MIHINTALE ROCK SHELTERS

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

At Mihintale, a number of sixty-eight rock-temples, with thirty-two priests' chambers (undated circa Budha 805. a.d. 262 inscription in: FORBES 1840, 1841 vol. 2: 277) were interpreted to represent 86 partly modified natural rock shelters (KUSCH 1973b: 173-176; 1973c: 22) and consist of around 70 different sites for contemplation (LONELY PLANET 2003: 251) that have been used as troglodyte hermitage retreats or cave dwellings (note 1). STRINATI & AELLEN (1981: 459) limited their interest on zoological aspects and decided to count Rajagiri-lena among the biospeleologically less important caves or rock shelters, which consists either of rift caves or of half dark overhangs (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: Mihintale (note 3) is of enormous spiritual significance to the Sinhalese because it is the site where Buddhism originated in Sri Lanka. Officially, it was king Devenipeatissa of Anooradhapoora, who … induced Dharmaasooka [the Indian emperor Ashoka], sovereign of the many kingdoms into which Dambdiva [note 4] was divided, and whose capital was Pattilipatta [note 5], to depute his son Mihindoo, and his daughter, Sangamitta, with several other principal priests to Anuradhapura, for the purpose of introducing the religion of Buddha. They arrived in the year 237, the first of this reign, and eighteenth of that of Dharroasooka. They established Buddhism, propagating its doctrines orally (FORBES 1840, 1841 vol. 2: 277). Popular tradition, however, prefers to have King Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura to have converted to Buddhism in 247 BC when meeting Mahinda (Mihinda, Mehindoo, etc.) while hunting deer around the hill at Mihintale: Mehintalai FORBES (1840, 1: 189, 241, 367, 382-387, 420; 1840, 2: —; 1841, 1: ?; 1841, 2: —) Mihintala TENNENT (1859, 1: 427) Mihintale CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974, 1983); COOK (1931); Eckrich (1984 Mss); KEYSERLING (1914, 1919); KUKLA (1958) KUSCH (1973b); LONELY PLANET (2003); STRINATI & AELLEN 1981) Mihintallai FORBES (1840, 1: —; 1840, 2: 277, 278; 184, 1: ?; 1841, 2: 277, 279, 283, 287) Mihintele FORBES (1840, 1: —; 1840, 2: 6, 324, 327, 330, 334; 1841, 1: ?; 1841, 2: 6, 324, 327, 330, 334) Mihintellai FORBES (1840, 1: —; 1840, 2: 278, 283; 1841, 1: ?; 1841, 2: —). SITUATION: From Anuradhapura (N08°21': E080°23') about 8 km east (KUSCH 1973b: 173) or at a travelling distance of 13 km (LONELY PLANET 2003: 250) approximately east along the road to Trincomalee (N08°34': E081°14'). KUSCH (1973b: 173): South of the Kantaka Chetiya (a dagoba) are rock faces containing caves in granite. LONELY PLANET (2003: 251): South of the Kantaka Chetiya … a big boulder is cleft by a cave … Through the cave, ledges on the cliff face acted as meditation retreats … BERGER (1992/93: 319 location map) indicates a row of Höhlen (caves) less than 100 m south-west of the Kantaka Cetiya and and adjacent north of the road to –>Kaludiya Pokuna (N08°20': E080°30' nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003), the Black Pool. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1958: KUKLA (158: 167): Nejznamejsize vsech jsou cejlonské pseudokrasové jeskyne. Jsou to vetsinou hluboká abri, ktera vznikla vyvetranim méne vzdornych partií ruly obvykle na upati nejakého skalnatého vrcholu. Snad nejvetsí jsou jeskyne v Dambulle, umelerozsírené v buddhisticky chram. Abri je kryto zdí, takze vnitrek sesochami Buddy, vytsanymi z ruly, je temny. Jen nekolikr´st v roce, za nábozenskych slavností, se dze rozzehnou pochodne. Podobne mensí abri je v Mihintale. KUKLA (1958: 169): Well known are the pseudokarst abris in Ceylon, such as Dambulla Cace and Mihintale Cave used as the buddhist sanctuaries. CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: FORBES (1840, 1841 vol. 2: 277). Devenipeatissa B.C. 306. Bud. 237. Reigned 40 years … induced Dharmaasooka, sovereign of the many kingdoms into which Dambadiva was divided, and whose capital was Pattilipatta, to depute his son, Mihindoo [Mahinda, Mahindra, Mihinda], and his daughter, Sangamitta [Sumitta], with several other principal priests, to Anooraadhapoor [Anuradhapura], for the purpose of introducing the religion of Budha. They arrived in the year 237, the first of this reign, and eighteenth of that of Dharmasooka. … The King built … sixty-eight rock-temples, with thirty-two priests' chambers, on Mihintallai [sic!]… FORBES (1840, 1841 vol. 2: 327): The inscriptions at Mihintele [sic!] bear no date. They must have been recorded about the year of Budha 805. a.d. 262.TENNENT (1859 revised 4th edition 1860, 1.IV.vii: 481): In the Rajavali [p. 184], Devenipiatissa is said to have -caused caverns to be cut in the solid rock at the sacred place of Mihintala, and these are the earliest residences for the higher orders of the priesthood in Ceylon, of which a record has been preserved. BERGER (1992/93: 320) surprises with opining that the many caves and rock shelters in the Mihintale Rock sheltered monks: Die vielen Höhlen und Felsüberhänge in den Mihintale-Felsen boten den Mönchen Schutz. LONELY PLANET (2003: 251): Devanampiya Tissa (r. 247and 207 BC) had 68 cave monasteries built. [Anuradhapura], for the purpose of introducing the religion of Budha. They arrived in the year 237, the first of this reign, and eighteenth of that of Dharmasooka. … The King built … sixty-eight rock-temples, with thirty-two priests' chambers, on Mihintallai [sic!]… FORBES (1840, 1841 vol. 2: 327): The inscriptions at Mihintele [sic!] bear no date. They must have been recorded about the year of Budha 805. a.d. 262.TENNENT (1859 revised 4th edition 1860, 1.IV.vii: 481): In the Rajavali [p. 184], Devenipiatissa is said to have -caused caverns to be cut in the solid rock at the sacred place of Mihintala, and these are the earliest residences for the higher orders of the priesthood in Ceylon, of which a record has been preserved. BERGER (1992/93: 320) surprises with opining that the many caves and rock shelters in the Mihintale Rock sheltered monks: Die vielen Höhlen und Felsüberhänge in den Mihintale-Felsen boten den Mönchen Schutz. LONELY PLANET (2003: 251): Devanampiya Tissa (r. 247 [Anuradhapura], for the purpose of introducing the religion of Budha. They arrived in the year 237, the first of this reign, and eighteenth of that of Dharmasooka. … The King built … sixty-eight rock-temples, with thirty-two priests' chambers, on Mihintallai [sic!]… FORBES (1840, 1841 vol. 2: 327): The inscriptions at Mihintele [sic!] bear no date. They must have been recorded about the year of Budha 805. a.d. 262.TENNENT (1859 revised 4th edition 1860, 1.IV.vii: 481): In the Rajavali [p. 184], Devenipiatissa is said to have -caused caverns to be cut in the solid rock at the sacred place of Mihintala, and these are the earliest residences for the higher orders of the priesthood in Ceylon, of which a record has been preserved. BERGER (1992/93: 320) surprises with opining that the many caves and rock shelters in the Mihintale Rock sheltered monks: Die vielen Höhlen und Felsüberhänge in den Mihintale-Felsen boten den Mönchen Schutz. LONELY PLANET (2003: 251): Devanampiya Tissa (r. 247and 207 BC) had 68 cave monasteries built.