Location: 72 km North of Kandy Map
Constructed: 1st century BC- 13th century AD
The Golden Temple of Dambulla (Sing. දඹුල්ල) is a cave Buddhist
temple of the 1st century BC. e., carved into the rock, with
numerous statues of Buddha. The Stone Temple of the Sleeping Buddha
is the largest cave temple in South Asia. The temple has been a
sacred place of pilgrimage for 22 centuries. Located in the city of
Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, 148 km from Colombo,
near the city of Matale.
Many successive rulers of the island
took part in the creation of the cave temple complex. The temple
complex consists of several caves located at an altitude of 350
meters and numerous niches, the surface of which is painted with
Buddhist wall paintings.
The temple is located on a
picturesque mountain top covered with forest. The temple has 5 main
caves and the remains of 25 rock cells. There are 153 statues of
Buddha, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings, 4 statues of gods and
goddesses, as well as Buddhist wall paintings with a total area of
2100 m² preserved in different caves. The temple houses the largest
collection of Buddha statues, many of which are over 2,000 years
old. 73 statues are covered with gold, which is why the temple
received the name “Golden”.
Each of the five caves has its
own name:
Devarajalena. The cave contains a 14-meter tall statue
of a reclining Buddha with his disciple Ananda at his feet. There
are also four Buddha statues and a statue of the god Vishnu. Outside
the cave is adjacent to the chapel of the god Vishnu.
Maharajalena. The largest cave contains a stupa surrounded by 11
sculptures of Buddha in a state of meditation. There are many other
sculptures in the cave.
Maha Aluth Viharaya. The cave, measuring
27x10 m, contains 56 statues, including a 9-meter sleeping Buddha,
13 Buddhas in the lotus position and 42 standing ones. On the
ceiling are painted images of 1000 Buddhas in a state of meditation.
Paccima Viharaya. The cave is 16 x 8x8 m with a small stupa in the
center.
Dewana Alut Viharaya. A small cave that was previously
used as a warehouse. Contains 11 Buddha statues, as well as statues
of the gods Vishnu, Kataragama and the local god Devata Bandara.
The Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla is protected by UNESCO.
The temple was built in the 1st century BC. BC. Inside the cave, the
perfectly shaped boulder leaned forward, forming a huge cavern over 100
meters long, 25 meters wide and 7 meters high. First, a drip line was
carved to protect the interiors and Buddhist monks from rainwater. The
main entrances had gables and arched colonnades. This gives the temple a
unique, designated, sacred and spiritual appearance.
King
Walagamba of Anuradhapura (1st reign: 104–103 BC, 2nd reign: 89–76 BC)
transformed this monastery from the 2nd to 1st centuries BC. BC into a
state temple. It was an interesting lesson in which the king had to flee
his northern kingdom of Anuradhapura to the interior of Dambulla due to
continuous genocidal attacks by South Indian clans. The monks who lived
in this cave during this time offered protection to the king.
15
years later, under the influence of Buddhist monks and Sinhalese, the
king overthrew the Tamil chiefs, reclaimed the throne and never forgot
the cave and the monks. Since then, many kings have supported the temple
financially by restoring the paintings and statues. King Nishankamalla
of Polonnaruwa Kingdom was singled out for dedicating 70 Buddha statues
to the temple during his reign in 1190 AD. The gable entrances and
arched colonnades were added during the Siri Sanga Bo dynasty of the
Kingdom of Kandy in the 15th century; Ceiling and statue colors were
also restored.
The Dambulla Cave Temple was recognized as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, mainly because of its well-preserved
wall paintings. It is now one of the most respected and visited temples
in central Sri Lanka and a tourist attraction.
The temple is made up of five caves of varying sizes and magnificence. The caves, built at the base of a rock 150 meters high in the Anuradhapura (1st century BC to 993) and Polonnaruwa (1073 to 1250) eras They are by far the most impressive of the many cave temples found in Sri Lanka. It is accessed along a gentle slope on Dambulla Rock, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding plains, including the Sigiriya rock fortress, 19 km away. At dusk, hundreds of swallows swoop toward the cave entrance. The largest of the caves measures around 52m from east to west, and 23m from the entrance to the back, this spectacular cave is 7 meters at its highest point. Hindu deities are also represented here, such as kings Valagamba and Nissankamalla, as well as Ananda, the most devout disciple of Buddha.
The first cave is called Devaraja lena (lena in Sinhalese means cave), or "Cave of the Divine King." An account of the founding of the monastery is documented in a 1st century Brahmi inscription above the entrance to the first cave. This cave is dominated by the 14-meter statue of Buddha, carved into the rock. It has been repaired countless times over the course of its history, and probably received its last coat of paint in the 20th century. At his feet is Buddha's favorite student, Ananda; at the head of it, Vishnu, who is said to have used his divine powers to create the caves.
In the second cave, the largest, in addition to 16 standing and 40 seated statues of Buddha, there are the gods Saman and Vishnu, which pilgrims often decorate with garlands, and finally statues of King Vattagamani Abhaya, who honored the monastery in the s. I a. C., and King Nissanka Malla, responsible in the s. XII of the gilding of 50 statues, as indicated by a stone inscription near the entrance to the monastery. This cave is accordingly called Maharaja lena, "Cave of the Great Kings." The rock-hewn Buddha statue on the left side of the room is escorted by wooden figures of Bodhisattvas Maitreya and Avalokiteshvara or Natha. There is also a dagoba and a spring that drips its water, said to have healing powers, through a crack in the roof. Distinctive tempera paintings on the cave ceiling dating back to the 18th century depict scenes from the life of Buddha, from the dream of Mahamaya to the temptation of the demon Mara. Other paintings depict important events in the country's history.
The third cave, the Maha Alut Vihara, the "Great New Monastery" acquired its ceiling and wall paintings in the typical Kandyan style during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747–1782), the famous Buddhist revivalist. In addition to 50 Buddha statues, there is also a statue of the king.