Dalada Maligawa Attacked on January 25

8/7/2019 Dalada Maligawa Attacked on January 25

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DALADA MALIGAWA ATTACKED ONJANUARY 25, 1998

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane

Thirteen years ago, on Sunday January 25th 1998 around 6:30 in themorning, the savage Tamil terrorists attacked the Sri DaladaMaligawa - one of the greatest national cultural treasures of ourcountry. Built originally in the late 15th century, this fabulousarchitectural marvel is more than 550 years old, In the centuries thatfollowed, additions and improvements were effected to the Maligawaby several kings making it one of the most captivating historic

buildings in the country. This magnificent structure enshrines thesacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha which is the most sacred object ofworship in the Buddhist world. It is of utmost symbolic value forBuddhists and the Nation as a whole, because from historic times thepossession and custodianship of the Sacred Tooth Relic wastantamount to acquisition of the sovereignty of the nation. It was firstbrought to Sri Lanka in the fourth century CE and has been treatedwith utmost veneration by our kings of the past. The possession ofthe Sacred Tooth Relic was required for a king to be acknowledgedas the ruler of the country.

SAVAGE ACTION OF TAMIL TERRORISTS

The savagely cruel and violent actions that were characteristic of theTamil terrorists reached their highest levels with this ghastly event ofbombing the one of the most sacred places of veneration ofBuddhists across the world. Structures and historic monumentsassociated with the entrance to the Maligawa were subject to mostsevere damage. In addition the blast led to the demolition of a good


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part of the roof and the exposure of the Maligawa to the open sky.Extensive peeling off of the wall plaster resulted in the destruction ofexquisite paintings that adorned these walls besides damage to otherpriceless artifacts of the Maligawa. Several pilgrims including childrenwho were at the Maligawa died on the spot along with several police

personnel providing security at the Maligawa entrance at this time.In the Sunday Divaina newspaper of July 20, 2003, ManojAbayadeera has written in considerable detail that this attack of theDalada Maligawa was a conspiracy of the Christian church usingracist Tamil terrorists who are now well known to have had the strongbacking all along of the Christian churches. He shows how Christianshave been conspiring for a long time to destabilize the DaladaMaligawa establishment and to eventually acquiring the premises byany possible means to be used for their purposes.

The UNESCO Director General Mr. Federico Mayors reaction to thistragedy is noteworthy. He said "I am deeply shocked by this act ofblind violence perpetrated against a place of meditation, joy andpeace. All religions are based on love and respect for life. Attacking aholy place means striking the very best in humanity, undermining itsinnocence and purity. Those who attack people through their faith canonly be condemned. Religious differences can absolutely not beustification for conflict, and places of worship should in no case beused as targets."

AFTERMATH OF A DEPLORABLE CRIME

For decades I have been interested in Buddhist sites and theexquisite traditional architecture, sculpture, paintings and theassortment of visual art that adorn these sites. I have read aboutthem and visited many of these sites. The inner joy and spiritualfeelings that I experienced are inexplicable and unfathomable. I havephotographed a good part of this rich heritage and have held severalphoto exhibitions of the enchanting paintings found in these historicsites. These were held in Canada during the 1990s and annually inSri Lanka, since the year 2007. Among my collection of photo imagesare some of the most breathtaking paintings of the Dalaga Maligava,found on its walls, ceilings, on wooden structures and surfaces andon the covers of the many ola palm leaf manuscripts found in theDalada Maligava.

It could be considered as a strange coincidence in my life that I wasnot far from the Dalada Maligawa when it was attacked by the Tamilterrorists, and was one of the first to witness the aftermath of thisshocking, atrocious, deplorable and excruciating crime. It is with this


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background that I would like to make a few comments on thepriceless artistic treasures in the Maligawa and the impact of theterrorist attack on some of them.

PRICELESS CULTURAL WEALTH

The bomb attack on January 25th 1998 resulted in the disintegrationof all the enchanting paintings on the Ambarawa that were effectedduring the 17th and 18th centuries. Ambarawa is at the entrance tothe Maligava in the form of a tunnel. Its entire curved surface wasvibrantly adorned with colourful paintings. The blast destroyed theenchanting Sandakada Pahana (moonstone) built in keeping with theunique Mahanuwara tradition, at the entrance to the Ambarawa anddamaged the granite rock pillars which were adorned with delicateand exquisite rock carvings of intricate traditional motifs. Passing theAmbarava one enters the Hevisi Mandapaya (the open verandah-

like area) with pillars where pujas (offering) and drumming areperformed.


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Besides the damages to the priceless cultural wealth that wasassociated with the Ambarawa, the blast resulted in the totaldestruction of one of the most precious items of the Maligawa thehistoric moonstone that was found at the main entrance to theMaligawa. It was one of the few most enchanting moonstones

bearing the design and shape of Mahanuwara moonstone tradition,somewhat similar to the one at the entrance to the Degaldoruwavihare. The destroyed moonstones and other rock structures havebeen replaced with new ones bearing the same shape and designand the Ambarawa paintings have been re-drawn. However, canthey ever replace these invaluable historic treasures that glorified andembellished this cultural paradise? Many ancient ola palm leafmanuscripts and delicate traditional ornaments and artifacts stored inthe Pattirippuwa octagonal building were destroyed.

Except for some structural damages to the plasters and walls and

dislodging of parts of the carved wooden ceiling structures, mostmiraculously the ancient inner relic chamber structure at the centre ofthe Maligawa building where the Sacred Tooth relic was housedremained intact. When conservationists sifted through the rubble afterthe terrorist attack, they made an unexpected discovery. Beneath theexisting wall paintings, two earlier layers of plaster with paintingswere detected. Images of an elephant and a dancer's leg wererevealed which appear to be a part of a wider artistic composition of aceremonial pageant. This painting is attributed to the beginning of the18th century, to the period of King Narendrasinha. Fragments of thesepaintings are displayed today in the new Maligawa museum, along

with pictures of the destruction wreaked by the terrorist attack.

EXCEPTIONAL PAINTINGS OF MALIGAWA

The earliest paintings of the period of the Mahanuvara kingdom are inthe inner chambers of the Dalada Maligawa. They were completedduring the reign of king Wimaladarmasuriya -II (1687-1707). Otherpaintings in the old Maligava building were done during king KirthisriRajasinghe (1747-1786).

In front of the hevisimandapaya is the two storied building where theTooth relic of the Buddha is enshrined. This was built by kingNarendrasinghe who ruled from 1707-1739. The intricately carvedwooden structures decorating the upper portion of the outer walls ofthe two storeys also contain exceptionally captivating paintings.Some of these paintings were done on plaster applied over woodensurfaces.


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On the walls and ceilings of both floors of this building are paintings,which are exquisite. The wooden structures of the upper portions ofthe outer walls of the two storeys are decorated with intricate carving.Paintings found in these structures are exceptionally captivating. .

Most of the Maligava paintings are elaborate, thematic or decorativeones. Those decorating the walls and ceiling of the inner relicchamber are most breathtaking. There are paintings of beautifuldesigns using human figures. animals, birds, and flowers. Some arefound on the carved wooden ceiling structures associated with the

relic chamber. Among some especially appealing paintings foundhere are those depicting King Wimaladarmasuriya-I (1591-1604),King Kirthisri Rajasinghe, Weliwita Saranankara thera, jataka talesand the Esala perahera. Paintings of the Suvisi Vivarana or the 24former Buddhas, deities and heavenly beings are gorgeous. Aparticularly striking painting in one of the Shrine rooms with a Buddhaimage is a stunning Makara Thorana which is a great work of art.

Modern paintings of Upasena Gunawardene are in the new MaligavaAnnex. They narrate the story of the Tooth Relic and its enshrinementin the Maligawa. The Dalada Maligawa museum established in recent

years on the upper floor of the Maligawa Annex contains segments ofthe painting layers damaged by the bomb blast and photographs ofsome of the damaged original paintings and parts of the paintings ofseveral inner wall surfaces that were exposed after as a result of thebomb blast and peeling off of walls. Canvas replicas of someMaligawa paintings adorn the stairways leading to the Museum.


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GREATEST OF NATIONAL TREASURES

The sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha venerated by Buddhists allover the world is enshrined in this fabulous building. It is of utmostsymbolic value for Buddhists and the Nation as a whole. Besides, theDalada Maligawa is also famous internationally for it colourful 10 day

procession called the Dalada Perahera, which has an unbrokentradition extending up to the 4th c .CE. This captivating and delightfulpageant has been conducted for the past 1700 years in severalhistoric capitals in the country, when it was customary for our kings tobuilt special Dalada Maligava structures in those capitals to enshrinethe Tooth relic. Sri Dalada Maligawa is one of the greatest nationalcultural treasures of our country and should receive the highest levelof protection.

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane


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Extensive Destruction at Entrance & roof


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Explosives & weapons brought by Tamil terrorists


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Dalada Maligawa Attacked on January 25