Seruwila Raja Maha Vihara

Seruwawila

The sacred Seruvila Rajamaha Viharaya is one of the most historic Buddhist temples located close to Trincomalee (Gokanna) in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The place is also known as Seruwavila by the locals. 

Seruvila can be reached via Kanthale or Trincomalee. The rout via Kanthale runs through the dense forest. It is only 40 km from Trincomalee via Muttur to Serwavila. The place can also be reached by sea. The sea rout starts at Trincomalee and ends at Muttur. From Muttur one has to take the land rout. The ancient visitors to Seruvila preferred the sea rout because it was a difficult journey on land through the dense forest infested with ferocious wild animals. 

Seruvila/ Seruwavila: 

Seru in Sinhalese is referred to a water bird belonging to the family of 'teals'. 'Vila' in Sinhalese means 'lake'. The region is a vast area of low land where the flood waters of the Mahaweli (the longest river in Sri Lanka) get collected. The lakes or rather the swamps in the area had been the home for large flocks of teals. Hence the area was known as 'seruvila' or 'Seruwavila'. 

(A flock of teals)

 Seruvila Rajamaha Vihara is situated within the Mahaweli Delta. The Mahaweli ends its long arduous journey from the Eastern Province close to ancient Gokanna or as it is known today Trincomalee. Closer to the sea the Mahaweli gets divided into two. One of them falls into the sea from Verugal Aru at Lanka Patuna. The other ends its journey at Muttur. The hallowed precincts of Seruvila is snuggled in this Delta formed by the two rivers.

(Seruvavila  )

                                            (The Mahaweli Delta)

The Mixed Community in the area.

Seruvila is surrounded by Sinhala , Tamil and Muslim villages. 

The Sinhala Villages: 

Seruvilagama, Kavantissa Pura, Mahinda Pura , Seru Nuwara, Mahaweligama, Somapura, Siri Mangala Pura, Neelapola, Dehiwatta etc..

Tamil Villages: 

Poonagar, Kiliweddi, Ichchalampattu, Verugal, Ilangathurei etc.

Muslim Villages: 

Thoppur, Selvanagar etc

The presence of a large Tamil and Muslim population in the area was due to the South Indian invasions which destroyed the Buddhist cultural fabric and the prosperity of ancient Sri Lanka. 

The scattered remains of ancient Buddhist monasteries and tanks which date back to thousands of years bear a formidable witness to the fact that the Eastern Province was the traditional homeland of the majority Sinhalese Buddhists. 

However, with the frequent invasions and the mayhem caused by the invaders in the coastal areas the Sinhalese inhabitants were pushed towards the South or more interior parts of the country. 

The South Indian invaders destroyed most of the Buddhist monasteries and everything that belonged to the Sinhalese. The same fate befell on the sacred Seruvila monastery, too and gradually it was subdued by the dense forest. The sacred Buddhist Stupa which enshrines the sacred 'forehead bone' (lalata datu) of the Gauthama Buddha went into oblivion from the Buddhists. 
Though the place is clearly mentioned in the Datuwamsa: a book often read by the erudite Buddhists, only a few people showed an interest in discovering the ruined stupa hidden in the deep forest of Seruvila. 
The most remarkable visit to the ruined stupa was made by Ven. Dambagasare Sri Sumedalankara Thero with a group of Buddhists in 1921. It was a turning point in the story of Seruvila Buddhist Temple. The historic visit paved the way for the Sri Lankan Buddhists to worship one of the most sacred places in the country. A part of Sri Lankan heritage which was on the brink of total destruction was revived and bestowed to the world. 
[ The details of the reconstruction of the Seruvila Raja Maha Vihara starting from 1921 are mentioned in detail in the book written by Lakshman Kahatapitiya titled 'Eithihasika Seruvila Loka Urumaya' which is availabe at the temple] 

Ven. Dambagasare Sri Sumedalankara Thero

Ven. Dambagasare Sumedalankara Thero

( A picture depicting the historic visit to the ruined stupa by the Ven. thero and the starting the reconstruction work of the stupa)

More interesting facts: The Prophecy
It is believed according to the Datuwamsa that the place where the stupa has been  constructed had also been the holy precincts where the relics of three other Buddhas namely Kakusanda, Konagama and Kassapa were kept and venerated. Besides this, it is believed that the Gauthama Buddha visited Seruvila on his third visit to Sri Lanka in the 8th year after enlightenment. There the Guathama Buddha had prophesied that 'a king by the name Kavantissa would build a magnificent stupa enshrined with  lalata datu in a corner of the lake Seru besides the crop of rock named waraha Sonda upon the right bank of the river Mahaweli'.
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King Kavantissa
According to the Datuwamsa the Seruvila Mangala Maha Seya was built by the great king Kavantissa. He was the king of Ruhuna at the time. King Kavantissa was also the father of the great king Dutugemunu. King Kavantissa married princess Viharamaha Devi whose father was Kelanitissa.  It is believed that the king had enshrined in the stupa a gold image of the Gauthama Buddha with the relics of lalata datu: the forehead bone; the largest of the relics of the Buddha and some strands of sacred hair. 

[ An excerpt from a book written by Lakshman Kahatapitiya]

The Buddha Pooja being conducted.

Devotees observing pansil. The huge banyan tree close to the stupa provide shelter for the devotees.

The stupa in the backdrop of the blue sky.

The image house

                     [ The visit of the Gauthama Buddha to the sacred land of Seruvila ]
The history of the Seruvila Temple has been summed up through paintings in the image house.

                    The passing away of the Buddha and the distribution of remains after cremation.

          The Prophecy comes true: the construction of the seruvila stupa by king Kavantissa,

The Separatist War in Sri Lanka and Seruvila:

The Seruvila temple was once again under threat with the start of the Tamil insurgency after 1982. This was not new for Seruvila because throughout the long history of Seruvila the region had constantly faced Cholla and Pandya invasions. When king Kavantissa constructed Seruvila Stupa enshrined with the sacred Lalata Datu the Northern part of Sri Lanka was ruled by Elara: a Tamil warrior king. The rule of Elara was terminated by King Kavantissa's own son, prince Dutugemunu.  

KAUDULLA NATIONAL PARK

A popular safari site in Sri Lanka.
The park is popular among both local and foreign tourists.

                                            A couple of pachyderms courting in a corner.               

Kaudulla National Park

Safari vehicles are available at any time. The charges and hospitality of the guides must be appreciated. The visitor can arrange for a vehicle at the Habrana junction or at Hathareskotuwa junction, near the police station. 

Rout: Colombo 👉 Dambulla 👉 Habarana - Trinco Rd. AROUND 190 Km.

 The park entrance. You can safely park your vehicle here. The ticket counter and the toilets are located here. The basic facilities have been upgraded to match both the local and foreign tourist.

  The traveler minutes before the journey. 

  Picturesque view of the Kaudulla tank field: the stage for elephant drama.  

  Safari tracks. 

  The best time to visit the park is either during earliest of the day: before 7 a.m. or after 2 p.m. That is the time the pachyderms frequent the tank field which is abundant with the grass they feed on. 
'The Traveler' visited the park after 9 a.m. Therefore we could see only a few elephants slumbering in the field. 

A jumbo relishing the lush green grass braving the heat of the day which is usually around 35 c on an average. 

The most beautiful Kaudulla Tank at a distance. 

   Slowly avoiding the heat. 
   

    A jumbo striding into the forest. 
👉Though you visit the park at the wrong time your safari guide makes sure that you are not disappointed. 

   Breath taking views.

 

 

A tusker 

A paradise for photographers 

    A hawk feeding on a lizard. 

   A fishing black hawk. 

Note:

Visit Kaudulla, any number of times but make sure that you leave it as you find it. Pass this message to your kith and kin. We should bestow this gift of nature to the next generation. Hope to visit Kaudulla once again.' 

                                                               Sajendra Kumara

Safari - help - call - Roshan 0776562539 / 0763897004

  

            

Arisimale Beach Sri Lanka

Arisimale Beach - Pulmudai 
The Picturesque Arisimale beach gives one a unique experience. 

👉👨Watch Arisimale beach fun

           Arisimale Beach Fun

 Arisimale beachis situated about 500m from the small town Pulmudai; in the Trincomalee District; in the Eastern Province. The beach can be reached either from Trincomalee (55 km) or Padaviya - Bogaswewa - Pulmudai Rd (37 Km). 

The place can be reached across the lagoon during the dry season. With the on set of the rainy season the lagoon becomes impassable and then the visitor has to take the rout on the Trinco - Pulmudai road close to the small town of Pulmudai. 

👊

In Tamil 'Arisi' means 'Rice' and the word 'Male' means 'Mountain'. 

Hence the meaning of the word Arisimale is 😛 'Rice-Mountain'. 

This could be probably due to the fact that the sand grains in the beach is fairly big;similar to the 'samba - rice'. It is a unique loose sand. The sand is brownish yellow in colour. Usually, the beaches in Sri Lanka have a kind of 'fine sand' which is sticky and pretty powdery. There is a rocky surrounding in the area with a patch of forest with short trees. 

 👊 👉Marble Beach - Trinco Sri Lanka

   On the way to the Arisimale hill. 

  A novel experience to the driver. 

    Water; yet you can drive across. 

   

There is a small naval detachment and a Buddhist temple with meditating Bikkhus. The Navy personnel deployed at the entrance are apparently making a tremendous effort to keep the yet unpolluted environment clean from some of the unscrupulous visitors. They may remind you not to leave polythene in the area and keep silent as much as possible as it could disturb the meditating Bhikkus. 

Arisimale is free from all types of vendors. There is only one kiosk at the entrance. There is only a small parking area and parking could be a problem at the peak holidaying season. 

The Kingdom of Paduwasnuwara

Panduwasnuwara is an ancient city in the Kurunegala area which functioned as the capital of Sri Lanka for a very brief period. King Parakramabahu set up his temporary capital in this city during the 12th century.

History of Paduwasnuwara

The city of Panduwasnuwara in Sri Lanka was established by King Panduvasudev, successor to King Vijaya, the founder of the island nation in the 5th century BC. The ruins at the site date back to the 12th century when it was known by Parakramapura.

The temple is one of the most important features of the ancient city of Panduwasnuwara. However, the centre of attraction of every visitor is the ruined tower situated inside the circular moat. Ruins of this 'tower-like' building called ‘chakkrawalaya’ was built by King Parakkramabahu the Great who reigned in the 12th century.

The circular area is believed to be that of the high tower, though archaeological excavations haven’t established the identity and purpose of the same. The wall with a width of 21 feet at the base was built of clay and had a diameter of 297 feet. Within the tower was a series of concentric circles of clay walls. Within the innermost wall was a square chamber.

It is believed the tower featured several storeys during this historical era.

However, archaeological evidence suggests that Panduwasnuwara wasn't ancient Upatissagama, where King Panduwasdev reigned. However, the popular belief is that Panduwasnuwara was the location where Princess Unmada Chithchtra was kept in a high tower away from the eyes of the men.

The prophesy 

According to prophesy, a son born to her would kill all his uncles in battle and become the ruler of Sri Lanka. In spite of her imprisonment in the high tower called “Ek Tam Ge”, the prophesy became a reality. Her son, sired by Prince Diga Gamini, smuggled away from the tower at birth, survived and fulfilled the prophesy by becoming King Pandukahabya of Lanka.

Paduwasnuwara may not be as attractive as the ancient kingdom of  Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa but the place is worth exploring. The ruins while hiding a part of our ancient history also bears witness to the ancient grandeur of the island. As the ruins are located scattered in a small area it is not difficult for the visitor to explore them.