Mirisawetiya Dagoba, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

'Mirisawetiya was the first dagaba built by the great king Dutugamunu. Great King Dutugamunu built the mirisa wetiya in 161 -137 BC and united Sri Lanka under one flag. Sri lankans believed that King Dutugamunu had a sceptre that contained a sacred relic of the Buddha. While going to the tank "Tissawewa", for a water festival, the King has planted the scepter in a certain place. When he came back, it is said that his men could not remove the sceptre from the place. Witnessing the miracle, the King decided to build a dagaba enclosing the scepter. Thus was the creation of Mirisawetiya. The significance of the sceptre is the fact that this was the king's "victory sceptre" for his battles with Elara, and by building the Dagaba around it shows the tremendous dedication that the King had for Buddhism and his spirituality'. 

'There are several believes about the Mirisavetiya name and most populer belive is. It is a custom among Buddhists whenever food is partaken, some of it is symbolically offered to the holy monks. In Sinhala, "Mirisaweitiya" comes from "Miris-Wetiya", which means a pod of Chillie. It is rumored that the King once forgot to offer a pod of chillie to the Monks before eating . As a token of apology, it is said that the King named the Dagaba "Mirisawetiya"' – Web-link:-

http://anuradhapura.weebly.com/mirisawetiya.html

'Sivura paevareema' Ctd., Sri Jaya Bhodhi Vihare, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

'Sivura paevareema' - Donating the robe.

The monks leaving the site.

The kids jump into the pool.

An ice-cream 'dansala'

'Sivura pavaereema', Sri Jayabodhi Vihara, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The procession conducting the priests to the venue of the 'Sivura pavaereema'.

The 'confession'.

Being conducted to the 'Seema maluwa' float.

On the float.

Click on the web-link below to view some videos I took and posted on my site, on Youtube.:-

http://youtu.be/hqkMiJGb6Pc

'Sivura paevareema' - the giving of a robe to a Buddhist priest at the end of 'Vas', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

The damed up stream with an artificial pond

The float on empty steel drums being decorated.

Fresh flowers being threaded.

The float.

The retreat of Buddhist monks during the rainy season of the year is called 'Vas'. The book of 'Vinaya' - rules of the Buddhist canon - has rules regarding the observance of 'Vas'. At the end of 'Vas' there is an act called 'Sivura pavaereema'. This involves the giving of a fresh set of robes to the monk. The robe during the Saakyamuni's presence on earth was made by collecting the clothing covering corpses and from these a patch-work robe was stitched. This was then washed, dyed, allowed to dry and was given to the monk. The present day rituals in Sri Lanka involves laymen buying a white linen cloth, cutting it, making a robe by stitching, washing and dyeing it and then drying it. A special enclosure called a 'Seema maluwa' is made on land or water. The priests taking part in the ceremony have to confess any transgressions made to another monk of 'Upasampadaa' rank. If there are no transgressions demanding dismissal - 'Paaraajika' - the monks are led to the enclosure. The monks then do the donation of the robe ceremonially, reciting the appropriate 'Gaathas'. No one else is allowed to enter this 'Seema maluwa' other than monks holding a rank of 'Upasampadaa'.

The above are some of the scenes of preparation for this event held for the Chief Monk, Rev Gonagala Somaloka, at the Sri Jayabodhi Vihara, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

These traditions have been observed in Sri Lanka for more than 2000 years.

Click on the web-link below to view some videos I took and posted on my site on Youtube.:-

http://youtu.be/hqkMiJGb6Pc

'The lovers', Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Isurumuni Lovers

'6th Century Gupta style carving. The woman, seated on the man's lap, lifts a warning finger, probably as a manifestation of her coyness; but the man carries on regardless. The figures may represent Dutugemunu's son Saliya and the low caste (Sadol Kula) maiden Asokamala whom he loved. It's known that he gave up the throne for her.
‘Siddha mahayaha kuni – maha (la) ka Asala yaha (di) ni’ [Hail! The cell of Mahaya is given to Venerable Asalaya]
The above Brahmi inscription was inscribed at the original place where the Isurumuniya Lovers were originally sculptured and placed. It is a special one as a letters in this inscription is 3 inches x 4 inches in size. After donating Vessagiriya to Maha Sangha this sculpture would have been removed and placed at its present place. The Lovers in the sculptured plaque are King Kuvera Vaisrawana and his Queen Kuni. Ramayana states that Vaisrawana who lived in Vessagiriya ruled Sri Lanka from Lankapura before Rawana'. (Refer Sri Lanka Rawana Rajadhaniya – Ariyadasa Seneviratna Chapter 9)

-          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isurumuniya

IIt has been claimed  by some that the 'mudra' of the right hand of the female figure, indicates a

a'desire for sexual congress'. If it is so, it indicates a high degree of sophistication in the era of this stone-cutting (PGV).

The 'Lovers' in their original site in the 1950s. Photo of Mr.Jayaratne, Puwakpitiya, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.