Dambakola patuna

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MARITIME BUDDHISM – REL 640(PROFESSOR LEWIS LANCASTER)

DAMBAKOLA PATUNA – PLACE ID 55

VEN. N. SUMITTAUNIVERSITY OF THE WEST

LOS ANGELES

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Dambakola Patuna

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DAMBAKOLA PATUNA – JAMBUKOLA PATTINA Samudda Pannasala = Jambukola Viharaya

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H. G. Wells – Historian

• In Ceylon there grows to this day a tree, the oldest historical tree in the world, which we know certainly to have planted as a cutting from the Bodhi Tree in the year 245 B.C. From that time to this it has been carefully tended and watered.

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6Jaffna Penninsula

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Sri Lanka

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SRI LANKA FEATURING IN THE BAY OF BENGAL BUDDHISM

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The Route of Sanghamitta from Buddhagaya to Dambakola Patuna

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A replica of the boat Sanghamitta travelled

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11A model of the boat Sanghamitta travelled

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12Evening scene of Dambakola Patuna see port

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13Day light scene of Dambakola Patuna sea port

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Present Day entrance to the Dambakola Patuna Sanghamitta Viharaya

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PRESENT DAY CHAIYA (PAGODA, STHUPA) AT DAMBAKOLA PATUNA VIHARAYA

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Bodhi Tree sapling planted after the war

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17Statue of Theri Sanghamitta

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Some Historical Facts

• King Devanamapiyatissa (250-210 B.C.)• King Vijayabahu (1070-1110 A.D.)• Theri Sanghamitta was the daughter of emperor Ashoka (304-232 B.C.)

and sister of Thera Mahinda.• Sanghamitta brought the Bodhi Tree during the 12th year of Asoka’s

reign• The journey route followed by Sanghamitta who carried the right south

branch of Bodhi tree on a ship to Anuradhapura. • The route was from Gaya to Pataliputta and then Tamalitti in Bengal.

Then to Dambakola Patuna probably via Vishaka pattinam.

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Some Historical Facts of Sanghamitta Arrival• One of the foremost maritime Buddhist tour• Initiating the Buddhist Order of Nuns (Bhikkhuni Sasana/ Bhikkhuni Order) in

Sri Lanka.• One of the earliest Buddhist nuns to travel through sea to propagate

Buddhism • Along with Sri Maha Bodhi Tree sapling she also brought a unique cultural

heritage from India.• Sri Lankan bhikkhuni Devasara and a group of bhikkhunis went to China and

established bhikkhuni order there in the 12th C.• Nuns lineage was also established in Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand by Sri

Lankan nuns.

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• Jambukola Patthana or Dambakola Patuna was venerated by King Devanampiyatissa by building a vihara called Samudda Pannasala (samudda = sea). • Subsequently as a mark of respect to the venue, the king also

established one of the eight offshoots of the sacred Bodhi tree at this vihara. •Historical reports record that later in the Polonnaruwa period,

King Vijayabahu restored this temple premises. •However, this all important historic place has not been taken

care of by the later rulers and some of the remains of the vihara, such as Buddha footprint stone and vatadage which were prevalent up to recent times, have disappeared due to various reasons.

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•This port gradually faded in importance while port Mahathiththa/ Mahathota/ Mantota (now Mantai) located at the mouth of Malvatu oya developed as a key intersection of sea-routes and the Dambakola Patuna Viharaya was lost in time. •The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, the Mahavamsa and Samanthapaasasdika mention pilgrims coming from “Yonaka” country to Jambukola to worship the Jambukola Viharaya in the ancient times.

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22Some Buddhist ruins still existent in close proximity to Dambakola Patuna

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23References

Mahavamsa

Deepavamsa

Maha Bodhivamsa

Samantapasadika

Internet

Newspapers

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Thank you