Unknown facts about Kandyan Kingdom

H. A. W. Hewawasam Sigiriya group correspondent

The Kandyan Kingdom was the direct inheritor of the ancient Sinhalese Kingdom. This Kingdom was the last Kingdom of our country which had to give in to the British due to an internal intrigue. However, the Kandyan Kingdom with exceptional tenacity and valour withstood all the tsunamic military mite of the British, who later broke in through the holes of jealousy, hatred and disunity of the feudal chiefs of the country. When the country fell to the British in 1815, the city of Kandy had to undergo several changes.

The known history of Kandy is recorded and the unknown episodes of Kandy, has to be delved into by the veteran distinguish senior citizen of our country. Some of them may be old, but they are I consider great resources. I should say they are the living archaeological monuments. The aim of my article is to delve into the deep history of Kandy through the hearts of our older generation and who had a repository of knowledge gathered from their ancestors.

The Dambulu Viharaya used to be the pivotal centre of the activities of the national struggle of Kandy. I was fortunate to gather some important facts from my close dealings with the Nayaka thera of Dambulu Viharaya Ven. Daniyagama Ananda, a son of a feudal lord of Galkiriyagama and his senior pupil Ven. Inamaluwe Sumanga thera to the Mahanayake of the Shyamopali Sect of Dabulu Parchawaya.

The Nayaka thera said Bhikkhus of Dambulla lost their traditional ownership to the Dambulla Royal Temple, when the Ven. Giranagama Indrasara thera was arrested by British Army - Major General Kelly in Dabulu Halmillawa. The British forfeited the rights of the Dambulusangha for helping overthrow the British rule.

The Asgiriya Mahanayake took the reign of control and the struggle was weakened. The Dambulla Temple or Rangiri Dambulla had to have the customary Buddha Poojas with eight and six quarter measures of rice.

Ven. Ananda thera used to tell about a Buddhist monk who lived during the reign of King Sri Wickrama rajasinghe.

This monk was popularly known as Kunkynawe Sumangala. A short stout monk with a peculiar shrieking voice and a mushed nose. He had been noted for his speciality in composing Vas Kavi. Even the King was afraid of this monk. Ananda Nayake thera said that he had heard from his Guru Hamuduruwo, the miraculous power of Kunkunawe Hamuduruwo.

It was believed a massive Nuga tree, stood by overshadowing the Maligawa blown off the ground by a tsunamic boom when Kunkunawe Hamuduruwo recited a Vas Kaviya. He used to visit the Natha Devalaya very often and people liked him for his camaraderie attitude.

The land where the present Pattini Dewalaya located is said to be Alakole which was being watered and nourished by a small streams of water glided from surrounding hills. It used to be an oozey wallow of sediment where bushes of Alokola thrived. Earlier the land where the Pattini Dewalaya is located belonged to St. Paul's church.

Even I used to go very often to Maligawa and have chats with the team of the traditional drummers of the Maligawa. I asked him whether he knew about Borawewa, which was closed during the construction of Katugastota bridge.

The Borawewa located by the Ardhanana Maluwa used to be the bathing place of the dancers who came from Poojapitiya.

He said it was customarily and also the traditions demanded to be very clean before taking part in the Perahera. The waters of the reservoir said to be brown in colour and it was filled up by the British when they started the construction work of the Katugastota bridge.

This person related some other important tales. He said he was 94, and took part in the Perahera as a traditional dancer for over 70 years. "There is not a single inch of land, where my legs has not trodden. In the days gone by Kandy had 10 streets and the Esala Perahera paraded through all the streets, he said with great pride.

The Museum of Welivita Sangharaja, from where I gathered some awesome, but fascinating fact. A flank of the entrance door shows a deeply carved hallowed spaces. It bears a nice episode, which goes like this.

A prank between an aloyte and a novice had turned into a brawl, where the aloyte had assaulted the novice.

The King had seen this and capital punishment was imposed on him. The executioner tied his hands back and led him to the stump on which beheading takes place.

However, the aloyte seeing a small lapse of the executioner took to his heals and escaped into the Sangaraja chamber, closing the door behind.

He was immediately persued by the executioner and struck with the hand axe, which struck the doorframe causing a cavity on the door, which can even be seen today.