ME23

BUDDHHIST ART AND ARCHITECTURE

ME23  07-04-2011      (3:00 to 4:00)

Write comprehensive notes on any (two) of the following?

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Jetavana
After the restoration of Mireseveti stupa to its full conjectured height, the thinking changed to conservation rather than full restoration, with the aim of preserving the as found nature of the monument with minimum intervention. Hence in the repairs done at present to Jetavana, the largest stupa in Sri Lanka, rules of archaeological conservation are used. In order to identify weak zones of the stupa, finite element stress analyses were done and they showed that the stupa Dome has no tension under self weight, but the square chamber and the cylinders have some hoop tension. Hence, in the dome which was covered with vegetation, provisions to take tension is not necessary, and the surface of the dome is cleaned and a new layer of specially made bricks is added on top of old bricks. The square chamber, which has tensile regions and had undergone serious damage, requires major reconstructions with new brickwork, and reinforced concrete ring
beams and slabs are provided to take up tension.

Polonnaruva era
Beginning with the Polonnaruva era,especially during the reign of Parakramabahu I, when the sangha was reunified after its demise by south Indian Cola invaders who had demolished Anuradhapura in the late tenth century, Theravada became the exclusive form of doctrinal orthodoxy patronized by the kingship in Sri Lanka. What was not reconstituted at Polonnaruva, however, was the bhikkhunisangha, a sorority that had thrived during the Anuradhapura centuries.

Yet Polonnaruva became a marvelous city for a span of about 150 years before it was sacked by another south Indian invasion. Although its beautiful stupas could not rival the size of the Abhayagiri, Jetavana, and Ruvanvalisaya topes in Anuradhapura, the architecture, literature, and educational institutions of Polonnaruva were unparalleled anywhere in South or Southeast Asia at that time. It was also at Polonnaruva and in the courts of kings who soon followed, such as Parakramabahu II . At Polonnaruva, the Hindu temples built by the Cola invaders had not been destroyed by the reconquering Sinhalas in the eleventh century because the queens of the Sinhala kings, who were brought from: south India, were nominally Hindu, as were 3 their relations and retinues.

In this context, Gurulugomi, a Buddhist upasaka (layman), composed the first Sinhala works of prose, including the Amavatura (The Flood of Nectar), a reworking of the life of the Buddha aimed at demonstrating his powers to convert others to the truth of dharma. Since the Amavatura seems to have been written in a conscious effort to avoid using Sanskrit words, some have suggested that his writings reflect an antipathy for an ever-growing Hindu influence on Sinhala Buddhist culture in general. The late Polonnaruva era also marks the creation of many other important Sinhalese Theravada Buddhist classics.

Thuparama
Thuparama built by King Devanampiya Tissa after Buddhism was introduced by Arahant Mahinda Himi in the then capital city of Anuradhapura, is considered the oldeststupa in Sri Lanka, even though there are legends relating to two other stupas built during the life of Buddha. With the passage of time more stupas have been built by the kings and some, Thuparama Stupa when it was originally built was of very modest size. Thupavamsa at the very beginning, it took the shape of a heap of paddy. Today its stands, King Vasamha constructed the stupaghara.There has been four rows of stone 176 pillars around the Thuparama stupa, at one time carried the weight of a dome shaped roof over the stupa, in 1896, 31 complete pillars with capitals has been standing. This vatadagê has been built in the 1st centaury AC.

In the seventh century BC the stupa was covered with a gold and silver casing and the vatadagê with golden bricks and golden doors. Then Pandyans (south Indian Tamil) plundered the stupa of its all gold, jewels and treasures. Again Mahinda IV are installed the golden casings and the golden doors but again in the late 10th centaury Colas (south Indian Tamil) completely plundered the complex of its valuables. On the left to the stupa you can see the conserved remains of an Image house belonging to this stupa complex .The renovation of the present stupa was completed in 1862 which as completely changed the ancient features of this most ancient stupa.

Mahāthupa [ Ruvanveliseya Dagoba]
Mahāthupa(Greatthupa)stupa built by the popular King Dutugamunu during the second century BC.Today known as the Ruvanveliseya Dagaba,this is the center piece of the Mahavihara,it’s long history of guarding the traditions of Theravada Buddhism, was the most important monastery of the Anuradhapura city. It became very famous than all the other stupas. The foundation of this stupa was very firm. The King Dutugamunu is supposed to help inquired its architect concerning the shape of the stupa. Then, he built the aid of the golden bowl filled with water presented to the king, the shape of the Mahāthupa.

The Dome of this stupa was a bubble (Bubbulakara)shape and it was the most prevalent type of the stupa in the island ancient days and even up to this state. This stupa has three circular terraces built of bricks at the base. The upper terrace is smaller in the diameter than one below it. King Saddhatissa built the square structure about the Dome and also Chatra. King Amandagamili-abhaya sent to have placed the second Chatra above the one which had already existed in his style. King Sanddhatissa is sent to have provided a ring of Crystal on the top of the Mahāthupa and fixed with four gems at the four sides of the square structure. The pave platform of this stupa was surrounded by a broad procession path on all four sides. This is called the sand terrace and it is very extensive.

On top of this beautiful 'bubble' shaped Mahathupa was a ruby as big as a man's fist, and today the Burmese people have donated a rock crystal, which is 2 feet high (60cm) to replace it.

Copier-Ashin Indaka (Kyone Pyaw)