Aukana Buddha Statue


Aukana Buddha statue is located at 30km northwest of Dambulla close to ancient Kala Weva man-made rainwater reservoir. It can be reached from Kekirawa on Dambulla-Anuradhapura road. Some attribute these to have been constructed by king Dhatusena of the 6th century AD, when he was living in a temple called Sinhagiri Vihara. Still others say it was built during the epic reign of King Parakrama Bahu.

Aukana Buddha Statue in Sri Lanka that rise to a height off 11.36 meters, is the tallest ancient Buddha statue in Sri Lanka.
The posture of the statue
Aukana Buddha Statue in Asisa Mudra or the “posture of blessing” is carved out of a rock boulder. The statue is carved in the round connected to the back to the rock boulder. The delicate and skillful carving of the Buddha’s robe humanizes and chastely reveals the underlying form of his body, while the face’s impassive expression projects an aura of spiritual supremacy.
The sculpture in proportion
Aukana Buddha Statue is carved alone the proportion of nine faces: the body height is nine times the length of the face. The proportion of nine faces is the iconometry followed by the sculptors in the eight century AC of Sri Lanka.
Sirasapata
Sirasapata is the symbol placed on the top of the Buddha images in Sri Lanka. The sirasapata found on the head of Aukana Buddha statue is believed to be a modern addition in the year 1870. The discovery of a fragment of a sirasapata in the premises of the site suggests there had been a sirasapata on the head of the statue nearly a century before 1870. This turn of events have lead to study whether sirasapata had existed from the very beginning in the 8th century AD. According to the Buddhist literature sirasapata have existed in the all four previous Buddhas. Introduction and existence of sirasapata have been consistent in Sri Lanka since second half of the fifth century A.D. with several exceptions. Hence it is believed Aukana Buddha Statue too was adorned with a sirasapata.
Pedestal
Aukana Buddha statue stand on a pedestal, the front of which is carved off a slab off stone in the form of a double petal lotus flower called Padmasana meaning the Lotus seat.
Dating Aukana Statue
The difference in opinion of the experts of the dating of Aukana Buddha statues was finally resolved following the discovery in the year 1952, of an inscription on a granite slab built onto the northern wall of the shrine. The statue was sculpted in the second half of the 8th century AD when Mahayana Buddhism threatened to take root in Sri Lanka.




 





                                        










   









                                       
 
                 






 Keep looking at eyes for three seconds............




      





  



Very rare "Naga Roopa" (Snake Face) with 05 snake face. Normally those naga roopa's are carved with 07 faces.




Dambadeniya Kingdom - 1232-1273

Road map to reach to Dambadeniya rock capitol
Dambadeniya is located in Kurunegala district, hiding a ruined ancient city. It has been the capital for more than five decades in ancient Sri Lanka. Much of the ancient city is still lied burring on a huge fortified rock.Area of the top of the rock was not less than 6 acres. The complex of Royal palace, a temple for the Sacred Tooth Relic, 3 major ponds & security points were placed on it.
Dambadeniya was the third capital in ancient Sri Lanka. (1233 – 1283 A.D.) It was crowned by four kings. The pioneer King Wijayabahu-III (1233 – 1236 A.D), builds his royal palace on the rock at Dambadeniya & converted it to the capital of the country in 1233 A.D.

The first segment of the path was recently built
Indian invasions in the early 13th century briefly dislodged Polonnaruwa as the royal capital and brought the royal palaces to a century-long hiatus in the north-west of the island. Vijayabahu III (1232-36) fought these invaders and retreated to build his palace on the summit of Dambadeniya, which was solidly fortified and secured by a moat, marsh and sturdy ramparts.
The Sinhala king Vijayabahu III (1232-1236), who had attained the sovereignty well on in life, made his capital at Dambadeniya in Kurunegala District, and calling back the priests from India conveyed the Tooth and Bowl Relics from their hiding place in Kotmale to the seat of government. He only reigned four years, and before his death committed to the care of the priesthood his sons, ParakramaBahu and BhuvanaikaBahu, both of whom were children.

Narrow point of the stepped path to enable the 
Royal solders to cut the enemies one by one
Among these kings, King Parakcramabahu II was a very talented king in Dambadeniya period. Therefore he is called "Namibabara Kalikala Sangeetha Saruwagna Pandith" And also he carried the Temple of the Tooth to the Wijesundarama Temple during the Dambadeniya era.Pandita Parakrama Bahu II (1236-1271), was born at Sirivardhanapura not far from Dambadeniya. His first act after his coronation was to bring the Tooth Relic and lodge it at the capital. He then turned his attention to the recovery of Polonnaruva from the Pandaya, and achieved this purpose by 1244. The rest of the reign according to the contemporary records was spent in pious works ; the king also held a convocation for the purpose of reforming the priesthood, whose discipline had been relaxed during the Pandaya occupation. After reigning thirty-three years he abdicated in favor of his eldest son VijayaBahu. The new king occupied himself in works of piety, and in completing the restoration of Polonnaruva. Having attended to restorations at Anuradhapura, VijayaBahu sent for his father to Polonnaruwa, where he was crowned a second time. The Tooth Relic having been brought, Parakrama held his ninth ordination festival at Dahastota, and then returned to Dambadeniya, where he died in his thirty-fifth year. VijayaBahu IV (1271-1273) now was sole king, but was assassinated, by his general Mitta, who seated himself on the lion throne. His younger brother, BhuvanaikaBahu succeeded in escaping; the usurper failing to secure allegiance of the south Indian mercenaries, who had been won over by the true heir, was murdered, and the BhuvanaikaBahu I (1273-1284) crowned and reigned eleven years. Early in his reign he had to deal with a Pandyan invasion, which he repelled; thereafter he lived for a few years at Dambadeniya, and then removed to Yapahuwa.
A Dhamila general Ariyacakkavattin laid waste Lanka and the sacred Tooth Relic and all the costly treasures he seized and made over to Pandu king Kulasekhara (1268-1308). BhuvanaikaBahu's son ParakramaBahu III (1302-1310) seeing no other means visited the Pandu King and by friendly negotiations, inclined him favourably and brought back the Tooth Relic to Lanka.


King Vijayabahu III- 1232 AD - 1236 AD
King Vijayabahu III is the first king of Dambadeniya kingdom. Native Sinhalese began to move to the south or Maya rata because of the hard Tamil ruler Kalinga Magha as mentioned in Polonnaruwa kingdom. While he was the king of Polonnaruwa, king Vijayabahu III (a descendant of king Sirisangabo) became the king of Dambadeniya. He conveyed the tooth relic and Lord Buddha's alms bowl to Dambadeniya from it's hiding place Kotmale. His reign was largely spent reconstructing the shattered Buddhist infrastructure of the Sinhalese. The Vijayasundararama temple at Dambadeniya which was used as the tooth relic shrine in Dambadeniya era.

King Parakramabahu II- From 1236 AD - 1271 AD
Then his elder son Parakramabahu became the king of Dambadeniya and he recovered Polonnaruwa from Kalinga people by 1244 AD. His nick name was "Kalikala Sahithya Sarvagnana Panditha Parakramabahu" because he was a great poet and experienced in literature. Kav Silumina is one of his creations. Then he abdicated in favor of his eldest son VijayaBahu and he was sent for the completion of recovery of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura areas.
King Vijayabahu IV - From 1271 AD to 1273 AD
King Vijayabahu IV became the sole king after king Panditha Parakramabahu's death. He could bare the crown only for 2 years because he was assassinated by his general Mitta. Next king of the country was king Vijayabahu's younger brother Buwanekabahu and he moved the capital from Dambadeniya to Yapahuwa. The coins used in Dambadeniya era are shown below. Those are used in the reigns of king Parakramabahu II, king Vijayabahu IV and king Buwanekabahu respectively. The name of relevant king is appears on each coin and those are written using brahmee letters. The end of the Dambadeniya kingdom occurs with king Vijayabahu IV 's reign.
Rock trap
Mukunwanna Pond

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