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Wewurukannala Vihara temple
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Wewurukannala Vihara
15 miles east of Matara is the town of Dikwella,
where there is one of the most extraordinary Buddhist temples
in Sri Lanka. The Wewurukannala Vihara temple is dominated
by an image of a seated Buddha. It is 160ft high, the largest
statue in all of Sri Lanka and dates back to the time of King
Rajadhi (1782 - 1798). The temple has three parts, the oldest
being about 250 years old; however this is of no particular
interest.
The next part has life size models of demons and sinners shown
in graphic detail. If you don't follow the path to enlightenment
this is what happens to you. Punishments include being drunken
in boiling cauldrons, swan in half, disemboweled and so on.
Finally there is the enormous seated Buddha that is as high
as an eight storey building. To prove that that it really
is as high as an eight story building, what should be right
behind it but - yes, an eight story building! You can climb
up inside and gaze right into the Buddha's head.
The temple walls show you the path towards enlightenment by
depicting hundreds of comic strip representations of events
in the Buddha's lives. Among one of the episodes is the Chulla
Dhammapala Jataka. It tells the story of how King Maha
Prathapa of Varanasi on entering the palace found the queen
cuddling her seven month old child. After ignoring him the
King was left insulted so ordered that the prince be executed
and the body be thrown into the air. Several Jataka Stories
are also amid the paintings, which where selected for Vesak
stamps in 1991. One depicts The Kattahari Jataka showing Prince
Kastavahana, son of King Brahmadatta resting with his entourage.
Historic Sites in Male, Maldives
In Male, among the city's modest attractions is the National
Museum, which houses untidy exhibits of the sultans' belongings
and a small piece of Thor Heyerdahl's archaeological discoveries
- many of the ancient stone carvings and figurines are featured
in his book The Maldive Mystery. Near the museum is the pleasant
Sultan Park, and the imposing white Islamic Centre
& Grand Friday Mosque which dominates the city's
skyline. There are over 20 other mosques scattered around
Malé, the oldest being the 400 year old Hukuru Miski,
with some of the finest coral carvings on it, giving you an
insight into the country's unique history.
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