Retail
Subscription
Advertise
  • ISSUES
    • 2010 to 2019
      • 2010
        • January 2010
        • February 2010
        • March 2010
        • April 2010
        • May 2010
        • June 2010
        • July 2010
        • August 2010
        • September 2010
        • October 2010
        • November 2010
        • December 2010
      • 2011
        • January 2011
        • February 2011
        • March 2011
        • April 2011
        • May 2011
        • June 2011
        • July 2011
        • August 2011
        • September 2011
        • October 2011
        • November 2011
        • December 2011
      • 2012
        • January 2012
        • February 2012
        • March 2012
        • April 2012
        • May 2012
        • June 2012
        • July 2012
        • August 2012
        • September 2012
        • October 2012
        • November 2012
        • December 2012
      • 2013
        • January 2013
        • February 2013
        • March 2013
        • April 2013
        • May 2013
        • June 2013
        • July 2013
        • August 2013
        • September 2013
        • October 2013
        • November 2013
        • December 2013
      • 2014
        • January 2014
        • February 2014
        • March 2014
        • April 2014
        • May 2014
        • June 2014
        • July 2014
        • August 2014
        • September 2014
        • October 2014
        • November 2014
        • December 2014
      • 2015
        • January 2015
        • February 2015
        • March 2015
        • April 2015
        • May 2015
        • June 2015
        • July 2015
        • August 2015
        • September 2015
        • October 2015
        • November 2015
        • December 2015
      • 2016
        • January 2016
        • February 2016
        • March 2016
        • April 2016
        • May 2016
        • June 2016
        • July 2016
        • August 2016
        • September 2016
        • October 2016
        • November 2016
        • December 2016
      • 2017
        • January 2017
        • February 2017
        • March 2017
        • April 2017
        • May 2017
        • June 2017
        • July 2017
        • August 2017
        • September 2017
        • October 2017
        • November 2017
        • December 2017
      • 2018
        • January 2018
        • February 2018
        • March 2018
        • April 2018
        • May 2018
        • June 2018
        • July 2018
        • August 2018
        • November 2018
        • December 2018
      • 2019
        • January 2019
        • February 2019
        • March 2019
        • April 2019
        • May 2019
        • June 2019
        • July 2019
        • August 2019
        • September 2019
        • October 2019
        • November 2019
        • December 2019
    • 2020 to 2023
      • 2020
        • January 2020
        • February 2020
        • March 2020
        • September 2020
        • October 2020
        • November 2020
        • December 2020
      • 2021
        • January 2021
        • February 2021
        • March 2021
        • April 2021
        • May 2021
        • June 2021
        • July 2021
        • August 2021
        • September 2021
        • October 2021
        • November 2021
        • December 2021
      • 2022
        • January 2022
        • February 2022
        • March 2022
        • April 2022
        • May 2022
        • June 2022
        • July 2022
        • August 2022
        • September 2022
        • October 2022
        • November 2022
        • December 2022
      • 2023
        • January 2023
        • February 2023
        • March 2023
        • April 2023
        • May 2023
  • FOR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
  • ABOUT US
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

Parama Kanda: Beyond The Ages

The dwarfed structures beside the Maha Gala

An ancient cave temple built centuries ago, mammoth rocks that warrant a climb to some unknown pinnacle… and little else was known. All we had was a name – Parama Kanda Raja Maha Viharaya.

Words Prasadini Nanayakkara  Photographs Menaka Aravinda

Travelling along the Chilaw Road in Anamaduwa – a small town in the Puttalam District – the temple is approached by the narrow gravel road named Vihara Mawatha. Just midway along the path a high-rise of gargantuan boulders filled the sky and earth around us, offering an inkling of the temple’s whereabouts. Soon enough a signature arch of the temple 
entrance appeared  just beyond and we instantly stepped into a veil of stillness. Even in the sultry afternoon the cool shade of trees offered an oasis for our wandering feet.

The diminutive nature of the new structures did little to obstruct the antiquity found at every turn. Our first site of interest was the image house sheltered within a cave of one of the large rock outcrops. Within were aged murals of Buddhist imagery and statues of hues and tones that have been likened to 
those of the Anuradhapura era. Tracing the walls along the corridors we find a replica of the Thonigala rock inscription, the original of which is located a short distance outside of the temple premises. This stone inscription of the 1st century BC is one of few isolated records that give credence to the temple’s antiquity with its references to the temple. Scrawled in clear neat lines the odd Brahma letterings of the replica did little to enlighten us. According to the Chief Priest at the temple its translation by historians finds mention of a leader, Watta Gamini Abhaya, more commonly known as King Walagamba, the founder of the temple and his heir Tissa, and both of whom functioned as active patrons of the temple. It also includes a King’s decree which declares that the taxes from water and fisheries in two surrounding cities must be made towards the temple’s benefit and for bare necessities of the clergy.

However it is to Rahat Gala that we venture where we are promised the most breathtaking spectacle 
to ever set eyes on.

The original name of the temple we discover was Achcha Giritha Tissa Pabbatha which reads as Tissa’s bear-like rock. How this transformed to Parama Kanda is unknown. The lore carried through word of mouth also suggests that the temple had been an offering to Arahats or 
Buddhist ascetics, and duly the name of the fourth large rock in the premises is the ‘Rahat Gala’ where it is believed they had resided. The other large boulders that diminish all else have been aptly named ‘Maha Gala’ and numbered chronologically. However it is to Rahat Gala that we venture where we are promised the most breathtaking spectacle to ever set eyes on. We follow the shaded path that falls by the Image House and reach a long ascent of steps.

A hundred and many more steps later we reached the top of the outcrop. Atop stood an unusual arrangement of rock structures, one of which seemed to just hang in the balance, teetering heavily over the edge, for centuries defying gravity. In its dark shelter lay a glassy pool of water. Another seemed to soar away into the sky as though a high tidal wave reaching the heavens. Beyond unfolded a dizzying expanse of greenery that rushed to meet the horizon. We edged our way up the ‘tidal wave’ to reach its apex. 
From up here the surrounding rocks sat meekly below amidst thick mobs of greenery. Lakes, boulders, shadows of clouds lay quietly below and all was still and silent. It felt like the edge of the earth. One can only imagine the ascetics in quiet meditation here, their silent presence undetected.

[nggallery id=257]

TweetShareShare
Please login to join discussion

Explore Sri Lanka May 2023

Explore Sri Lanka

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 BT Options. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • ISSUES
    • 2010 to 2019
      • 2010
      • 2011
      • 2012
      • 2013
      • 2014
      • 2015
      • 2016
      • 2017
      • 2018
      • 2019
    • 2020 to 2023
      • 2020
      • 2021
      • 2022
      • 2023
  • FOR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
  • ABOUT US

© 2023 BT Options. All Rights Reserved.