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
Results 1-3 of 17
Page 22
... cistern at its further ( western ) side . Excess rainwater from the summit was thus utilized , after storage in this cistern , for various purposes on the western escarpment below the main rock . 2.1.4 . Dagoba Very close to the topmost ...
... cistern at its further ( western ) side . Excess rainwater from the summit was thus utilized , after storage in this cistern , for various purposes on the western escarpment below the main rock . 2.1.4 . Dagoba Very close to the topmost ...
Page 44
... Cistern Rock . Courtesy ASD . long north - south aligned terrace , retained by random rubble , at the north end of which is a large boulder topped by a rock - cut and ashlar - built rectangular cistern , hence named the Cistern Rock ...
... Cistern Rock . Courtesy ASD . long north - south aligned terrace , retained by random rubble , at the north end of which is a large boulder topped by a rock - cut and ashlar - built rectangular cistern , hence named the Cistern Rock ...
Page 49
... Cistern and Audience Hall rocks , separated by a paved passage containing a small asana , on western escarpment . View from east . Courtesy ASD . 43 ( b ) . Cistern and Audience Hall rocks . View from north . Courtesy ASD . The remains ...
... Cistern and Audience Hall rocks , separated by a paved passage containing a small asana , on western escarpment . View from east . Courtesy ASD . 43 ( b ) . Cistern and Audience Hall rocks . View from north . Courtesy ASD . The remains ...
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