Volume 05 - 2013
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/13924
2024-03-29T10:09:27ZSubscription Libraries in Ceylon in the 19th Century: Special Reference to the Colombo Library, the Ceylon United Service Library and the Colombo Pettah Library
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11008
Subscription Libraries in Ceylon in the 19th Century: Special Reference to the Colombo Library, the Ceylon United Service Library and the Colombo Pettah Library
Ranaweera, R.A.A.S.; Ranasinghe, Piyadasa
The contemporary library system in Sri Lanka systematically started with the establishment of “subscription libraries” during the early nineteenth century of the British governing period of Ceylon. These subscription libraries were established to fulfill the reading and recreational needs of the British Government and Army officers worked in Ceylon under the British Government. The library service extended to their family members as well. The aim of this study was to explore the subscription libraries functioned in the 19th century. The study mainly focused on the three prominent subscription libraries existed during the nineteenth century, namely the Colombo Library (1812), the Ceylon United Service Library (1813) and the Colombo Pettah Library (1829). These were the first set of subscription libraries established by the British in the Colombo city limit during the early years of their governing period in Ceylon. There was an annual grant received by these subscription libraries from the British Government in Ceylon. These grants were mainly used for the maintenance and functionality of libraries. Library users had to pay a small subscription fee for using the library. Qualitative research approach was adopted and study was mainly based on the secondary data. Secondary data were gathered from the secondary data sources such as “The Ceylon Calendar” The Ceylon Blue Book” and The Ferguson’s Directory”. Data was comparatively analyzed and arranged under the name of libraries. The study revealed that these three subscription libraries rendered a good service to its users throughout the 19th century. However, with the difficulties faced with regard to maintenance and functionality these libraries were amalgamated with other libraries to carry out a better library service to its patrons. As a result of the user demand for these three libraries, the government set up number of subscription libraries in the country covering main provinces such as Central, Southern and Northern by the end of the final quarter of the 19th century.
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZAcceptance and Rejection in Buddhist Monasticism; Spatial Organization in Nalanda Monasteries in Bihar
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11007
Acceptance and Rejection in Buddhist Monasticism; Spatial Organization in Nalanda Monasteries in Bihar
Dhammananda Thero, Galkande
When we reconstruct the history of relationships and hierarchies among people and groups the study of spatial organization provides much information. The „space‟ is a production that narrates the nature of relationships, hierarchies, organizational structures, rejection and acceptance of certain people and groups who live or interact with that particular space. Perhaps the story narrated by the spatial studies differs considerably from the story narrated by the literature. Such relationships, hierarchies and organizational structures that maintained in monasteries are reconstructed mainly considering the literary sources which have their own limitations and biases. Therefore, there is a vacuum in studies of the spatial organization of Buddhist monasteries. In this paper the spatial organization of Nalanda monasteries of Bihar (4th century to 13th century) is analyzed. Objectives of this paper are to explore and reconstruct the above mentioned different relationships, hierarchies and organizational structures that have been maintained among inmates and between lay and clergy of Nalanda, a Buddhist monastery that represents a mature level of the development of the idea of “monastery”. In exploring this, archaeological and architectural remains of ritual and residential spaces will be analyzed in detail horizontally and vertically. The way of the ritual and residential spaces are organized, their orientations, centrality and different levels of restrictive methods adopted through spatial organization will be analyzed here. Several levels of hierarchies among monks and between lay and clergy are seen. While attempting to keep lay people away from the spaces of the monks the effort is seen to welcome them with certain restrictions and limitations.
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZA comparative study on Mahayana Sutra of the World Father (lokapitru) and the Christian Gospels’ Universal Father
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11006
A comparative study on Mahayana Sutra of the World Father (lokapitru) and the Christian Gospels’ Universal Father
Bhikkhu-Dhammakiththi
The concept of a “universal father” is mainly associated with religions that are faith-based and believe in a creator God. Creation and existence is believed by the followers to be at the pleasure of this God. Gospels clearly show that the Jesus, the son of God, from time to time addressed a powerful creator in heaven, who is God, the Father. Jesus called upon the grace of this God on behalf of his followers. The son of God or Jesus is the intermediary or link between the believers and God, the Father. Both in the Holy Bible and in Holy Quran this all-powerful creator God is considered the father of all human beings. Therefore, it is clear that the concept of a „universal father‟ is directly associated with religions based on a creator God. The same concept is also met within the context of Brahman and ātman in Indian religious philosophies as well. The creation of the universe is by the Mahā Brahma. Brahma alone is the creator while other beings have only a seed of him in the form of „Paramātman (supreme self).” However, nowhere in fundamental Buddhist writing is there a reference to the concepts of a creator God, an everlasting soul or a „universal father.‟ It values the independence and individuality of the being. Accordingly the beginning of a „bhava‟ and its conclusion occurs according to the deeds of the being itself explained under cause and effect theory. But, in later writings in the Mahayana school there are some references to the Buddha as a creator and even as a universal father. Yet, these references are still different from the „universal father, concept seen in the Holy Bible. With the development of Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, the role of a „universal father‟ was given to some Bodhisattvas. Bodhisattvas appear to be regarded even as „savior‟ gods in a manner similar to the Savior (Jesus) in Christianity. Although this is not seen everywhere in Mahayana Buddhism here we intend to compare the „universal father‟ concept in some suttanta‟s in Mahayana Buddhism with the same as it is described in the Holy Bible. The idea of the ' universal father' becomes exaggerate with an increased sacredness.
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZOrchestrated Celebration: Performing Reconstructed Identity in the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland (India)
http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11005
Orchestrated Celebration: Performing Reconstructed Identity in the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland (India)
Tatongkala
Nagaland is a hill state in the north-eastern end of India and the homeland of several traditionally distinctive communities who have been collectively identified as the Nagas – a colonial exonym labelled for them since the British Rule. The colonial administration and the Christian missionaries played crucial roles in shaping the present political and cultural fate of the people of this region. While the British administration, particularly its classification of the people of this region and their cartographic segmentation were responsible for complex problems in later times pertaining to Naga identity, the process of Christianization with the aegis of the missionaries created a visible difference between the mythicized pre-Christian past and the present-day life overtly dominated by the Christian religiosity. Since the year 2000, a spectacular cultural festival under the name of Hornbill festival began to be organized by the State Government of Nagaland in the month of December every year, with an aim to foster cultural unity among the various constituent groups at home and to showcase their rich cultural resources to the rest of the world. This paper aims to dwell on the political, cultural as well as economic aspects of this increasingly popular cultural extravaganza in Nagaland. It is argued here that Hornbill festival can be seen as the equilibrium of the diverse interests of its various stakeholders – the local ethnic groups, the Government and the sponsoring private agencies. While on the economic front it makes the biggest tourism event in Nagaland, on the political front it provides the much-needed space to demonstrate the unified Naga identity.
2013-01-01T00:00:00Z