On the road to Batticaloa from Vakarai, Sr Lanka.

Water-buffalos grazing in a paddy field.

The main highway.

A side-road.

Seruwavila, articles for sale, Sri Lanka.

Small wooden mortars made of 'Kothala Himbutu', said to cure diabetes.

'Kiri varaa' flowers sold for pooja.

Palmyra fruits and small pieces of trunk of 'Kothala himbutu' in polythene bags.

Flowers for pooja and 'Kothala himbutu' stems.

Please click on the web-link below :-

http://youtu.be/qmaVlYZWMSk

Seruwavila, Sri Lanka.

Pilgrims.

Vendors.

The approach to the Chaithya.

Going home.

Stages in the reconstruction of the present 'Chaithya', Seruwavila, Sri Lanka.

Photo taken in 1925.

Photo taken in 1929.

Statue of Mudaliyar D.D.Weerasinghe  the layman who headed the project to rehabilitate Seruwavila.

Seruwavila, Sri Lanka.

In the early days after the Parinibbana of Lord Buddha, worship of an image of Lord Buddha was not practiced by his followers. Nibbana was 'Nothingness'. To remind his followers of this Great Teacher various images like the 'sacred foot-prints', an empty chair or throne, an umbrella, a 'chamara'. were used. The carving of the sacred foot-print on stone, formed the center-piece of many early Buddhist
places of worship. The second and third pictures show such a place at Seruwavila. Image worship came after the Second Century - Present Era and has now become the main place of worship.