on the little known facts on Indonesia where the author had spent 15 years.
An interesting article in the book View Point is from the U.K publication “Public Ledger” published in 1987.That was the time when the American campaign against coconut oil was at its peak and Dr. Punchihewa was defending coconut oil with whatever information available then. Since then much research has been done and Dr. Punchihewa accordingly brings his original article updated to 2019 with new data and says “coconut oil, once considered a poison has turned out to be the elixir of life.”
The book is a trove of knowledge and I recommend that it should be read particularly by those persons interested in the history of the island and by the general reader.
| Book facts | |
| String of Archaeological Sites on the East Coast and Other Articles by Dr. P.G. Punchihewa Price: Rs. 600 Reviewed by S.B. Atugoda |