The Sri Lanka circuit (The morning of day 3 - Last Part) - Polonnaruwa - The 7th of December 2011.

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The Polonnaruwa site is huge and because of the intricate history therewith associated I felt I would certainly need to further read about it, so as to thoroughly associate images to periods of different sovereignty.

The Atadage or First Tooth Relique shrine has a stone stairway leading to the upper floors where the sacred relique was enshrined. among the pilars the image of a Buddha could be seen.

The Hatadage or Second Tooth Relique, similar in design to the Atadage has a bulky parapeth surrounding the shrine, where some of the images have been severely damaged due to the  battle to access to the relique. The seven stepped Stupa - Satmahalprasada could be seen as well.

The Gal Pota or 8 metre long Stone Book is a carved and inscribed piece of granite praising  King Nissanka Mala, bearing references of his invasion of India and his realtions with other countries.

Our visit continued further afield within the site with us having very briefly photographed a huge sutpa, whilst having encountered a few loose macaques still.

The highest moment was withouth any doubt the last part of this visit - the Gal Vihara, comprising the finest group of sculptures of the Buddha carved from a single granite wall to be found in the world (it is said). The truth is these figures were quite impressive, particularly in regards to their facial expressions.

The reclining figure which is almost  15 metres long expresses the calmness of Nirvana, whilst the standing figure though epitomizing calmness is said to stand in front of the bo tree in the seventh week after enlightment in an attitude of respect for the shelter provided during Buddah's meditation period. The seated scultpure expresses elegance and sublimity.

 

Missing Postcrossing cards ...

Two more Postcrossing cards have gone missing, this time to Canada and Germany. 

I must confess I still get sad when postcrossers don't acknowledge the messages I kindly send them requesting their opinion on whether I should send them a second card, though I should have got used to this type of attitude by now.

The "Art" cards I have sent (or attempted to send) very seldom reach their destination ... and I keep on wondering why ...

Gustave Klimt has joined the other well known artists who haven't made it through ... but just like them his "Kiss" will be downloaded and exhibited here together with the Azorean landscape which also went missing.

May they be seen on this "wall" for lost cards and appreciated by many of those who care.

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PT- 209712

The Sri Lanka circuit (The morning of Day 3 - 2nd Part) - Polonnaruwa -The 7th of December 2011.

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There are 14 Hindu shrines within the Polonnaruwa citadel, all of which said to have been built during the Chola ruling. Of those Siva Devale No.1, though structurally diffe
rent from the standard Siva shrines is considered to be one of the finest, with a male lingam and a female yoni.

The Vatadage or Circular Relic House, which dates from the 7th century and was part of a Monastery has a stupa in the centre with four Buddha images each of which faces the principal directions.

The Thuparama meant for a colossal seated  Buddha of stucco and brick is vaulted in its interior and is considered the best preserved vaulting structure of that epoch.

 

Inside its shrine one could see three limestone sculpted Buddahs dating back to the 7th century, the largest of which have been considered the finest in the class o fearly marble sculpting.

Visibly malnurished stray dogs were to be seen lying about almost everywhere within the huge site, which was an "impressive" sight on its own, together with quite a few macaques energetically jumping or playing around ...

 

The Lata Mandapa, an elaborate stupa house acknowledged as the rococo of Sir Lanka because of the flamboyant upper part is said to have been used to exhibit the relics os special worshipping occasions during the 12th century.

(To be continued)

The Sri Lanka circuit (the morning of Day 3) - Polonnaruwa - The 7th of December 2011.

The whole Wednesday morning was spent visiting Polonnaruwa, the seat of government  from the middle of the 11th century  through to the 13th century. It was first declared capital city during the reign of King Vijayabahu I in 1070 AD, but its golden age is considered to be the one of King Parakramabahu, under whose patronage agriculture flourished mostly due to the irrigation systems constructed, which to this day supply the water necessary for paddy cultivation. 

The greatest of these is the Parakrama Samudraya which is such a vast tank that it is commonly mistaken for an ocean, covering 5,940 acres and being able to irrigate 18,500 acres of rice paddies 

The city remains, which have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO are considered one of the country's best planned archeological sites.

 

Ruins of  the Parakramabahu's seven-storey Palace.

The three-tiered structure used as Parakramabahu's Council Chamber was rather impressive with its exceptionally sculpted lions, elephants and gnomes moving along them (so as to indicate the enjoyment sculptors had while doing them), as well as the elaborate traditional moonstone and guard stones at the entrance

 

Equally impressive were the Royal Baths known as the Kumara Pokuna with an intricate geometrical design and fed by means of  a network of stone pipes connected to the Parakrama Samudra.

(To be continued)