SIGIRIYA
Sigiriya (Lion Rock ) is an ancient palace located in the central
Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri
Lanka.
The name refers to a site of historical and archaeological significance
that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres (660
feet) high.
According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavamsa, this site
was selected by King Kashyapa (477 – 495 CE) for his new capital.
He built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with
colourful frescoes.
On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a
gateway in the form of an enormous lion.
The name of this place is derived from this.
HISTORY
Environment around the Sigiriya may have been
inhabited since prehistoric times.
There is clear evidence that the many rock shelters and caves in the
vicinity were occupied by Buddhist monks and ascetics from as early as
the 3rd century BCE.
In 477 CE, Kashyapa, the king’s son by a non-royal consort, seized the
throne from King Dhatusena, following a coup assisted by Migara, the
king’s nephew and army commander.
The rightful heir,Moggallana, fearing for his life fled to South India.
Fearing an attack from Moggallana, Kashyapa moved the capital and his
residence from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura to the more
secure Sigiriya.
During King Kashyapa’s reign (477 to 495 CE), Sigiriya was developed
into a complex city and fortress.
Most of the elaborate constructions on the rock summit and around it,
including defensive structures, palaces, and gardens, date from this
period.
Kashyapa was defeated in 495 CE by Moggallana, who moved the capital
back to Anuradhapura.
Sigiriya was then turned 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 briefly as an outpost of the Kingdom of
Kandy.
The Culavamsa describes King Kashyapa as the son of King Dhatusena.
Kashyapa murdered his father by walling him up alive and then usurping
the throne which rightfully belonged to his brother Mogallana,
Dhatusena's son by the true queen. Mogallana fled to India to escape
being assassinated by Kashyapa but vowed revenge. In India he raised an
army with the intention of returning and retaking the throne of Sri
Lanka which he considered to be rightfully his. Knowing the inevitable
return of Mogallana, Kashyapa is said to have built his palace on the
summit of Sigiriya as a fortress and pleasure palace. Mogallana finally
arrived and declared war. During the battle Kashyapa's armies abandoned
him and he committed suicide by falling on his sword.
The Culavamsa and folklore inform us that the battle-elephant on which
Kashyapa was mounted changed course to take a strategic advantage, but
the army misinterpreted the movement as the King having opted to
retreat, prompting the army to abandon the king altogether. It is said
that being too proud to surrender he took his dagger from his waistband,
cut his throat, raised the dagger proudly, sheathed it, and fell dead.
Moggallana returned the capital to Anuradapura, converting Sigiriya into
a monastery complex.[4]
Alternative stories have the primary builder of Sigiriya as King
Dhatusena, with Kashyapa finishing the work in honour of his father.
Still other stories have Kashyapa as a playboy king, with Sigiriya a
pleasure palace. Even Kashyapa's eventual fate is uncertain. In some
versions he is assassinated by poison administered by a concubine; in
others he cuts his own throat when isolated in his final battle.[5]
Still further interpretations have the site as the work of a Buddhist
community, with no military function at all. This site may have been
important in the competition between the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist
traditions in ancient Sri Lanka.
The earliest evidence of human habitation at Sigiriya was found from the
Aligala rock shelter to the east of Sigiriya rock, indicating that the
area was occupied nearly five thousand years ago during theMesolithic
Period.
Buddhist monastic settlements were established in the western and
northern slopes of the boulder-strewn hills surrounding the Sigiriya
rock, during the 3rd century BCE. Several rock shelters or caves were
created during this period. These shelters were made under large
boulders, with carved drip ledges around the cave mouths. Rock
inscriptions are carved near the drip ledges on many of the shelters,
recording the donation of the shelters to the Buddhist monastic order as
residences. These were made within the period between the 3rd century
BCE and the 1st century CE.
THE MIRROR WALL
Originally this wall was so highly polished that the king could see
himself whilst he walked alongside it.
Made of brick masonry wall and covered in highly polished white
plaster,[11] the wall is now partially covered with verses scribbled by
visitors to the rock.
The mirror wall has verses dating from as early as the 8th century.
People of all types wrote on the wall, on varying subjects such as love,
irony, and experiences of all sorts.
Further writing on the mirror wall now has been banned for the
protection of old writings of the wall.
Dr Senerat Paranavitana, an eminent Sri Lankan archaeologist, deciphered
685 verses written in the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries CE on the mirror
wall.
One such poem, roughly translated, in Sinhala is:
"I am Budal [the writer's name]. Came with hundreds of people t? see
Sigiriya. Since ?ll the others wrote poems, I did not!" He has left ?n
important record th?t Sigiriya w?s visited by people beginning ? very
long t?me ago."