Tuesday, July 27, 2010
'Saman Mal Piyalle' - H R Jothipala - Popular Sinhala Song
Saman Mal Piyalla Song of " Thajmahal Movies "
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Nachers....
Sri Lanka is a Nature's wonder. the little island 270 km by 140 km in size has everything a nature lover will look for. The highly diversified island differs from city to city, district to district and province to province.
Mountains, Geo Plains, Dashing Water Falls, National parks, Sea, Beaches Rocks, Paddy fields, Tea Gardens, Rain Forests, Rivers, Landscapes, Streams all are beautiful. The Sri Lankan nature's beauty blends in it's wild life of elephants, birds, animals, flowers and wide verity of trees.
Alawathugoda World wide presents you a nature of Sri Lanka and about the beauty of Badulla and Nuwaraeliya Districts of Sri Lanka. Horton Plains and Worlds End are beautiful places of Sri Lanka. Horton Plains are Natural and most attractive place. Most tourists are like to visit those places.
Horton plain is a highest plane of Sri Lanka. That place has highest gap called "Worlds end" and very beautiful waterfall called "Bakers Waterfall". Border of Badulla and Nuwaraeliya Districts you have to see many nice places. There are cool villages of Sri Lanka that is Ohiya village, Pattipola village and Ambewela Village. Ambewela also hill country cool village and Milko milk powder factory and Ambewela New Zealand farm is situated there.
Badulla and Nuwaraeliya districts has many waterfalls and mountains. Highest mountain of Sri Lanka is "Piduruthalagala" mountain. 2nd and 3rd are "Thotupala" mountain and "Kirigalpottha" mountain.
Highest Railway station above sea level of Sri Lanka is "Pattipola". It is 1892m. Pattipola has very dark railway tunnel. That Tunnel Identify as "Tunnel 18" because that tunnel is 18th from Colombo. This is brief account of some place Nature web site describes more places, waterfalls and mountains of Sri Lanka as well. See the all pages under the Nature web site....
Mountains, Geo Plains, Dashing Water Falls, National parks, Sea, Beaches Rocks, Paddy fields, Tea Gardens, Rain Forests, Rivers, Landscapes, Streams all are beautiful. The Sri Lankan nature's beauty blends in it's wild life of elephants, birds, animals, flowers and wide verity of trees.
Nature of Sri Lanka
Alawathugoda World wide presents you a nature of Sri Lanka and about the beauty of Badulla and Nuwaraeliya Districts of Sri Lanka. Horton Plains and Worlds End are beautiful places of Sri Lanka. Horton Plains are Natural and most attractive place. Most tourists are like to visit those places.
Horton plain is a highest plane of Sri Lanka. That place has highest gap called "Worlds end" and very beautiful waterfall called "Bakers Waterfall". Border of Badulla and Nuwaraeliya Districts you have to see many nice places. There are cool villages of Sri Lanka that is Ohiya village, Pattipola village and Ambewela Village. Ambewela also hill country cool village and Milko milk powder factory and Ambewela New Zealand farm is situated there.
Badulla and Nuwaraeliya districts has many waterfalls and mountains. Highest mountain of Sri Lanka is "Piduruthalagala" mountain. 2nd and 3rd are "Thotupala" mountain and "Kirigalpottha" mountain.
Highest Railway station above sea level of Sri Lanka is "Pattipola". It is 1892m. Pattipola has very dark railway tunnel. That Tunnel Identify as "Tunnel 18" because that tunnel is 18th from Colombo. This is brief account of some place Nature web site describes more places, waterfalls and mountains of Sri Lanka as well. See the all pages under the Nature web site....
Kandy Hestrey
Kandy Hiestrey .....
After the death of King Parakramabahu the vi, Kandyans asserted their independence from Kotte.Portuguese arrived in the early 16th centaury, signifying the arrival of the Europeans.
They established a trading settlement in Colombo. By the year 1600, they converted some of the Sinhala royalty to Catholicism, and had a major control over the southwest coastal region.
By then Senarath (1604-1635), had established the kingdom of Kandy. His relationship with the Portuguese deteriorated in 1617 & his son Rajasinghe II also opposed the Portuguese, forming an alliance with the Dutch
The Dutch alliance also broke down & they captured the eastern ports of the Kandyans.
The Dutch captured the forts, Colombo, Galle & Negombo. By then they had most of the regions of Sri Lanka under their rule. But Kandy maintained their independents.
After the death of King Parakramabahu the vi, Kandyans asserted their independence from Kotte.Portuguese arrived in the early 16th centaury, signifying the arrival of the Europeans.
They established a trading settlement in Colombo. By the year 1600, they converted some of the Sinhala royalty to Catholicism, and had a major control over the southwest coastal region.
By then Senarath (1604-1635), had established the kingdom of Kandy. His relationship with the Portuguese deteriorated in 1617 & his son Rajasinghe II also opposed the Portuguese, forming an alliance with the Dutch
The Dutch alliance also broke down & they captured the eastern ports of the Kandyans.
The Dutch captured the forts, Colombo, Galle & Negombo. By then they had most of the regions of Sri Lanka under their rule. But Kandy maintained their independents.
The first British conquest took place during 1795-1796. They drove the Dutch out of the country & seized all the major ports. The Kandians grip of their own empire were weakening. They managed to beat back the first resistance by the British in 1803.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Anuradhpura Histrey
Anuradhapura......
The Anuradhapura Kingdom was under constant threat from south Indian kingdoms. The King Mahinda V ascended to throne in 982 A.C, and was the last Sinhalese king to rule the country from Glorious city. At this time the South Indian realm Chola, became very powerful under the Great Rajaraja (985- 1018 A.C) and conquered Sri Lanka. The King Mahinda was captured and imprisoned in South India.
The South Indians ruled the country for next 75 years. They shifted the Capital city to Polonnaruwa due to strategic reasons after considering the vulnerably for attacks from both native Sinhalese people and other south Indian Kingdoms.
"Samadhi Budu Pilimaya"
This limestone image of lord Buddha is dating from the 3rd Century.
Seated under a Bo tree, depicts the Lord Buddha in the serene state of Samadhi, or deep meditation. It's not secret why the Great Indian statesman Jawaharlal Nehru found solace and strength in a photograph of this statue when he was imprisoned by the British in 1940s.
The kindness of Lord Buddha flows through the half closed eyes, Watch as as long as you like. This is the finest Meditation Buddha statue in the whole World
Dulangika Anuradha Nilagarathna...
Anuradhapura Kingdom was built by King Pandukabhya, son of Princess Unmada chithtra. The city was the first of it's kind with well designed sanitary system, Gardens, Irrigation and Water supply systems, Temples, cemeteries and burial grounds, etc. The city was then became the capital city of Sri Lanka and flourished under many subsequent Kings ruled for centuries.
Anuradhapura Kingdom was highly vulnerable to invasions from South India and suffered usurp of throne several times, by invading Kings from south India. Singhalese Kings have managed to defeat the invaders after reorganizing the troops, although the invading kings ruled in the mean time. One such historic battle held Between King Dutugamunu and South Indian King, Elara. In that, King Elara was defeated and King Dutugamunu ruled the country in single sovereignty.
The Anuradhapura Kingdom was under constant threat from south Indian kingdoms. The King Mahinda V ascended to throne in 982 A.C, and was the last Sinhalese king to rule the country from Glorious city. At this time the South Indian realm Chola, became very powerful under the Great Rajaraja (985- 1018 A.C) and conquered Sri Lanka. The King Mahinda was captured and imprisoned in South India.
The South Indians ruled the country for next 75 years. They shifted the Capital city to Polonnaruwa due to strategic reasons after considering the vulnerably for attacks from both native Sinhalese people and other south Indian Kingdoms.
Ruwanwalisaya .........
Every monastery has a dagoba. Ruvanveliseya is the dagoba of Maha Vihara. It was built by a Sinhalese hero King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century B.C. The architect ingeniously combined the Buddhist philosophy in the architectural conception. He conceived this as a bubble of milk: representing life, which will burst in no time just like the fragility of our lives. Its dome represents the vastness of the doctrine; the four facets of the box oh top represents the four noble truths. The concentric rings there after indicate the noble eightfold path that leads man to illumination. The illumination: the whole truth is light and transparent like the rock crystal at the pinnacle. The 1956's restoration curb on the dome is much to the chagrin of the purists: which looks flatter than bubbly.
Ruvanweliseya is opposite the museum. It was begun to house relics; priests from all over India were recorded as being present at the enshrinement of the relics in 140 BC. A huge dagaba, It is surrounded by the remains of lots of buildings. you can see the columns often no more than 500 cm in height dotted around in the grass underneath huge rain trees where monkeys play. The dome is 80m in diameter at its base and 53m high. A small passage leads to the relic chamber. At the cardinal points are four ' chapels' which were reconstructed in 1873, when renovation started. The restoration has flattened the shape of the dome, and some of the painting is of questionable style, but it remains a remarkably striking monument. Today, you may find watching the dagaba being "white washed"- an interesting spectacle.
Jatawanaramaya......
Jetavana Dageba was named after the first Buddhist monastery (names of the Jethavanarama and Abhayagiriya Dagabas are sometimes reversed). The largest dagaba in Anuradhapura (considered by some to be the highest in the world). It is also being renovated with help from UNESCO.
Started by King Mahasena (AD 275-292), the paved platform on which it stands covers more than 3 ha and it has a diameter of over 100m. In 1860 Emerson Tennet, in his book Ceylon, calculated that it had enough bricks to build a 3m high brick wall 25cm thick from London to Edinburgh, equal to the distance from the southern tip of Sri Lanka to Jaffna and back down the coast to Trincomalee.
Its massive scale was designed in a competitive spirit to rival the orthodox Maha Vihara.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya
The 'Bo' ( 'Bodhi') tree or Pipal (ficus religiosa) was planted as a cutting brought from India by by emperor Ashoka's daughter, the Princess Sangamitta, at some point after 236 BC. Guardians have kept uninterrupted watch over the tree ever since. There are other Bo trees around the Sir Maha Bodhi which stands on the highest terrace. In April a large number of pilgrims arrive to make offering during the Snana Pooja, and to bathe the tree with milk. Every 12th year the ceremony is particularly auspicious.
A board, paved path leads from the point you leave your shoes. It is shaded by a tent like structure - tasseled ropes crossing the path colored yellow, blue, red, white and orange. You can only see the top of the BO tree which is supported by an elaborate metal structure and is surrounded by brass railing which are bedecked with colorful prayer flags and smaller strips of cloth which pilgrims tie in expectation of prayers being answered
Samadhi Buddha Statue
The road north ( Sangaraja Mawatha) goes 1.5 km trough the site of the 11th century palace of Vijayabahu I to the superb statue of the serene Buddha with an expression depicting ' extinction of feeling and compassion'; some think the expression change as the sun's light moves across it. Roofed to protect it form the weather, it probably dates form the 3rd century AD. It is one of the more active religious sites it is adorned with lotus buds and payer flags
Mahamevuna Uyana. Anuradhapura,
"Samadhi Budu Pilimaya"
This limestone image of lord Buddha is dating from the 3rd Century.
Seated under a Bo tree, depicts the Lord Buddha in the serene state of Samadhi, or deep meditation. It's not secret why the Great Indian statesman Jawaharlal Nehru found solace and strength in a photograph of this statue when he was imprisoned by the British in 1940s.
The kindness of Lord Buddha flows through the half closed eyes, Watch as as long as you like. This is the finest Meditation Buddha statue in the whole World
Dulangika Anuradha Nilagarathna...
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Kalaniya Histrey .
Polonnaruwa or Anuradhapura may be the very first places that would enter your mind when you begin to think of Buddhist religious sites in Sri Lanka. But the next moment you may remember that the most sacred of all is situated just a six miles away from Colombo, beside the Kelani River stretching over an area of ten acres. Kelani Raja Maha Vihara which is never devoid of Buddhist devotees was filled with Upasaka, Upasika as usual last weekend. Of all twelve poyas, Vesak Full Moon Poya is of the greatest importance to Kelani Vihara as in the Buddhist era of 2531, it was on a Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, the Buddha had visited Kelaniya.
“Out of His three visits to the country, His visit to Kelaniya is considered the most significant one as this was the first instance the Enlightened One had set his foot on the ground, before leaving for Sripada to place His foot imprint.
On other two occasions the Buddha had preached Dhamma while staying afloat,” Viharadhipathi Ven. Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkita Nayake Thera explained to us.
During its over thousand years of history, Kelani Vihara has always attracted the attention of devout Buddhists, becoming a popular subject for numerous books, newspaper articles and documentaries. As Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkita Thera says the history of Kelani Vihara can be analysed in two ways - as mentioned in Mahavamsa and in Ramayana.According to Ramayana, the King Vibeeshana who ruled Kelaniya had supported Prince Rama to take Princess Seetha (who was abducted by King Ravana) back to India. As Rama defeated a King of Lanka, Ravana, the former crowned Vibeeshana as the King. Later he was elevated to God - like status.
“As mentioned in `Vansa Katha Atuwa’, Naga King Maniakkika had been both in Mahiyangana and Nagadeepa, when the Buddha visited these places.
It was during the Buddha’s visit to Nagadeepa that he was invited by the Naga King to visit Kelaniya.
“Naga King had brought the gem-studded chair over to Kelaniya from Nagadeepa and had placed it in a gem studded Mandapa. It is from there that the Buddha had preached to the crowds after partaking alms .That is where the Cetiya (pagoda) was built.”
Referring to the pagoda which stands on the other bank of the Kelani river, the thera said it was built enshrining the `Jala Sateeka’ which the Buddha worn while having a bath in the Kelani River.
It says that King Kanishka had offered a pooja to the pagoda which enshrines the `Jala Satika’ (Uda kasda) of the Buddha. According to the inscription it is clear that both pagodas had been there during the Anuradhapura kingdom.
Next, it was during the reign of King Yatalalatissa, brother of King Kelanitissa that the Mahavamsa talks of Kelani Vihara. He is the one who reconstructed the Vihara. His successor was Kelanitissa.” Devotees largely used to visit the temple during that time, in the 3rd Century B.C.
When Princess Devi, daughter of king Kelanitissa was offered as a sacrifice to the `sea-gods’ she safely arrived in the shores of Magama and later became the Chief Queen of King Kavantissa. By the time, the Kelani Kingdom had come to an end and Kelaniya was ruled from Magama.
Kelaniya again becomes a subject of interest in Mahavamsa during the reign of Chola King, Kalinga Magha, an invader who ruled the Polonnaruwa Kingdom.
“It was king Vijayabahu III who organised an army against Magha while dwelling in this area. In response to Vijayabahu’s army, Magha dispatched a powerful contingent of troops towards Kelaniya which caused severe damage to the temple. “ Anyway King Vijayabahu could defeat Magha’s army and ensure his power in Polonnaruwa kingdom. Subsequently he rebuild the temple.”
Mahavamsa also mentions how King Parakramabahu, King Agbo and King Mihindu IV of Anuradhapura performed Poojas at this Vihara.
Kelaniya Vihara reached the peak of its glory in the Kotte era. During the reign of King Buwanekabahu IV, monks who arrived from Myanmar (then Burma) were ordained in Kelaniya. “Unfortunately the Portuguese who arrived here in 1505 caused much havoc to the temple. In 1510 they destroyed Kelani Vihara.
Anyway in 1767 during the Dutch rule, King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha of the Kandyan Kingdom reconstructed the Vihara. he old pagoda was renovated while a new Dharmashala, Makara Thorana (which is on the right side), and a Poya Geya were added to the precincts.
Referring to the developments in the 20th century, Ven. Sangarakkitta Thera paid a compliment to the late Ms. Helena Wijewardene who constructed the new Vihara in 1927 encircling the old Vihara which was constructed by King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha in 1767. Paintings of New Vihara were done by the veteran artist Solius Mendis and are known for their originality and diversity .
From earlier times the practice has been to paint the walls of temples with pictures of the Jataka stories (Old paintings of Kelani Vihara too repeat Jathaka stories).
But the new paintings had taken a novel turn by depicting a series of historical scenes that are connected with the birth, rise and progress of Buddhism in Sri Lanka....
Today the Kelani procession is composed of the processions of the Buddha Relics and those of the three devalas of Vibhishana, Vishnu and Kataragama Gods.
Afterwards it was with the help of Mrs. Helena Wejewardene that the procession was started again. To this day, Duruthu Perehara of Kelani Raja Maha Vihara parades through the streets in the month of January.
Dulangika Anuradha Nilagarathna
“Out of His three visits to the country, His visit to Kelaniya is considered the most significant one as this was the first instance the Enlightened One had set his foot on the ground, before leaving for Sripada to place His foot imprint.
On other two occasions the Buddha had preached Dhamma while staying afloat,” Viharadhipathi Ven. Prof. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkita Nayake Thera explained to us.
During its over thousand years of history, Kelani Vihara has always attracted the attention of devout Buddhists, becoming a popular subject for numerous books, newspaper articles and documentaries. As Ven. Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkita Thera says the history of Kelani Vihara can be analysed in two ways - as mentioned in Mahavamsa and in Ramayana.According to Ramayana, the King Vibeeshana who ruled Kelaniya had supported Prince Rama to take Princess Seetha (who was abducted by King Ravana) back to India. As Rama defeated a King of Lanka, Ravana, the former crowned Vibeeshana as the King. Later he was elevated to God - like status.
As Mahavamsa says, on the 8th year of His supreme Enlightenment, the Buddha visited Kelaniya with 500 Arhats on the invitation of the Naga King Maniakkika.
“As mentioned in `Vansa Katha Atuwa’, Naga King Maniakkika had been both in Mahiyangana and Nagadeepa, when the Buddha visited these places.
It was during the Buddha’s visit to Nagadeepa that he was invited by the Naga King to visit Kelaniya.
“Naga King had brought the gem-studded chair over to Kelaniya from Nagadeepa and had placed it in a gem studded Mandapa. It is from there that the Buddha had preached to the crowds after partaking alms .That is where the Cetiya (pagoda) was built.”
Referring to the pagoda which stands on the other bank of the Kelani river, the thera said it was built enshrining the `Jala Sateeka’ which the Buddha worn while having a bath in the Kelani River.
In 1970, Ven. Prof. Kamburupitiye Vanarathana Thera of Vidyodaya University who was engaged in excavation work at Kelaniya, came across an inscription carved on a stone pillar of the Vibeeshana Devala in the temple premises.
It says that King Kanishka had offered a pooja to the pagoda which enshrines the `Jala Satika’ (Uda kasda) of the Buddha. According to the inscription it is clear that both pagodas had been there during the Anuradhapura kingdom.
Next, it was during the reign of King Yatalalatissa, brother of King Kelanitissa that the Mahavamsa talks of Kelani Vihara. He is the one who reconstructed the Vihara. His successor was Kelanitissa.” Devotees largely used to visit the temple during that time, in the 3rd Century B.C.
When Princess Devi, daughter of king Kelanitissa was offered as a sacrifice to the `sea-gods’ she safely arrived in the shores of Magama and later became the Chief Queen of King Kavantissa. By the time, the Kelani Kingdom had come to an end and Kelaniya was ruled from Magama.
Kelaniya again becomes a subject of interest in Mahavamsa during the reign of Chola King, Kalinga Magha, an invader who ruled the Polonnaruwa Kingdom.
“It was king Vijayabahu III who organised an army against Magha while dwelling in this area. In response to Vijayabahu’s army, Magha dispatched a powerful contingent of troops towards Kelaniya which caused severe damage to the temple. “ Anyway King Vijayabahu could defeat Magha’s army and ensure his power in Polonnaruwa kingdom. Subsequently he rebuild the temple.”
Mahavamsa also mentions how King Parakramabahu, King Agbo and King Mihindu IV of Anuradhapura performed Poojas at this Vihara.
Kelaniya Vihara reached the peak of its glory in the Kotte era. During the reign of King Buwanekabahu IV, monks who arrived from Myanmar (then Burma) were ordained in Kelaniya. “Unfortunately the Portuguese who arrived here in 1505 caused much havoc to the temple. In 1510 they destroyed Kelani Vihara.
For about ten years it had been a `forbidden zone’ to Buddhists. The Bo-Tree which is there today is a sapling sprouted from the original Bo tree, which was mercilessly destroyed by the Portuguese.
Anyway in 1767 during the Dutch rule, King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha of the Kandyan Kingdom reconstructed the Vihara. he old pagoda was renovated while a new Dharmashala, Makara Thorana (which is on the right side), and a Poya Geya were added to the precincts.
Referring to the developments in the 20th century, Ven. Sangarakkitta Thera paid a compliment to the late Ms. Helena Wijewardene who constructed the new Vihara in 1927 encircling the old Vihara which was constructed by King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha in 1767. Paintings of New Vihara were done by the veteran artist Solius Mendis and are known for their originality and diversity .
From earlier times the practice has been to paint the walls of temples with pictures of the Jataka stories (Old paintings of Kelani Vihara too repeat Jathaka stories).
But the new paintings had taken a novel turn by depicting a series of historical scenes that are connected with the birth, rise and progress of Buddhism in Sri Lanka....
Today the Kelani procession is composed of the processions of the Buddha Relics and those of the three devalas of Vibhishana, Vishnu and Kataragama Gods.
The procession has been conducted for centuries, it was stopped during the time the country was under the control of the Portuguese.
Afterwards it was with the help of Mrs. Helena Wejewardene that the procession was started again. To this day, Duruthu Perehara of Kelani Raja Maha Vihara parades through the streets in the month of January.
Dulangika Anuradha Nilagarathna
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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