Divulwewa Ancient Monastery
Dancing patches of sunlight drawing patterns on the sand
of a tree lined pathway open up at a clearing strewn with ruins of an ancient
monastery. At a corner, under a newly constructed canopy sits an ancient
Buddha statue carved out of sandstone.
On getting closer to the statue one wonders whether you
are at Mahamvueuna Uyana in Anuradhapura because the world famous Buddha
statue that had moved the hearts and minds of thousands of pilgrims appear
before you all of a sudden. But this is not Mahamevuuna Uyana. But this is
Divulwewa of Horowpathana.
The Samadhi statue here is believed to have been carved during the same
period as the Anuradhapura Samadhi statue and looks similar to the extent
that one wonders whether it is an exact replica. This Samadhi Statue which
is also in the Dhyana Mudra is about eight feet in height.
The site of the Ancient Divulwewa Monastery lies between Galenbindunuwewa
and Huruluwewa along the Horowpathana – Kekirawa main road. It is seldom
that pilgrims visit this site hidden away from the beaten track. The Divulwewa
Monastery is believed to have housed hundreds of monks within its environs
during Anuradhapura period. Ruins of restored image houses and monks dwellings
are all over the temple grounds but one striking feature among the ruins
is what is believed to have been a library on stone pillars (Tam Pita) .
Next to the monastery grounds is also a burial site where ashes of dead monks
have been interred and covered with a stone slab.
The ruins of Divulwewa were discovered during 1060’s and its restoration
work has commenced in 1977.
By Kesara Abeywardena
The Nation - July 09th, 2006
Created : May 25, 2010
Updated :
May 25, 2010
| 
