Rambodagalla Buddha Statue on 17.04.2010
Today I revisited this statue which is nearing its completion. As usual it was surrounded by the billboards and placards boasting it’s the tallest statue and asking for donations. But what fascinated me was not the bragging of its size but the short history of the structure explained to me by a villager at the site.
This carving of this statue was suggested by a group of children who was attending the “Daham Pasala” in the temple after being described about the destruction of Bamian Buddha statues. They suggested carving a Buddha statue of similar proportions in the rock behind the temple to the chief monk of the temple and collected some one thousand five hundred odd rupees for the purpose. The chief monk was also fascinated about the idea despite no financial resources , nor a competent craftsman was available at the time.
As the idea of Buddha statue gained popularity some funds were raised and the chief monk started looking for a talented craftsman only to find out none were available in the country. Incidentally the chief monk came across the stone Hanuman statue at the Hidhu temple near Ramboda while he was going on a journey. He thought the craftsman who builds that statue will be able to help with the task of carving the Buddha statue. Upon inquiry he learned that that statue was built by craftsmen from South India who were working under the Eshwaran Co. Colombo.
The chief monk then went to the owners of Eshwaran Co. The Eshwaran people who were ethnic Tamil and Hindhu’s by religion not only sponsored a tour for the chief monk to meet the artisans at Tamilnadu, but also gave a substantial amount of funds for the project. The chief artisan by the name Muththaiyah who was a Tamil believing in Hunduism and who has never carved any Buddha statues previously agreed to start carving the Buddha statue for a nominal fee.
Thus the collosal project of carving a giant Buddha statue started which was conducted by a group of Tamil artisans funded by the general public. The chief monk gratefully mentioned that the late minister Mr.Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who is a Chetty, believing in Catholic faith was a generous contributor for the project. He also mentioned the Muslims in the Ridigama area has contributed for the construction work amply.
While we were coming down from the site a group of Muslim girls were also going up to see the statue in the fardas. Seeing that an old upasaka amma told to her daughter “balanna meka asse thambith ringala”.
This statue carved in solid rock will stand there for at least several thousand years until it may be destroyed by some extremist religious group which destroyed Bamiyan statues. But more likely, some Sinhala Buddhist nationalist (retard) will brag about statue. They will shout (as they do now about the ruins at Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa) this was built by pure Sinahalese Buddhists and reflects what a great mono-ethnic mono-religious culture we had. And an old lady at that time might get convinced that the people of other nations and religions have no right what so ever in the great civilization of ours (Applause!). Because this story will not be inscribed in stone, but will be forgotten with the eternal flow of time.
Throughout the human history there was, are and will be people who will judge people by their nationality, religion, cast and so on. Who will say one nation, one religion is greater than the other. Of course there will be a kindly smile in the face of the Buddha statue, may be because that is the exact opposite of what was said by him.
Dear Janith
Your facts are correct , but you also have written this article with very evident anger. We try to make small matters big and create problems which are unwarranted.
But I like the idea.
Best wishes!
Dear madam,
Thank you very much for being the first commenter of my blog.
You are correct when you mentioned I have written this in anger. But there is a reason for my anger. I am angry because few nationalists were able to misguide us and the society at large and that is very unfair.
This may be a relatively small matter but it is just a glimpse at big underlying problem which we see everyday yet fail to understand and sometimes fail to accept as existing.
And I believe those few could misguide the majority because, people who knew the truth kept silent. I have decided to break the silence!
Thank you again!
Dear Janith,
Thank you for publishing an article of such kind. Though all knows the truth, VERY few people would have the ability to admit and express the truth.
You keep up your spirits high!
I am so happy to read this article. I have visited this site about 3yrs back.
This is the truth about all our past and the history. its like a colourful picture. But extremists in every side want to paint it in one colour. In one and only colour that they want it to see. It is very painful if one starts seeing that it is not one colour but there are many colours. He has to live with that pain throughout his life. Because most of the others dont see what he sees or they dont bother to talk about what they see. Thanks for writing this. This is one way of reducing the pain. this is my experience too.