Sigiriya and Its Significance: A Mahayana-Theravada Buddhist MonasteryThe monumental complex of Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located in the central province of Sri Lanka and traditionally has been deemed to be the capital and site of the palace of Kassapa I, 5th-6th century AD. Drawing on archaeological, literary, religious and cultural evidence from Sigiriya, and from Sri Lanka and India in general, Raja de Silva presents a brand new theory on the identity and function of the site. Casting doubt on earlier interpretations of the site as a palace or fortress, he suggests that Sigiriya was never the abode of a God King', but was a long-standing monastery built several centuries before the time of Kassapa. The paintings for which Sigiriya has long been famous are reinterpreted, not as ladies from Kassapa's court, but as representations of Tara, the most important goddess in Mahayana Buddhism to whom the building was dedicated. |
From inside the book
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Page 40
... Approach [ 32 , 32 ( a ) , 32 ( b ) ] and Southern Approach ( 33 ) Stairways , respectively , and are built of limestone steps and brick - faced rubble " wingstones " which were originally plastered ... Approach Stairway ( foreground. 40.
... Approach [ 32 , 32 ( a ) , 32 ( b ) ] and Southern Approach ( 33 ) Stairways , respectively , and are built of limestone steps and brick - faced rubble " wingstones " which were originally plastered ... Approach Stairway ( foreground. 40.
Page 42
... Approach Stairs ( to right ) connects with " Elephant Enclosure " ( to left ) . View from eastern side . RH de Silva . 33. Southern Approach Stairway . To right , Bell's restoration in altered position for easy access from ASD camp on ...
... Approach Stairs ( to right ) connects with " Elephant Enclosure " ( to left ) . View from eastern side . RH de Silva . 33. Southern Approach Stairway . To right , Bell's restoration in altered position for easy access from ASD camp on ...
Page 44
... approach from the twin hummocks of rock known as Mapagala ( Viceroy's Rock ... stairway , commencing from the base of the rocky escarpment , probably built ... Approach Stairs giving access to terrace of the Cistern Rock . Courtesy ASD ...
... approach from the twin hummocks of rock known as Mapagala ( Viceroy's Rock ... stairway , commencing from the base of the rocky escarpment , probably built ... Approach Stairs giving access to terrace of the Cistern Rock . Courtesy ASD ...
Contents
The literary record | 5 |
Archaeological evidence | 13 |
Literary light on ancient viharas | 63 |
Copyright | |
Common terms and phrases
abhaya-mudra Abhayagiri Ajanta Cave ancient Anuradhapura Approach Stairway apsaras Archaeological asana Avalokitesvara Bandaranayake Bell ASCAR Bell HCP Bhikkhu Bodhisattva brick Buddha Buddhist monasteries building built Bulathsinhala Ceylon chronicle clouds Colombo Conze Coomaraswamy Courtesy ASD Courtesy Studio dagoba dated deity dentils depicted Deraniyagala devotee Dhammaruci Dhatusena escarpment evidence excavated female figures flower fresco pockets gallery Geiger gesture Ghosh goddess Govt graffiti hand Hirakawa India inscription interpretation ISBN jataka JRAS(CB Kassapa king Ksitigarbha limestone lion lion-staircase house London lotus Mahavamsa Mahavihara Mahayana Mahayana-Theravada Mahayanist Malalasekera moats Moggallana monastic monks mudra Nagarjunakonda Northern Approach NOTE palace Pali Paranavitana Paranavitana 1956 period pleasure gardens Raja de Silva rampart record religious RH de Silva secular Sigiri Sigiriya paintings Sigiriya rock sima Sinhala sixth century AC southern Sri Lanka summit Tara terrace Thera Theravada Univ urna-loma vihara western escarpment western gardens western side Wijesekera Willson wingstone worship