Arankale Buddhist Monastery

Location :

• Seevali De Abrew

  30 December 2017

  Haven of Peace and Silence
  A group of 18 of us travelling with “Flamingo Lanka Travels” visited the ruins of Arankele Monastery, the austere abode of a sect of recluse monks who dwelt here in ancient times. Our guide from the Department of Archaeology, Sunil, led us through the scattered ruins of this haven of peace and silence.
  Whilst writing this, I vividly remember the two km long pathway, protected with dressed stone kerbstones, used by meditating monks. Ancient trees and creepers overhang these pathways providing shade and kept us comfortable allowing only a little sunlight to filter through. We also enjoyed the songs of a wide variety of constantly chirping birds. These pathways used by the monks for their meditation slope gently punctuated with small flights of steps, made of dressed stone, to accommodate the natural terrain. Along the pathway is a beautifully built circular round-about probably to allow walking monks to rest.
  Ruins of a hospital complex (Jantagara) for monks lies at the entrance. Ruins of the many columns indicate that it had been roofed. A grinding stone used to grind various herbs lies on a side. The central sunken area had been large herbal bath. You can imagine sick monks being treated here by the ayurvedic doctors of ancient times.
  Scattered in the area had been many apartments (Patanagara) presumably used for meditation and other rituals including receiving devotees and educating them in Buddhist way of living. These are twin double-platform buildings, linked with a stone bridge built on a rock outcrop. The raised platforms are held by retaining walls of large dressed stone and are surrounded by troughs of water, believed to keep the interior free.
  We visited two large ponds made of dressed stone used by bathing monks. There had also been a roofed chamber with a promenade for walking meditation. At this walking path for meditation site is a toilet used by monks.
  At the end of the walk through the site you come to a little cave, plastered inside, with three rooms said to be used by a venerated priest called Maliyadeva as his dwelling and meditation chamber.
  None of the buildings are decorated. There is no stupa, no image house with a Buddha statues nor a bo-tree signifying the simplicity and the philosophy of the monks who dwelt here. It is said that the robes worn by these monks were made from rags and clothes found at the graves.
  There is no entrance fee charged. However, one has to observe the decorum when entering a place of worship or veneration.
  We felt calm, tranquil and peaceful at the end of the walk through a friendly environmental area having gone through the historic past for a few hours.

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• Nuwan Chamara

  19 February 2017

  A place yoy should visit to witness great proud sri lankan history. Plenty of ruines though not that popular among tourists

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