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Temple Entrance
Bod Tree, Anuradhapura Sri Lanka? Where in the world is that? I'm pretty sure I never studied it in social studies back in the Deer Park Community Schools back more decades ago than I'd care to mention. Sri Lanka? But I read about it. As the government tries to end a decades long civil war, cornering the last 'Tamil Tigers' in hopes of bringing peace to the war torn northern tip of the island nation. And I remember reading about it a lot. Right after December 26, 2004. When the devastating tsunami killed 30,000 people there.
So I read a little in my guide book and find an ancient name for this island nation. A name used by early Muslim traders who ventured there. Serendib. Seren meaning jewel. And dwip meaning island. The jewel island. And the roots of the English word Serendipity!
But as I read on I find an even more familiar name. Even if its a bit less interesting! Through the years of Portuguese, then Dutch and finally English rule the name was different. It didn't become Sri Lanka until 1972. Before that, the name I remember from school. Ceylon!
And I keep on reading and am amazed
that most of the population are descendants of Vijaya, the Sinha (lion) king. He was the son of north Indian king who was stripped of his title and set adrift at sea with his 700 followers for his crimes of assault and robbery. Set adrift in dilapidated boats to die terrible deaths at sea. Instead they stumbled upon back upon solid earth on the western coast of Sri Lanka. This was back in the 5th or 6th century BC. And unbeknownst to them, they landed on the same day that the Buddha was attaining enlightenment in north India. They settled at Anuradhapura and established a massive capitol city with incredible irrigation systems that allowed them to flourish in the arid climate. Now there's a place to visit!
I read on about how the Indian emperor Ashoka sent his son and daughter to Sri Lanka where they intended to spread the Buddha's teachings. And spread the word they did. On the mountain top at Mihintale they converted the Anuradhapura king, Devanampiyatissa, to Buddhism. This conversion deeply marks the Sri Lankan sense of culture, custom and national identity. Another stop to make on this trip!
Then there's this paragraph in
Texture
Anuradhapura the guide book about the 'arrival of the sacred tooth relic'. What? Oh my goodness. In 371 AD Buddhism enjoyed an impressive era of revival - upon the arrival of one of the Buddha's teeth! It is now enshrined in the temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. And it not only a religious symbol for this primarily Buddhist country, but a symbol of sovereignty. He who holds the tooth relic, holds the reigns of power! There's another obligatory stop on this trip!
I read on about the spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya. Where you climb up between the lions paws, across the sheer rock face that once was a massive stone cutting of a lion, to lofty heights of the fortress. Now that sounds pretty impressive. Plan on a stop there too, I note to myself! But what an interesting bit of history in regard to its construction. King Kasyapa was the ruler in charge of this fortification. And I understand why he needed it. He killed his father and exiled his older brother so he could take the tooth relic and rule the land. But not for long. His exiled older brother, he went off to
India and enlisted an army of Indian mercenaries. Fighters from the south eastern coast of India. The Tamils. To come and reinstate him to the throne. And he was successful in overpowering his brother. And he was also successful in creating the roots of the modern civil war. After his victory with the mercenary Tamil fighters, there followed centuries of dependence upon mercenaries to maintain power. Interference and disorder were the result. Perhaps right up to today. As the Sinhalese government struggles against the Tamils in northern Sri Lanka.
I really enjoyed my time preparing for this trip in the guide book. Its been a while since I took my time and really anticipated a trip, savored the approaching adventure, like I did this trip. And it paid off.
For me, Sri Lanka was a wonderful island of warm and friendly people. I saw no signs of war. I saw Hindu (Tamil) and Muslim and Buddhist and Burgher (European) Sri Lankans proudly working and living together. And always asking how I liked their island. I liked it a lot. And that made them very happy. And you could usually see that it truly was a deep and satisfying
Platform
Polonnuruwa breath that they took when you told them how much you were enjoying your serendipitous adventure on their island.
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Nishanthi De Silva
non-member comment
Truly Magnificent
Yes, it fills me fully with pride when i hear about the beauty and glamour of sri lankan culture, traditions and the country...although i call myself a more modern sri lankan, this is an island so beautiful in it's nature, the people, the smiles, the fun, the spirit, the love, the togetherness... hope you had loads of fun here and wish others can come and experience this wonderful land