Hi my fellow Architecture+Design community lovers,
What's up Hivers? I hope you are doing well in this weekend with loving once. About three months ago, an important discussion took place between me and some of our closest friends in our village to arrange a suitable time to reach Sri Pada, which was touched by the Buddha. Accordingly, we booked 14th of March to reach Sri Padaya and 15th of March to reach Nelligala International Buddhist Center and prepared a program for that. Since Sri Pada is located on the top of a high mountain, and because of the high temperature in Sri Lanka these days, the mountain climbing was done at night. Two of my friends stopped the journey due to a very tiring journey. I was really hoping to get the photos of Sri Pada and present them to you through a content. But there was no permission to take photos there, so I hope to present details about the Nelligala International Buddhist Center that I visited next.
The Nelligala International Buddhist Center can be called as a place reminiscent of Theravada Buddhism, which has existed in Thailand and Sri Lanka for 700 years. The architectural features here are old Sri Lankan Buddhist tradition mixed with Thai Buddhist tradition. Two stupas were built here which were originally worshiped by the Buddhists. The stupa, which is coated in white, was created in accordance with the Buddhist tradition. It has a three-dimensional spherical shape. Since the swan is an animal belonging to the Buddhist architectural tradition, it is shaped in gold.
Golden stupas are commonly seen in Thai temples and to commemorate the relationship between the two countries, a Thai stupa has been erected at the Nelligala International Buddhist Center. I have also never seen logos carved on the stupa in regular Buddhist temples before. It is different from the usual dome shape found in Sri Lankan Stupas. But the upper parts of the stupa have the same form.
The Bodhi tree, which Buddhists secondly worship, is not ancient. A small branch of a historic Bodhi tree was planted here, and is still growing upwards. The Nelligala International Buddhist Center has covered the Bodhi tree in a different way than the way it is covered in other Sri Lankan temples. The lower part of this cover, which is circular in shape, has no shape. The Bodhi tree is held up by imaginary creatures called "Bhairavaya" who have lowered the second part to the ground for the historical Buddhist connection between the two countries. It is a Sri Lankan Buddhist architectural feature. Above it is planted the Bodhi tree in a wide golden pot on a large lotus flower.
Behind the Bodhi tree at the Nelligala International Buddhist Center is the temple building that practices Thai architecture. It is not allowed to take photos inside so you can only see the exterior. Its roof shape and layers are similar to Thai and Korean architecture. A large area of the temple is covered with sand and there is also an interlocking section for the pilgrims.
Buddhists commonly use flowers, oil, and incense sticks for worship. Among these was an open flower seat for worshiping by placing flowers. It was mentioned as Siam Sri Lanka Vachira Suwannaphum Golden Pagoda about the stupa of Thai tradition.
On close inspection of the temple house, it could be seen that some of its elements are also in accordance with the old Buddhist tradition. Although the shape of the roof is similar to that of Thai temples, below the roof the Bo leaf carvings are lined up in parallel. Several lion sculptures from Buddhist history could also be seen here.
The next thing I noticed at Nelligala International Buddhist Center were the twenty-eight Buddha sculptures. Twenty-seven Buddhas have been born in Buddhist history, and the sculpture of Maitreya Buddha, who is believed to be Buddha in the future, has also been created here. The sculptures are built on lotus flower formations in a granite tile-touched zone.
A hair relic of the Buddha from the Diamond Throne Halluwat Bowonniwet Temple in Bangkok, Thailand has been placed in the Nelligala International Buddhist Center for the 700-year Theravada Buddhist relationship between the two countries. It must have been a moment of historical value. It is indeed a privilege to see such important works of art and mixed architectural elements in one place because of the relations between two countries.
Hinduism and Buddhism are two religions that have very close faith systems. Buddhists also accept that the Sri Pada site, where the Buddha's feet were touched, is still protected by the Lord Sri Sumana Saman, who is worshiped by Hindu devotees. That is why Buddhists also worship Lord Sri Sumana Saman before climbing Sri Pada Kanda and seek blessings. A separate chamber has been built for Lord Sumana Saman in Nelligala temple. The animal considered to be the vehicle of that god is an elephant. According to religious beliefs, it is said that the elephant is white because it has a pure heart. Fruits can also be seen here as Hindu devotees offer fruits when worshiping the gods.
