Browsing by Author "Bogahawatta, C."

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Buddhist Monks’ Contribution in Cultural Relations between Ancient China and Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Bogahawatta, C.
According to the literary sources, relationship between China and Sri Lanka has been commenced since 2nd Century BCE. Literary sources of both countries clearly depict, that the economic, political, and even religious relations have been consecutively continued since a long period between the two countries. By studying the context of relations between ancient China and Sri Lanka, it can be vividly noticed that the cultural context transmission that began to fulfil basic needs mutually, has strongly influenced the religious relations between the ancient Sri Lanka and China. Undoubting, Buddhist monks were the pioneers in continuing these relations between the two countries. Though there is a lack of evidence in written literary sources about the Buddhist monks’ contribution in religious affairs even in a country like Sri Lanka, where history has been written continuously, Royal Historical records of China and other religious records provide fine examples in this regards. This information has been hidden from the research world because they have been written in Chinese language. Not only the monks but also nuns have supported in establishing religious interactions between the two countries. Buddhist monks who played vital role in religious relations can be identified in four types as follows.  Sri Lankan monks travelled to China  Indian monks who visited Sri Lanka first and then travelled to China  Chinese monks who visited Sri Lanka  Chinese monks who reported details on Sri Lanka not visiting the country but staying in India. This research paper basically focused on the identification of the monks and their dedicated in religious relations between ancient China and Sri Lanka during 2nd century BCE to 10th Century CE. Chinese historical sources and comprehensive reports written in Chinese were referred during the research.
Categories of Dance in Sri Lanka during Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Periods: An Archaeological Study Based on Dancing Figures
(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kakulandala, K.; Bogahawatta, C.
Literary sources from the 3rd century BC and archaeological sources from the 2nd century AD provide adequate evidence about ancient dances in Sri Lanka. Through investigations of both sources of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods, religious or semi-religious dances and the dances performed for the king and the royal court can be identified. Categories of dance represented by the dancing figures which are found particularly in Buddhist and Hindu architectural premises as well as unrecorded venues have not been substantially examined yet. Literary sources make repetitive indications towards the practice of dance in ancient Sri Lanka, rather than demonstrating the categories of dance specifically. Thus the main objective of this research was to discover the categories of dance in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods. Features of dancing depicted by the dancing figures were thoroughly examined to achieve the research objective. In attempting to distinguish dancing events from other human figures, the postures of the figures, surroundings and the purpose of creation were analyzed, adhering to standard theoretical frameworks. Through methods of detailed and comparative analysis the categories were recognized. It has been drawn as the conclusion that there had been categories of dance as solo/group dances, female/male and mix gender dances, religious dances and celestial dances as a conceptual dance type during the periods concerned.
An Exploration of the Motherland of Asian Elephants with Special Reference to Historical Records from 5th Century BC to 15th Century AD
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Bogahawatta, C.
Elephants, in the Sri Lankan society, are treated with a certain degree of respect and devotion. With the introduction of Buddhism to the country in the 3rd Century BC, elephants gained a prominent place in the Sri Lankan culture. Literary sources of ancient Sri Lanka, make reports of instances in which elephants have played a significant role in religious functions as well as political functions such as enthroning the king. This is evidence of the significant role attributed to the elephants in the cultural and religious contexts of the Sinhalese society. Since Sri Lanka was located in the centre of the Indian Ocean with active natural harbours, she was popular among foreign nations as favourable trade centre. This is evident from the entries in the journals of ancient Greek, Roman, Arabic and Chinese travellers since the 5th Century BC. Voyagers, historians, merchants, as well as geologists such as Onesicritus (4th Century BC), Megasthenes (4th Century BC), Solinus Polyhistor (1st Century AD), Dionysius Periegetes (1st Century AD), Aelian (170-235 AD), Cosmas (550 AD), Athanasius Nikitin (15th Century AD) and Ludovico de Varthema (16th century AD) have made such informative records of the Asian elephant. They have also devised some criteria to distinguish Asian elephants from other species. These criteria include their intelligence, efficiency and military calibre. Once all their records are thoroughly examined it can be righteously concluded that Sri Lanka was the motherland of the Asian elephants prior to the Europeans’ conquest of Asia. Reports about elephants appearing in the works of the afore mentioned foreign writers ranging from the 5th Century BC to the 16th Century AD have been cited as primary sources for this research.
Ganapati in Early Buddhist Art of Sri Lanka: An Explanation of the Elephant-Headed Figure at Mihintale Kalaka Ctiya
(Reviewing International Encounters 2018,The Research Center for Social Sciences (RCSS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Bogahawatta, C.; Koshalee, K.V.J.; Peris, P.T.M.
The first Sinhalese literary evidence of Ganapati is found in a verse of Sasadāvata, a poetry work composed in 12th century CE during the Polonnaruwa period. Ganapati or Gatesha, who is one of the most worshiped gods in Hindu culture, is not found in Sri Lankan literature till the medieval period. However, a sculpture of an elephant- headed figure belonging to the 2nd century CE has been found on the cornice below the topmost register of one of the frontispieces of Mihintale Kaat ka Ctiya among the frieze of dwarfs, referred to as gatas in literature. The figure has been identified by scholars as the well-known Hindu god Gatapati owing to the elephant head. In comparison to Hindu sculpture, the figure can be correctly identified as an early depiction of Gatapati. This interpretation leads to a number of questions that need to be answered, such as: does the presence of this representation of Gatapati refers to the existence of the cult of Gatapati in Sri Lanka at that time? And further it also raises the question as to what was the intention of having a figure of Gatapati in a Buddhist temple? And it also prompts us to think about the nature of Buddhism that would have prevailed at that time in Mihintale that allowed a sculpture of Gatapati in the Mihintale monastery of Kataka Ctiya. This study intends to examine the social and cultural dynamics that would have allowed for the intrusion of such a non- Buddhist icon into a Buddhist building at an early stage of Buddhist history in the island. Arising from the facts available, this figure can, thus, be identified as an earliest depiction of this Hindu god at a Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka, as the head of the gatas, in the form of Ēkadanta who has only one tusk as we know him today. The consciousness among the contemporary society of him as a divine being is evident from the archaeological context of the sculpture. Therefore, sculpturing Gatapati at Mihintale Kataka Ctiya can be identified as the early stage of absorbing this non- Buddhist deity in to Sri Lankan Buddhist culture. Further, it can be concluded that the heterodox Buddhism was influential in sculpturing non-Buddhist icons in early Buddhist art. Simultaneously, the political 3 revolution from Mauryan to Lambakartas led to changes in political context, therefore, new group of patrons for heterodox Buddhism were begining to emerge.
Numismatic Evidence in Ancient Sri Lanka-China Relations
(Centre for Chinese Studies, Department of Modern Languages, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Bogahawatta, C.
Sri Lankan Elephant in 17th Century - A Historical Record of Robert Knox: A Review
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kakulandala, K.; Bogahawatta, C.
Sri Lankan Elephant in 17th Century Historical Record of Robert Knox: A Review
(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kakulandala, K.; Bogahawatta, C.
Robert Knox was a British sailor who was held captive in Ceylon for nineteen and a half years. After escaping from captivity, he wrote the manuscript, 'An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon' and later published it in London in 1681. It was a descriptive account with illustrations of his experiences on Ceylon. Knox recorded many aspects of the country and its society, including royal administration, agriculture, religion, culture, education and bio-diversity. One of the significant aspects of his account was the description of Sri Lankan elephants at that time. Although many travelers who visited Sri Lanka had previously recorded the presence of elephants, they commented on them as a famous and luxurious commodity. Knox's record was the first descriptive travel account of elephants, rather than an emphasis on their commercial value. His statement "…the creature that this country is famed for above any in India" defined the deep-rooted idea of Sri Lankan elephants among foreigners at the time and expressed why he was interested in writing such a long narration on them. Further, it emphasized the need to review Knox's work based on a historical perspective when we are studying any aspect of the Sri Lankan elephant. Therefore the main objective of this study is to review his account to identify the condition of elephants at the time. Accordingly, it can be stated that the details of the nature of Sri Lankan elephants, attitudes of people, activities, capturing and taming of elephants as well as damages to the people by them can be followed from Knox's account.