Buddhist Cultural Tour

 

Due to the many requests we received to arrange a special package for the Buddhist pilgrims who wants to visit Sri Lanka to see the many locations that are important to the Buddhist world, we have designed a 7days/6 nights Buddhist Cultural Tour (which can be extended on request).

Initially this package was available only to Japanese clients on our website, but now we have decided to promote this package worldwide via this blog with the same amount of service at a reduced special discounted rate.

 

  

This is the official blog operation of the company “Visit Serendib” (PVT) Ltd, a registered tour management company in Sri Lanka.

* The company provides experienced chauffeurs with official Government tour guide License.

* All Accommodations except in the case of camping and special meditation programs that are held in our meditation center will be at 3 Star Hotels. (More information if requested).

* Only 25% of the payment has to be made before arriving and the balance during the tour, or 100% of the cost can be paid directly once arriving at the airport.

*Special discount rates for groups over 5 members.

* The touring party will be given free mobile phones and connections to keep in touch with local services as well the Tour Company till the tour is completed.

* Tour extensions possible at discounted rates.

* Special assistance for educational or research groups.

  

Chief Excursion officer assigned to the Buddhist Cultural Tours.

History of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is the oldest continually Buddhist country in the world, Buddhism being the major religion in the island since its introduction was first introduced into Sri Lanka in the 2nd century BC by Venerable Mahinda the son of the Emperor Asoka during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiya Tissa. During this time, a sampling of the Boghi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries were established under the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan king.

Buddha’s Visits to Sri Lanka

First Visit

The Buddha’s first visit was in the ninth month after Buddhahood (1 B.E. or 528 B.C.) That was to Mahiyangana where the Yaksa clan of the entire island was meeting in the Mahanaga garden. On this visit, the Buddha not only won the Yaksas/Raksas to Buddhism but also succeeded in getting the Naga clan King Maniakkhika of Kelaniya, who came to Mahiyangana to meet the Buddha, to embrace Buddhism. It is after this visit that a Stupa with some hair of the Buddha was enshrined. This Stupa, after the Parinibbana or passing away of the Buddha was transformed to be the Mahiyangana Cetiya after a collar bone of the Buddha was enshrined in it.

Second Visit

The second visit was in the fifth year of Buddhahood (5 B.E. or 523 B.C.). The Buddha on seeing an imminent war between two Naga Kings, over a Jeweled Throne, visited Nagadipa (Jaffna), settled the dispute and handed over the custody of the Jeweled Throne to Naga King Maniakkika of Kelaniya.

Third Visit

The Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the third time (His Last time) at the invitation of King Maniakkhika, first arriving in Kelaniya, in 9 B.E. (519/520 B.C.) with 500 of his followers.

It was on this third visit that the Buddha placed an imprint of his left foot on top of Samanala Kanda (Adams Peak).

For More Information on this tour package contact - visitserendib@gmail.com , +94778882227 (Gihan)

The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Dālada Māligāwa)

 

 

 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Temple of the Tooth Relic which houses the tooth relic of the Buddha is part of the Royal Palace Complex of the Kingdom of Kandy founded by King Vikramabahu III in the14th century on the advice of a Brahmin who selected the site as a lucky ground for a Capital.

The Tooth Relic

The sacred tooth relic of the Buddha is the most venerated object of worship in the Buddhist world, and its present house is the last royal residence of the Kingdom of Kandy which was also the last Kingdom of Sri Lanka.

The Casket on which the Tooth relic is kept.

The Royal Palace

The royal palace of kandy is the last royal residence of the Kingdom of Kandy and also in Sri Lanka. The last king to reside in it was Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. Once part of a large palace complex that included the royal court, the Magul Maduwa and the Temple of the Tooth that held the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. 

History of the Tooth Relic

After the “Parinirvana” (Final Nirvana, the final passing beyond suffering) of Gautama Buddha, the tooth relic was preserved in the state of Kalinga, in India. During the reign of King Guhasiva a war broke out, and the King instructed his daughter, Princess Hemamali, and son in law, Prince Dantha to take the tooth relic to Sri Lanka. 

The tooth relic was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled with her husband away from the Hindu armies besieging her fathere;s Kingdom in India.

They landed in the island during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna (301-328) and handed over the tooth relic which was first enshrined at Isuruminiya, in Anuradhapura, the first Kingdom of Sri Lanka.

It soon became the responsibility of the monarch to safeguard the Relic, and the custodianship of the relic became a symbol of the right to rule the country. Therefore the Tooth relic changed its location from Kingdom to Kingdom to finally end up in Kandy, the last kingdom of the Island.

The tooth relic was enshrined at many locations including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa ,Kurunegala, Kotte, and even hidden in a Grinding stone in Ratnapura before finally reaching the Kingdom of Kandy.

Kingdom of Kandy

The Kingdom of Kandy founded in the 14^th century and endured until the early 19^th century was an important independent monarchy of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island.

From the 1590s, it was the sole independent native polity on the island of Sri Lanka, and through a combination of hit-and-run tactics and diplomacy kept European colonial forces at bay. The Battle of Gannoruwa on March 28^th 1638 is a good example where a highly trained and an advanced Portuguese army was completely annihilated by the Kandyan Army.

Even today the people of Kandy are very proud to talk about its history and its many military achievements that won countless battles against colonial forces till the kingdom was absorbed into the British Empire as a protectorate following the Kandyan Convention of 1815.

Today the custody of the sacred tooth is handled by three custodians, the Venerable Mahanayaka Thero of Asgiriya and Malwatta chapters and the Diyawadana Nilame (Chief lay custodian).

16th Diyawadana Nilame (lay custodian of the Sacred Tooth Relic) in 1964


 

Sigiriya (Lion's Rock)

Sigiriya (Lion’s Rock), the rock fortress which has mystified visitors all over the world throughout her long, colorful history is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a must visit if anyone comes to Sri Lanka.

Different scholars, historians and journalists have expressed various views in order to unveil the many mysteries shrouding the famous historical site. Some distinguished scholars are of the view that the ruins of Sigiriya are those of a Buddhist meditation center, while others stand by the “Culavasma” (sequel to the “Mahavamsa” (Great Chronicle).

Referring to King Kashyapa I (A.D. 478- A.D. 496), the “Mahavamsa” (Great Chronicle) states: “He betook himself through fear to Sihagiri (now Sigiri) which is difficult to ascent for human beings.... thence he built a fine palace, worthy to behold, like another “Alakamanda”, ( A city of the gods) and dwelt there like (the god) “Kuvera.”

Entrance to the Castle

Parts of the castle ruins

History

In 477 CE, Prince Kashyapa seized the throne from his father, King Dhatusena following a coup assisted by the King's army commander Migara, and usurped the throne from the rightful here, Moggallana, who fled to South India. He imprisoned and later executed his father. After this incident he was known as “Pithru Ghathaka Kashyapa”, meaning Kashyapa the Patricide.

Fearing an attack from Moggallana, King Kashyapa moved the capital and his residence from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura to the more secure Sigiriya and built his “Palace in the Sky”. During King Kashyapa's reign (477 to 495), Sigiriya was developed into a complex city and a magnificent fortress.

Moggallana returned to the country with an army and defeated Kashyapa and regained the throne in 495CE and moved the capital again back to Anuradhapura. Sigiriya was then turned back into a Buddhist monastery, which lasted until the 13th or 14th century. After this period, no records are found on Sigiriya until the 16th and 17th centuries, when it was used as an outpost of the Kingdom of Kandy.

The story of Sigiriya is full of legend, love, courage, power and betrayal. But one story remains, the story of King Kashyapa (477 – 495 A.D.) It’s creator, with an artist’s soul.

The famous frescoes at Sigiriya

In a sheltered pocket on the western face of the Sigiriya rock, approached by a Spiral stairway, are the famous frescoes of what many believe are “Apsaras” (Heavenly Maidens).

"Mirror Wall"

On the western Northern side of the steep rock face runs a gallery which provides access to the summit. Shielding this pathway is a 9 ½ ft plaster wall, so highly polished, that even today, one can see one’s reflection in it, and hence it is known as the name “Mirror Wall”. On the polished surface are the famous Sigiriya Graffiti recorded by visitors to the rock in the past dating back to the 7th centuries.

 

The summit of the rock is nearly three acres in extent. The outer wall of the Palace, which is the main building, was constructed on the very brink of the precipice. There were Gardens, cisterns, and ponds which were laid out attractively.

Other than the Palace ruins at the top of the summit,  other attractions of Sigiriya includes the wonderfully  laid out Gardens which according to the latest excavations are one of the oldest in the world. The gardens are divided into three distinct but linked forms: water gardens, cave and boulder gardens, and terraced gardens.

Sigiriya can be visited throughout the year, and the best time to climb is in the morning as the temperature is more comfortable compared to the afternoon. There are many Hotels and places of accommodation, and also a lot of infrastructural developments in the region allowing easy access the and links to other historical sites in Sri Lanka's "cultural triangle."

Visit Serendib (Pvt) Ltd has a variety of tour packages that covers Sigiriya as well as the many other sites around Sri Lanka, One such package that I can recommend is the Classic 7Days/6 Nights package

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons