By Dr. Daya Hewapathirane, Canada
(The Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, Sri Lanka, the temple which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha, is possibly the most sacred Buddhist shrine in the world and a UNESCO designated World Heritage Centre was attacked by the LTTE on 25th January 1998.)
Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy
Thirteen years ago, on Sunday January 25th 1998 around 6:30 in the morning, the savage Tamil terrorists attacked the Sri Dalada Maligawa – one of the greatest national cultural treasures of our country. Built originally in the late 15th century, this fabulous architectural marvel is more than 550 years old, In the centuries that followed, additions and improvements were effected to the Maligawa by several kings making it one of the most captivating historic buildings in the country. This magnificent structure enshrines the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha which is the most sacred object of worship in the Buddhist world. It is of utmost symbolic value for Buddhists and the Nation as a whole, because from historic times the possession and custodianship of the Sacred Tooth Relic was tantamount to acquisition of the sovereignty of the nation. It was first brought to Sri Lanka in the fourth century CE and has been treated with utmost veneration by our kings of the past. The possession of the Sacred Tooth Relic was required for a king to be acknowledged as the ruler of the country.
SAVAGE ACTION OF TAMIL TERRORISTS
The savagely cruel and violent actions that were characteristic of the Tamil terrorists reached their highest levels with this ghastly event of bombing the one of the most sacred places of veneration of Buddhists across the world. Structures and historic monuments associated with the entrance to the Maligawa were subject to most severe damage. In addition the blast led to the demolition of a good part of the roof and the exposure of the Maligawa to the open sky. Extensive peeling off of the wall plaster resulted in the destruction of exquisite paintings that adorned these walls besides damage to other priceless artifacts of the Maligawa. Several pilgrims including children who were at the Maligawa died on the spot along with several police personnel providing security at the Maligawa entrance at this time.
In the Sunday Divaina newspaper of July 20, 2003, Manoj Abayadeera has written in considerable detail that this attack of the Dalada Maligawa was a conspiracy of the Christian church using racist Tamil terrorists who are now well to have had the strong backing all along, of the Christian churches. He shows how Christians have been conspiring for a long time in conspiring to destabilize the Dalada Maligawa establishment and to eventually acquiring the Dalada Maligawa premises by any possible means.
The UNESCO Director General Mr. Federico Mayor‟s reaction to this tragedy is noteworthy. He said “I am deeply shocked by this act of blind violence perpetrated against a place of meditation, joy and peace. All religions are based on love and respect for life. Attacking a holy place means striking the very best in humanity, undermining its innocence and purity. Those who attack people through their faith can only be condemned. Religious differences can absolutely not be justification for conflict, and places of worship should in no case be used as targets.”
AFTERMATH OF A DEPLORABLE CRIME
For decades I have been interested in Buddhist sites and the exquisite traditional architecture, sculpture, paintings and the varied assortment of visual art that adorn these sites. I have read and visited many of these sites and the inner joy and spiritual feelings that I experienced are inexplicable and unfathomable. I have photographed a good part of this rich heritage of ours and have held several photo exhibitions of the enchanting paintings found in these historic sites in Canada during the 1990s and annually in Sri Lanka, since the year 2007. Among my photo images are some of the most breathtaking paintings of the Sri Dalaga Maligava, found on its walls, ceilings, on wooden structures and surfaces and on the covers of the many ola palm leaf manuscript found in the Dalada Maligava.
It could be considered as strange coincidence in my life that I was not far from the Dalada Maligawa when it was attacked by the Tamil terrorists, and was one of the first to witness the aftermath of this shocking, atrocious, deplorable and excruciating crime. It is with this background that I would like to make a few comments on the priceless artistic treasures in the Maligawa and the impact of the terrorist attack on some of them.
PRICELESS CULTURAL WEALTH
The bomb attack on January 25th 1998 resulted in the disintegration of all the enchanting paintings on the „Ambarawa‟ that were effected during the 17th and 18th centuries. Ambarawa is at the entrance to the Maligava in the form of a tunnel the entire curved surface was vibrantly adorned with colourful paintings. It destroyed the enchanting Sandakada Pahana (moonstone) built in keeping with the unique Mahanuwara tradition, at the entrance to the Ambarawa and damaged the granite rock pillars which were adorned with delicate and exquisite rock carvings of intricate traditional motifs. Passing the Ambarava one enters the „Hevisi Mandapaya‟ (the open verandah-like area) with pillars where „pujas‟ (offering) and drumming are performed.
Besides the damages to the priceless cultural wealth that was associated with the Ambarawa, the blast resulted in the total destruction of one of the most precious items of the Maligawa – the historic moonstone that was found at the main entrance to the Maligawa. It was one of the few most enchanting moonstones bearing the design and shape of Mahanuwara moonstone tradition, somewhat similar to the one at the entrance to the Degaldoruwa vihare. The destroyed moonstones, other rock structures have been replaced with new ones bearing the same shape and design and the „Ambarawa‟ paintings have been re-drawn. Many ancient ola palm leaf manuscripts and delicate traditional ornaments and artifacts stored in the Pattirippuwa octagonal building were destroyed. However, can they ever replace these invaluable historic treasures that glorified and embellished this cultural paradise of a place?
Except for some structural damages to the plasters and walls and dislodging of parts of the carved wooden ceiling structures, most miraculously the ancient inner relic chamber structure at the centre of the Maligawa building where the Sacred Tooth relic was housed remained intact. When conservationists sifted through the rubble after the terrorist attack, they made an unexpected discovery. Beneath the existing wall paintings, two earlier layers of plaster with paintings were detected. Images of an elephant and a dancer’s leg were revealed which appears to be a part of a wider artistic composition of a ceremonial pageant. This painting is attributed to the beginning of the 18th century, to the period of King Narendrasinha. Fragments of these paintings are displayed today in the new Maligawa museum, along with pictures of the destruction wreaked by the terrorists attack.
EXCEPTIONAL PAINTINGS OF MALIGAWA
The earliest paintings of the period of the Mahanuvara kingdom are in the inner chambers of the Dalada Maligawa. They were completed during the reign of king Wimaladarmasuriya -II (1687-1707). Other paintings in the old Maligava building were done during king Kirthisri Rajasinghe (1747-1786).
Passing the tunnel-like ambarava at the entrance to the main Maligawa building, one enters the „hevisi mandapaya‟ or the open verandah-like area with pillars where „pujas‟ and drumming are performed. In front of the „hevisi mandapaya‟ is the two storied building where the Tooth relic of the Buddha is enshrined. This was built by king Narendrasinghe who ruled from 1707-1739. The intricately carved wooden structures decorating the upper portion of the outer walls of the two storeys also contain exceptionally captivating paintings. Some of these paintings were done on plaster applied over wooden surfaces.
On the walls and ceilings of both floors of this building are paintings, which are exquisite. The wooden structures of the upper portions of the outer walls of the two storeys are decorated with intricate carving. Paintings found in these structures are exceptionally captivating. Some of these paintings were done on plaster applied over wooden surfaces.
Most of the Maligava paintings are elaborate thematic or decorative ones. Those decorating the walls and ceiling of the inner relic chamber are most breathtaking. There are paintings of beautiful designs using human figures. animals, birds, and flowers. Some are found on the carved wooden ceiling structures associated with the relic chamber. Among some especially appealing paintings found here are those depicting King Wimaladarmasuriya-I (1591-1604), King Kirthisri Rajasinghe, Weliwita Saranankara thera, jataka tales and the Esala perahera. Paintings of the “Suvisi Vivarana” or the 24 former Buddhas, deities and heavenly beings are gorgeous. A particularly striking painting in one of the Shrine rooms with a Buddha image is a stunning “Makara Thorana” which is a great work of art.
Modern paintings of Upasena Gunawardene are in the new Maligava Annex.
They narrate the story of the Tooth Relic and its enshrinement in the Maligawa. The Dalada Maligawa museum established in recent years on the upper floor of the Maligawa Annex contains segments of the painting layers damaged by the bomb blast and photographs of some of the damaged original paintings and parts of the paintings of several inner wall surfaces that were exposed after as a result of the bomb blast and peeling off of walls. Canvas replicas of some Maligawa paintings adorn the stairways leading to the Museum.
GREATEST OF NATIONAL TREASURES
The Dalada Maligawa originally built in the late 15th century is more than 550 years old and was added to, expanded and improved by several kings in the centuries that followed. This fabulous structure enshrines the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha venerated by Buddhists all over the world. It is of utmost symbolic value for Buddhists and the Nation as a whole, because from historic times the possession and custodianship of the Sacred Tooth Relic was tantamount to acquisition of the sovereignty of the nation.
Besides, the Dalada Maligawa is also famous internationally for it colourful 10 day procession called the Dalada Perahera, which has an unbroken tradition extending up to the 4th c .CE. This captivating and delightful pageant has been conducted for the past 1700 years in several historic capitals in the country, when it was customary for our kings to built special Dalada Maligava structures in those capitals to enshrine the Tooth relic. Sri Dalada Maligawa is one of the greatest national cultural treasures of our country. and it should receive the highest level of protection.
- Dalada Maligawa soon after the LTTE attack in 1998
What did the National Broadsheets in Sinhale do in relation to this most cowardly and sacrilegious act ? There were no special atrocities in the weekend editions either.
In any other country the weekend papers of the last two days would have run special supplements and there would be commemoration ceremonies across the country.
The tragedy for Helays is mixing up “forgiveness” with “forgetfulness”.
However the greatest nemesis of Sinhale, the Racist Tamils carried out the commemoration in Grand Style by attacking the Mahabodhi establishment in Chennai.
It is interesting to see what the Indian Central Government, the Chief Architect of cannibalisation of Sinhale will do, specially at a time they use their Regional Super Power status to intimidate Sinhale on drummed up charges of harassing their fishermen.
See what the Americans do for 9/11. They will ensure this tragic day for America will be in the psyche of Americans even after thousand years whereas we have conveniently erased from the Nation’s memory the atrocities such as the attacks on Sacred Bo Tree, the Dalada Maligawa, Central Bank and so forth.
This is yet another example of how the Sinhalayo are one of the most underprivileged majority communities in any part of the world.
Sinhalaya is only a peasant and not the King in Sinhale, the homeland of Sinhala people.
By: Suranimala on January 25, 2011
at 2:01 pm
Thank you for the timely reminder. Unfortunately, we have sacrificed everything that we could called ours including our right to self rule, due to very innovative schemes of deceit and lies using some of the natural weaknesses we inherited by being Human. It is very easy to manipulate, indoctrinate and charm children, youth, women, poor, disadvantaged, unskilled and the intellectually less-capable among a society, to be used for anything and everything including committing or omitting acts that can be extremely detrimental to the whole community. Sinhala community has faced the worst of all combined together and even survival for this long is a miracle, if not for they unique arsenal of knowledge. Honestly, those representing Sinhala community have lost the bearing and does exactly what their enemies want them to do today. We have become silent went we need to use events that make our enemies vulnerable, giving an opportunity to do more damage as is the case in point.
I believe it is time to take stock and do the right thing to find our own conscience to guide us. Until such time, we will be driven according to the plans of our enemies walking blindly into their traps. Matters have become much worse as our enemies within, who infiltrated us using some of our vulnerable values and desires, also the most humane, have opened our doors to the worst of our enemies who exploit our inability to distinguish right and wrong due to our inexperience of going through what we do now that has no precedents.
On the other hand, those of us who care about the community at large have failed to see through the heaps of deceits and lies that block the vision to grasp the truth. We are still under English occupation and die to keep protecting it as represented by many Sinhala youth in the forces. Those who break through these colonial shackles end up with Tamil system built around us due to their involvement in the Throne and various invasions, introduced by force and by deceit. Since we have a kind of eternal enemies who have been enemies from the time we came out of the forests, most of the time we get used to such enemies by ignorance, a natural tendency under overwhelming conditions, and keep them fed among us without knowing that they are here to destroy us. We even ignored that we embraced our enemies in our thoughts and actions without knowing that it was the objective to destroy us. One such fine example is our blind faith in the current version of Wisdom (Buddhism), introduced by Tamils that came with values such as worshipping remains of dead people, figures made of clay, trees and invented gods, that are truly not ours. They never existed in our land before Tamil invasions, only the love of true nature. Unfortunately, natural milk and milk added with lethal poison (comparing wisdom in material terms), do look exactly the same, if we do not have the deeper intellect to see the difference. As an example, what was meant by Pan Sil in original Sinhala wisdom and what we parrot are worlds apart in substance. Those who know the original version would do so without failure, because it is the natural option. Sinhala civilisation is purely an extension of nature, not like the myth created by those less-fortunate beings to hide their failure such as Hindus, Christians and Islamists.
One of the major problems Sinhala community facing is the inability to transfer knowledge from one generation to the next in full, the main reason that led us to where we are today. If we were successful in this, we could have never been in the current turmoil when compared to our ancestors who had known things beyond the humanity. Even if we break through the Tamil influences that have turned us to some extent like them, a suicidal kind of species, then we have to face Hindu influences that stopped our evolution in the track. Hinduism is a turning point in our history in a bygone era, that made us to stop leaving behind animal world. Having the knowledge of the past is a necessity to turn back the clock. But, we need to be better than our own that made who we are, to be what we have been if not for these distractions. Today, we have people with such capabilities and it is a matter of time to become what we had to be. Those capable to beat the odds must take the challenge and help their community now.
One thing we must do is to do away with our embracing of alien things that we take as ours. As a nation, we are the only group that become contaminated or diluted by alien values, something not available to others. Blind faith has made us slaves to alien values, whether political or religious, new or old, that try to alter our future.
With regards to Tooth relics, we should be brave to think that remains of dead must be respected, but rest in a place outside our habitats, an ancient Sinhala practice, not at the centre of life. There were many Tamil invasions at the early stages of Tamil dominance as rulers beginning with Vijay Kumar, that they did under the guise of recovering the Tooth relic to galvanise Tamil terror unleashed on Sinhala community. These are not part of the local history thanks to converts doing their utmost to keep us blind to the truth. Even today, we have Christians, essentially of traitorous origin, who believe the faith of our enemies just like other believers, doing their utmost to destroy our existence by siding with our eternal enemies.
Only hope we have is having a few people who can defy the odds to overcome these eternal enemies today will be the majority in coming years. You can do a greater service to the future of the Sinhala community and every living being at large, by helping to realise the dreams of our fore-parents who yearned for long life. Thanks again for your brave comment, that must be the common cry of all Sinhala who love life and living longer. Having said so, I have a proposal backed up by a credible history of achievements beyond the norms, to revive our fortunes and to overcome the evil that hold us back to achieve the cherished goal of living the life longer, and encourage those who can overcome the shackles of our enemies to join me to be achievers of that dream our ancestors fostered when they left the wild for good.
By: Priyantha Abeywickrama on January 26, 2011
at 5:11 am
If the LTTE could not spark anti-Tamil reaction from Sinhala Buddhists by attacking the The Dalada Maligawa or killing 31 Buddhist monks at arantalawa, and 103 Buddhist pilgrims at Anuradhapura at the height of the war against the LTTE terrorists, what makes some people to think that Sinhala Buddhist would react emotionally for something as minor as attaching Mahabodhi Center in Chennai. These Tamils are illiterate hapless people in Tamil Nadu who would run riot even at the sight of a minor road accident. It is upto India to show that it can bring these criminal elements to book without allowing them to cause international embarrassments to India. Incidentally, it was 20 years ago yesterday that the LTTE terrorists attacked the Dalada Maligawa. So, may be that is how Tamil terrorists want to celebrate the event by attacking the MahaBodhi Center.
By: Haramanis on January 26, 2011
at 2:57 am
Thank you for the timely reminder.
By: supun on January 17, 2012
at 7:58 pm