ARANKELE FOREST MONASTERY IN SRI LANKA

In the past time Sri Lankan Buddhism faded with Buddha’s culture. According to that effect the monks needed special places for doing their meditation and other task. Because of that created the monastery tradition in sri lanka. According to that propose a number of monasteries have been spread in sri lanka.Arankele is a perfect place for isolation and seclusion. It is specially designed to leave behind all the physical belongings and concentrate our mind about the spiritual achievements.

         

This is a perfect place to study about Three characteristics of existence(Thrilakshana) called impermanence(Anithya), satisfactoriness(Dukkha) and non-selfhood(Anathma) and place is designed providing facilities for those monks who dwell in this place to achieve their goals by studying about those ‘’Thrilakshana” and various philosophies teach in   Buddhism.

       Arankele is a forest monastery, situated at sathkoralaya in Hiriyala Hathpaththuwa, kurunegala. It lie at a distance of 117km from Colombo. Arankele Forest Monastery, an archaeological site, is reached by Colombo- Kurunegala- Ibbagamuwa – Moragolla road  and can be reach by turning West at 5^th milepost and travelling 3 miles off from main road. There it can be found lying underneath two mountain ranges called “Dolu Kanda” and “Dum Kanda”. This is a fertile, productive valley, which can be considered as a most convenient ground for living. Arankale is located in thick green forest in intermediate zone surrounded by rocks & streams creating the best environment for meditative monks. No doubt it was a creation of a habitable environment without interfering with the natural setting and the environment but, enhancing the aesthetic character to get the maximum sense of tranquility.

         Arankallee monastery is occupied as far back as 3^rd century BC. This monastery has constructed by the supervision of King 2^nd Dettathissa, younger son of King Mahasen. He has presented this to the monks because he wanted to keep the promise to his father that he will make a “aranya senasanya” for Buddhist priests. As he has promised, he presented this to group of monks that includes 1200 monks guided by Maliyadewa Maha Rahathan Wahanse. He was the last Arahath monk in Sri Lanka. He was lived in a cave that is especially dedicated to him in this monastery in a separate corner of the site.

        Arankalee monastery is located in Ganewatte Kurunagala District. This was situated in the intermediate zone that has thick green natural forest area with hill slopes rocks and streams. There are rich diversity of flora and fauna. This natural environment creates the best environment for the meditative monks. It was a creation of habitable environment without interfering the natural setting and the natural environment. It also has enhance the aesthetics to give the maximum tranquility.

        The topography that has situated in the area is exceptionally fitting to this build environment. One corner is mountain area and other corner is low land area with water bodies and some buildings. There are periodical water streams in the site. Although these days the streams are dried off and disappeared people believe the streams were always flowing in the past period. Although what you see today is most 6^th to 8^th century AD. While extensive parts of the site have yet to be excavated.

According to the archeologist Harcourt; the cave and the other buildings belong to the second era of Anuradhapura civilization. Later this was flourished during the period of Kurunegala, Gampola and Dambadheniya under king Walagama, King Buddhadasa, King Sirisagabo and under King Jettathissa. This site is about 62 Acers in extend.

Design principals and concepts of Arankale

A main design principal of Arankalee is using the natural element as much as possible to enhance the site. This area was use to accommodate 12000 monks as mentioned. For this purpose the whole area was used as Hospitals; medication purposes and educational purposes. The monks’ rest areas are shifted to the forest areas and they were mostly located in higher elevations in the mountains. The monks’ rest areas are isolated from the major areas.

This monastery appreciates the solid and void spaces that are created as rock caves for resting purposes. The monks’ dwellings have created through the boulders and forest vegetation. Natural rocks and boulders are beautifully merge together which displays sustainable concepts through the landscape setting in Arankalle monastery.

In this landscape setting use the geometric shapes to emphasis the naturel environment. Suqire, retraiangel, circle hasused for special functions in pathways stoppages. These geometrical shapes have phscologycaly effects a user to main functions. These shapes make direct commands which make a clear lead to walk along a way and avoid misdirection. Some design concepts in hydrology is used in this monastery. Some marks in rocks that gives evidence of still water boundaries that gives feeling of purified trusted sepatation.

Janathagaraya

This is a main building that was situated in the arankele. Its called janatagaraya. It’s mean “Unupanhala”. This building used as a hospital. There are 24 fire places and also one large fire place can be seen here. The evidence of brick wall implies that it was an enclosed area. The large stone bathtub at the center of this building seemed to have used for medical treatments. The main entrence of this building was in west.

Chankamanagaraya

This place had been used to meditate while walking. There had been a complete lavatory built at the south-west corner of this building.

Sammukalena

This is a kind of waiting room for visitor in monasteries, outsiders were not allowed to visit most part of the monastery as disturbed the activities of sanga . As a result these kind of buildings were constructed to keep them wait till someone comes and accompany them. It is said that there was a bell system, which helped the visitors to summon sanga. The massive stone pillars had been supported to bear the roof. Through there cannot be found any decorative elements in other buildings of this monastery in this building the basement composes of simple decorations such as stone carvings. It may be because outsiders visited this building very often. This is a well functioned building, which could be easily reached by sanga to meet visitors.

Ponds

Though there are evidences of several ponds only one has been properly renovated. This particular pond is erected right behind Sammukalena. It is said that these ponds were used for bathing and to fulfill other basic requisites of sanga. At the same time those were constructed as a part of landscape and even with the purpose of making the monastery a cool place. Unlike the ponds found in Anuradhapura, Mihinthalaya and polonnaruwa these lack decorative elements.

Pethmaga (Pathway)

This is one of longest pathways, which leads from the caves to each section of the monastery. It connects each section and makes it easier to achieve from one section to another. This is a sand paved pathway and the lines of two edges are paved stones. This pathway consists of chankamanapaya. Chankamandapaya was employed by sanga to rest when they were returning from meditation grounds to the other section of monastery. The plan from of this Chankamandapaya is circuler and it was built with per-caste stones. This Chankamandapaya is one of the main features of Arankele forest monastery. Generally, only Padanagara type of monasteries consists of chankamandapaya.

Double platform building

Arankele monastery is defined as one of the double platform forest monasteries. Hence this building is a special feature, which characterizes Arankele monastery. In this monastery there is a one properly renovated double flatform building and some evidence of several other double platform buildings. These buildings belong to te third group of the five categories of doule platform buildings as above mention in before. Under planning of Buddhist monasteries. Here the main building consists of two platforms. Those two are connected with a strong bridge and surrounded by a stone paved terrace. There had been two side entrance in north and south and the main entrance had been in east. The front platform consisted of a brick wall. This double platform building differentiates with other double platform buildings as there is no porch at the main entrance.

Bodhigaraya

When evaluating the structure of this building. It can be identified as a Bodhiyagaraya or Asanagaraya. But with regard to the other factors this idea cannot be further manifested. It that were a Bodhiyagaraya or an Adanagaraya it would have been often visited by laymen. In this building there is only one narrow entrence. Further it is located in a place, which cannot be easily achieved. Even sacred object were supposed to place in an elevated high ground level above other buildings, but this was established on the same ground level of other buildings. Hence it is hard to confirm the purpose of this constructing.

Materials used in the site.

Fine materials are used to spread on the main path ways and court yards in the monastery area. Granite and sand is the main material used in the landscape. These materials gives echo friendly concepts to the area. Granite absorbs harmful UV rays and cools the surrounding. Sand gives an ideal feeling of softness that clearly work for the design purpose. It is user friendly and environment friendly. The durability of the material was highly considered in this design. Granite was the best structural material in this area

Sand

When we consider about other monasteries and temples in sri lanka we can see most of are used sand as a main material for path ways and terraces. In those monasteries the main terraces are the dominant place for the meditation. But in Arankele specially cater for the walking meditation. Due to that reason the material of the main pathway should have been a very comfortable for the foot. Fine material use to spread on the main pathways and courtyards of surrounding buildings in the monastery.Material used for symbolize spirituality of the place.Edges of the pathways are defined using dressed stones and soft sand particles are spread on the space assigned for walking. Sand is an ideal material for landscaping because of its environmental friendliness and it give soft feeling to users or their bodies when they are walking on it.

Hydrology

       Arankale is a lawn land in parallel to the direction from north to south, and where it’s in between the two mountains, and it’s surrounded by two mountain hills from both west and east. The forest range covered a whole lot of mountain range and this lead to even after a rain season the water amount to be settled.

Water flows to the monastery area from three directions, west, south and east. The ancient irrigation systems are still assisting for the water flow through the canals. These canals fulfill requirement of water moats around the “padanagaraya” building. Throughout this studies it seems that “padanagaraya” constructed by mainly focus on the surround of these main water canals. This water use for the basic human needs such as bathing and drinking.

        From the water where as they coming from the hill areas, seems that there is a well water management systems existed that those water has directed to the water streams. And once goes through with these water canals culverts can be seen. During on a very rainy season or a day the surround is getting a mystique feeling. Natural water flow arrangement are never to be disturbed by the build environment, many Arahat theros might had watch these water flows and could had engaged with meditation process.

A water pond can be seen in the Arankale monastery, the water can be used for many purposes with in that period. The Arankale wewa is mainly enrich by the water coming from the hilltop and the excessive amount of water that is off flow in the Arankale pond during the rainy seasons. And it’ founded that the excessive water from the wewa goes to the north direction through the canals to fulfill the “ahatugas wewa”. In the present day this “ahatugas wewa” was not filled up with water only a barren land can be seen therefore from a place called “Kadawala”, a canal starts named as “ Mi gaha ala” which deploys to the “Kimbulmana oya” and then direct to the “Daduru Oya”. And as stated in the epics the reason for named this monastery as Arankela is that this monastery are is to be considered as a water collecting place as a “V” shape and also it’s a known in the regional epic stories that a golden pot was found in the aranakale pond.  Flaks and chrenicles have added more literal value for this incident.

       The main water source is gain from the water pound and throughout the canal water may have supplies to the monastery buildings in elevated level And the water controls within the site is an amazing factor that because with in the monastery premises there can be seen water flows coming from the elevated area and it’s believed that it goes upward as well, so still this mechanism can be witnessed. By doing these means that to keep the continuous cool and comfort of the premises. And the water flows on the rocks and boulders surfaces, a good Meta of utilizing the natural elements.   

Granite

This pathway defined by using well dressed curb stones. Edges of the pathways, steps, retain walls and building in the monastery are made of cut granite stones and dressed granite slabs and remaining of these stone pillars can be still seen on the premises of Arankele. Durability of the material a main reason for using in the monastic places such as Arankele which were dedicated for higher purposes. Also granite was the best structural material in that era . Almost all the buildings were done with prefabricated stones and stone pillars. They were sharply cut and well smoothened.

Vegetation Pattern in Arankale forest monastery

In a forest monastery, the dense of forest plays a major role. Arankale forest monastery is a brilliant example for that.  And when considering the region where it’s situated, the monastery itself entitled with its own a higher rich in a bio diversification with in the monastery premises. Forest monasteries take an advantage of its inherent bio diversification; they can be listed as follows.Assist in meditational purpose and then to get a silent, calm and to get a dark environment.

•          To get herbal medicines.
•           As wooden equipment.   
•           For construction purposes.
•           To act as termite résistance.
•           To manufacturing herbal lotions.
•          As fuels.

Types of tree with in the monastery premises where they are used as herbs

  “Wara”  - to resist in snake poisons, and poisons occurs due to insects attacks

“Lunu warana” – for fractal joints, broken arms, legs and also for itches diseases.

  “Bovi” – fractal joint

  “nidikumbba” – as a cure for blood cleaning

  “Kaduru gediya” – for constipation problems

  “Yaki naran” – tonsils and cold, use these herb through the in heals.

  “Panam Pethi” – for bone fractal    

  “makkulu” – to resist in tarantula poisons.

 “Kothala himbhut” – to control the diabetes.

  “Wal koththamalli” – to control diabetes.

  “Bin kohomba” – for comas and cancers

  “Akkapana” – for kidney diseases and cold.

  “Iramasu” – as a herbal drink

  “Penaya” – as a herbal drink

  “kaduru” – as a termite resistant

 “Karapincha” – an a disinfectant

  “Mushrooms” – for cold

Types of plants that are used to do craft and for construction

  Kohomba - Azadiachta indica

 Murutha - Lagerstroemin flos-reginae

  Mee - Madhuca longifolia

  Mango - Mangifera indica

  Diya Naa - Mesua ferrea

  Nelli - Phyllanthus emblica

 Tamarind - Tamarindus indica

  Bulu - Terminalia bellerica

   Aralu - Terminalia chebula

  Kohomba - Azadirachta indica

  Ehela - Cassia fistula

 Diwul - Limonia acidissima

  Kumbuk - Terminalia arjuna

  Bulu - Terminalia bellirica

 Siyambala - Tamarindus indica

      These types of tree plant use for wood construction and some tree species that can be seen in the premises where they store nutrients and water in there stem such as “hirurassa”, “pathok”, “uluk”, “nawan handi”.And where ever any moisture or eater contaminated places “madu” species of plants can also to be seen in the monastery premises. And these moisture lead for the growth of algies,lycons and different types of moss in different weather conditions.

And the upper portion in the monastery complex consist with tree species such as “beduru”,”gal beru”, “man hadiya”, “thasipethi” etc.

And another important fact is that how this forest monastery got its name, that because in ancient times this hill top area was filled with plants where they were used to engaged with some spiritual occasions. And this hill area was looked as a fog, so that’s how the name got. Apart from that “kaduru gediya” species also to be seen in the area.

Arankale monastery mainly consisted with higher rich in bio diversification of flora and fauna. And as the epics told by The land is surrounded by the ancient “dolukanda”, “dunkanda” and “madukanda” mountains and are full of trees with medicinal and timber value.

After King Jethatissa, King Mahasen and King Buddadasa too added their touch to the monastery. It is believed that King Buddadasa, who was also a specialist in Ayurveda, instructed the planting of medicinal plants around the monastery.

Today none of this remains except for the ancient trees and creepers which protect the monastery from the greedy eyes of treasure hunters and tree cutters. However, the Buddhist monks still use these grounds for meditation. This rejection and solitude has attracted other kinds of inhabitants. Numerous species of reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and other types of insects are a common sight to anyone who visits Arankale. (arankale monastery)

I wish to write about Ritigala, Kaludiya pokuna in my next post.