Monaratuduwa Saga

Ven. Sri Tissapura Gunarathana Thera

Monaratuduwa is a small Archaeological Reserve, located within the promontory that sits right opposite the estuary of the Kokilai lagoon, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Trincomalee District.

It presents a spectacularly inviting first sight, as you approach it from within the waters of the lagoon. One cannot stop from being bewildered and mystified by the peculiar rock formation that springs skyward from the wilderness as if to form an insurmountable fortification against any uninvited intrusion.

In the location where the boats are beached after crossing the lagoon waters to enter into this reservation, there is a flat piece of rock dipping in the easterly direction. Upon this, there are two small wells, each about three feet in circumference. Until recently, they were brimming with crystal clear water, and were found to be of an unfathomable depth.

However, during a visit made in August 2012, it was observed that people had dumped all kinds of debris into them, resulting in their depths being reduced to a couple of feet.

The village elders apprised us of a popular fable that the fishermen visiting this part of the lagoon in the night for the shrimp, avoided this particular stretch of the beach, due to fear of hearing beautiful melodies emanating from this flat piece of rock.

One attempting to enter the forest from this place is confronted with a huge notice board, established by order of the Director General of the Archaeological Department.

Penalties

It says that this is a Reservation where clearing the land, setting fire or felling or otherwise destroying trees, mining, excavating or cultivating, and carrying out any form of construction therein is strictly prohibited. Severe penalties of fines and imprisonment due upon such offences are also described in it.

Notice board

Archaeological findings

Traversing a short distance through the forest brings one to the bottom of the rock formation afore described. Upon gradually ascending these boulders, the transformation of the verdure from shrub to tall trees can be observed. The remnants of an army bunker that had been there during the time of the terrorist conflict are still evident within this forest. The entire lagoon including the estuary, opening its waters to the sea can be observed with convenience from this point.

Archaeological excavation

Continuing to ascend the boulders, one begins to see some steps cut and hewn in the rock, which runs in several directions, according to some preordained pattern.

If a systematic archaeological excavation/exploration is attempted, the past splendour of the edifice that was within this area could be established without much hassle.

Some of the rocks on either side of these steps have small square drill holes, which bear testimony to a structure with a roof of some sort that existed over this stairway. This stairway is flanked by rock boulders of various sizes, with huge trees growing between and engulfing them with their root structure resembling the manner in which spiders lay hold upon their unfortunate prey.

Cave formations

Among these boulders, there exist two natural cave formations. One is of a triangular formation while the other is an arch. There is no reason whatsoever to ‘not’ assume, that these were used as abodes for the inmates in a religious “Vihara or an Aranya” that existed here in the past.

The quiet resplendent environment with the view of the lagoon and the sea beyond provides an impetus for the ascetic to take refuge within for meditation, even today. There is also a spot which appears to be some sort of an opening into a tunnel. Scarcity of adequate protective gear prevents any attempt to investigate it further beyond.

At the summit of this ascent, there is a small flat area. Until June 2011, there existed a circular foundation construction of about thirty feet in circumference, which could have been ascribed as the foundation of a ruined Chetiya without any doubt.

Apart from this construction, a piece of stone with immaculate fine carving was also lying around. This appears to be a lintel of a doorway. However, when visiting upon this same spot with a few devotees visiting our Sri Sambodhi Viharaya in Kokilai, in August 2011, a pit of about five feet deep was found dug within this foundation.

A “Nidhan Gala” was also unearthed, and if anything was enshrined within it, the perpetrators of that crime had gotten away with the treasure. A stone slab that could have been the cover of this was also to be seen near it. Upon returning with a similar crowd in September 2012, the entire foundation construction was found destroyed and further, the ground beneath was found excavated down to almost twelve feet forming a deep and huge pit.

No evidence

This pitiful action has erased all evidence of the nature of the foundation that was there before. The sight of the excavated earth and dislodged stone, spewing along the western slope of this ground formation was extremely heart rending. The stone carving was still lying around, perhaps awaiting its demise as well.

This Archaeological Reserve belongs to the Trincomalee District, since the line of separation between the Mulaitivu-Trincomalee districts (same as that which separates the North and East) run though the lagoon. Kokilai Sri Sambodhi Vihara is located within the Mulaitivu District of the Northern Province.

Upon our very first observation of this location, we were desirous of requesting that this place be vested under the stewardship of the Temple in Kokilai, for both protection and restoration. However, upon investigating we were made to understand that it had already been vested with another priest.

It was pathetic to notice the fact that some party had placed two small photos upon a rock; of some deities, upon the place where, the Chetiya stood and made offerings to it as well, as evident from the debris that was strewn around. This compels us to think that this entire action could have been a well organized attempt directed towards erasing all the evidence of an ancient Buddhist place of worship, rather than a petty treasure hunt.

There is another similar ancient Temple of Buddhist worship in the Nayaroo Village, situated in the Maritime Province AGA Division, of the Mulaitivu District of the Northern Province. This place has been laid to waste by the terrorists, while the terrain was in their possession. Presently this place is under the protection of the Sri Lankan armed forces. If for any reason, such protective measures are removed, without any doubt this place too would suffer the same fate as Monaratuduwa.