The Buddhist Heritage Related to Sigiriya Revealed Through Archaeological Factors

Abstract

Archaeology can be simply defined as the study of mankind's history through scientific observation of material evidence. Many of the archaeological evidence from the ancient era of Sri Lanka can be described to be of creations that had Buddhist background. The purpose of this research will be to investigate Buddhist heritage by analyzing data found from the world heritage site “Sigiriya”. The methodology of this research will take material factors, considered to be archaeological evidence, and scriptures, into the preliminary investigation. Built to function as a fortress and palace, most attention to Sigiriya is directed towards the creations that took place during king Kashayapa’s reign during the 5th century A.D. These factors contributed greatly to wars Sigiriya becoming a world heritage site. However, before and after the period of Kashayapa, much development of Buddhism has not taken place in and around d this area. Scripture carved into cave walls and other literature found in caves prove that this site contains cave monasteries are connected with one of the most important events if Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the arrival of Buddhism known “Mahindagamanaya”. Furthermore, many post-Kashyapa religious buildings such as the“Bodhigaraya”, “Cave monasteries”, “Stupa”can be found here. The frescoes can be recognized as a place in Sigiriya where much focus has turned. The female figures, among these frescoes, has been the centre of much discussion. But the imagery found near the"Asana” cave shows that there were indeed a Buddhist influence as well. A picture of a monk can be clearly identified here. According to these data, we can unravel information the Buddhist nature and the inception of such an environment through the identification of our Archaeology can be simply defined as the study of mankind's history through scientific observation of material evidence. Many of the archaeological evidence from the ancient era of Sri Lanka can be described to be of creations that had Buddhist background. The purpose of this research will be to investigate Buddhist heritage by analyzing data found from the world heritage site “Sigiriya”. The methodology of this research will take material factors, considered to be archaeological evidence, and scriptures, into the preliminary investigation. Built to function as a fortress and palace, most attention to Sigiriya is directed towards the creations that took place during king Kashayapa’s reign during the 5th century A.D. These factors contributed greatly to wars Sigiriya becoming a world heritage site. However, before and after the period of Kashayapa, much development of Buddhism has not taken place in and around d this area. Scripture carved into cave walls and other literature found in caves prove that this site contains cave monasteries are connected with one of the most important events if Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the arrival of Buddhism known “Mahindagamanaya”. Furthermore, many post-Kashyapa religious buildings such as the“Bodhigaraya”, “Cave monasteries”, “Stupa”can be found here. The frescoes can be recognized as a place in Sigiriya where much focus has turned. The female figures, among these frescoes, has been the centre of much discussion. But the imagery found near the"Asana” cave shows that there were indeed a Buddhist influence as well. A picture of a monk can be clearly identified here. According to these data, we can unravel information the Buddhist nature and the inception of such an environment through the identification of our materialistic heritage and important Buddhist monastic ruins with archaeological importance. And from the factors of nearby ancient sites, it is assumed that Sigiriya was in fact a Buddhist religious center in different eras.