The Gal Vihara Rock Temple - Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
David's Been Here is touring all the top sites and main destinations of the beautiful country of Sri Lanka. Here David presents a video to the Gal Vihara Rock Temple, located in the town of Polonnaruwa. Filled with Buddhas carved out of the rocks posing in all different postures and states- this rock temple is one of the most fascinating destinations of all the ancient sites in Polonnaruwa. Tour through these amazing rock carvings and learn a bit about their history as David brings us through this amazing ancient site. For more information on the Rock Temple or how you can visit yourself, check out the David's Been Here Guide to Sigiriya, now available for your Kindle as well.
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My name is David Hoffmann and for the last decade I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food and history! Since starting Davidsbeenhere in 2008, I have traveled to 71 countries and over 1,000 destinations, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube Channel, blog and social medias.
I focus a great deal on food and historic sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, whether it’s casual Street food or gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning the local history and culture.
The Gal Vihara Rock Temple - Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Davidsbeenhere
පොළොන්නරුව ගල් විහාරයේ බුද්ධ ප්රතිමාව(Buddha Statue of Polonnaruwa Gal Viharaya)
පොළොන්නරුව ගල් විහාරයේ බුද්ධ ප්රතිමාව(Buddha Statue of Polonnaruwa Gal Viharaya)/srilankaclassicart.com
Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa - Gal Vihara (2015)
Gal Vihara at Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka.
Gal Vihara at Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka.
©BenchMark Production.
©Kumudu Abayadeera.
Gal Vihara (Sinhala: stone temple), Buddhist Temple at (UNESCO World Heritage Site) at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka is the most perfect specimen of Buddha statue hewn out of solid stone. Crafted during the reign of King Parakrabahu (1153-1186 A.C), Gal Vihara statues are still in complete preservation with their irresistible charm and sublimity. It is undeniable that the sculptors of Gal Vihara were of greater skill and expertise in the art of stone sculpture in Sri Lanka. The images at Gal Vihara have brought about higher level of awakening in the observers with respect of Buddhist art in Sri Lanka.
Gal Vihara at Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka known as “The Northern Temple” in the beginning of its history, is a cave complex, about 27 meters in length and 10 meters in height at the centre and sloping towards the ends, with sculptures carved on the solid rock in four shrines.
Gal Vihara, like numerous other Buddhist shrines of Sri Lanka, is a shrine of Theravada Buddhism. Then again Gal Vihara testifies to the influence of Mahayana Buddhism during the 12th century.
Caves of Gal Vihara
Gal Vihara consists of four cave shrines with sculptures hallowed out of a granite rock.Caves from left to right are
(a) Cave of Vijjadharas,
(b) Excavated Cave,
(c) Cave of Standing Image and
(d) Cave of Reclining Image.
Between the Excavated Cave and the Cave of Standing Image is an inscription. In front of the Excavated Cave are remains of a pavilion.
Though the brick walls of the four shrines had collapsed centuries ago, the foundations remain giving evidence that each statue was separated from one another.
Cave of Vijjadharas
The cave consists of a main image of Buddha sculpted out of the rock boulder, having carved round and four small bas relief carvings of Buddha. The small bas relief statues are carved on either sides, above the head of the main image.
The main image depicts the chief of meditative Buddhas titled Dharmadhatu, Adi Buddha, Vairocana and Vajrasattva.
The four small images of the Buddha in Dhayani Mudra represent the four directions of the universe.
All five images are of Dhyana Mudra or meditative posture is believed to depict the all embracing Body of Law (Dharmakaya).
The Excavated Cave
The Excavated cave too houses an image of Buddha in dhayana mudra or meditative attitude sculpted out of the rock boulder. The image herein is smaller than the main image at Vijjadhara Cave.
The Cave of Standing Image
The Buddha statue rising to 7 meters in height herein, stands on a lotus pedestal called Padmasana. Padmasana signifies that Buddha is a transcendental being.
The Cave of Standing image: Ananda or Buddha
The standing statue is at the head of the massive reclining Buddha. The standing statue’s placing of arms across the breast has caused a controversy as to the identity of the statue. The early archeologists believed the statue was that of Ananda, an attendant disciple of Buddha grieving at the passing away of Buddha.However, the subsequent studies at Gal Vihara on the features of the statue have established that the standing image is that of Buddha and not of his disciple Ananda.
Firstly, since the standing image was once contained in its own shrine room, separated by brick walls it has no relevance to the reclining image. Though the brick walls of the three caves had collapsed several centuries ago, the foundations can still be seen.Secondly, the right-ward curled clusters of hair are only found on the images of the Buddha and not on the images of his disciples in the same period.Thirdly, the Buddhist artists never offered the Lotus throne or Padmasana to disciples Fourthly, the ears of the statue herein are elongated. Of all the statues of Buddha, his disciples and deities, only the images of Buddhas consist of elongated ears.
The Cave of Reclining Image
The reclining image of Buddha at this cave is 14 meter long. In spite of the colossal proportions, the statue carries supreme grace and serenity.
The Cave of Reclining Image: Reclining posture Vs. Parinirvana posture
The argument over the massive statue with respect of Buddha’s posture of passing away and the posture of reclining was won over by the proponents who established that the great statue at this cave is a reclining image. Firstly herein the Buddha statue with lotus symbol in the palms and feet, is sculpted in the posture called Simhaseyya: the pose of a sleeping lion. The lion sleeps resting its head on its right paw.
Secondly,in Sri Lanka the theme of passing away wasn’t taken as a popular feature in Buddhist art. Thirdly the images that regularly accompany the images of Buddha’s passing away, i.e.images of disciples, sal trees and flowers aren’t present at this statue.
2. Gal Vihara Rock Temple (Ancient Buddhist Sites in Sri Lanka)
In the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, there is a large reclining Buddha statue carved into a single large granite rock face that dates back to the 12th century. It is a very calm and serene location to pay homage to the Buddha and his teachings when visiting Sri Lanka.
Be inspired by more Buddhist content at our main website, Buddhistdoor:
Narrator Text:
I am now in the second largest ancient city of Sri Lanka called Polonnaruwa. Behind me is the renowned reclining Buddha statue in the Gal Vihara Rock Temple. The Buddha statue was carved from one intact piece of rock from a mountain. It is very serene, allowing visitors to feel the final instructions of the Buddha before his Parinibbana. Strive on ceaselessly. Let the precepts be your teacher. Let the Satipatthana be your anchor. I can see that many people are paying respects and prostrating in front of the Buddha statue. Of course, besides paying respect, we need to remember the depth of what the Buddha has taught us.
Produced by Buddhistdoor (2010, 2014)
Filmed on location at Gal Vihara Rock Temple, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Hosted by Walter Ngai (on short-term monastic retreat)
Videography: Scott Chan
Voiceover narration: Andrew Lau
Video editing: Herbert Ip
Graphic design: Dick Choi
Music:
Relax - Buddhist meditation music by Kokin Gumi
Resignation by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
පොළොන්නරුව ගල් විහාරයේ ඉතිහාස කථාව
The Gal Vihara, also known as Gal Viharaya and originally as the Uththaraarama, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was fashioned in the 12th century by Parakramabahu.
This is the sinhala explanation of the story behind Gal Vihara by Mr.Piyadasa
Polonnaruwa Gal Viharaya | Story [ Sinhala ]
The Polonnaruwa Gal Vihara originally known as the Uttararama is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was fashioned in the 12th century by Parakramabahu I.
The central feature of the temple is four rock relief statues of the Buddha, which have been carved into the face of large granite rock. The images consist of a large seated figure, another smaller seated figure inside an artificial cavern, a standing figure, and a reclining figure. These are considered to be some of the best examples of ancient Sinhalese sculpting and carving arts and have made the Gal Vihara the most visited monument at Polonnaruwa.
- Wikipedia-
Special Thanking - Mr. Piyadasa and to the original videographer
Gal Vihara Buddha in Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya - Sri Lanka Highlights
Sigiriya & Gal Vihara Buddha in Polonnaruwa. With Miss Intercontinental in Sri Lanka
Gal Vihara - Polonnaruwa , Sri Lanka
Einfach beindruckend sind die vier gigantischen Buddhastatuen, die in einen Granitfelsen bei Polonnaruwa hineingearbeitet wurden. Sie stammen aus dem 12. Jahrhundert und wurden wahrscheinlich von König Parakrama Bahu I. in Auftrag gegeben. Sie sind echte Meisterwerke der singalesischen Steinmetzkunst und damit die bedeutendste Sehenswürdigkeit von Polunnaruwa. Für fromme Buddhisten aber auch für Kunstfreunde ist dieser Platz ein echter Pilgerort. Man nennt die Statuen-Gruppe Gal Vihara (auch: Gal Viharaya), häufig wird sie auch schlicht als Felsentempel bezeichnet.
File 239Die größte und berühmteste Statue hat eine Länge von 14,1 m. Sie stellt einen liegenden Buddha dar, der gerade im Begriff ist, ins Nirwana überzugehen. Der Übergang ins Nirwana wird durch seine versetzten Füße symbolisiert. Sein entrückter Gesichtsausdruck, seine entspannte Körperhaltung und seine weich geschwungenen Linien sind ein echter Höhepunkt der Bildhauerei und bezaubern jeden Besucher. Zwei weitere Statuen sind sitzende Darstellungen Buddhas, sie wirken tief in eine Meditation versunken. Eine von diesen befindet sich in einer Höhle, sie ist deutlich schlichter bearbeitet, was jedoch nichts von ihrem Reiz nimmt. Die letzte der Figuren hat eine für Statuen dieser Art sehr ungewöhnliche verschränkte Armhaltung, sodass ihre Bedeutung bis heute Rätsel aufgibt. Sie ist außerdem sehr fein bearbeitet.
Seated image - Gal Vihara - Polonnaruwa - Sri Lanka
Polonnaruwa - Gal Vihara - Samadhi Statue is one of the largest and most beautiful creations by ancient artists at Great King Parakramabahu's Reign.
we invite you to read this rich article
Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
GAL VIHARA, POLONNARUWA, SRI LANKA. McD'AGO
I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (
Gal Vihara (Stone Shrine), Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Gal Vihara (Stone Shrine), Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Gal Vihara (Sinhala: stone temple) Thervada Buddhist Temple atPolonnaruwa (UNESCO World Heritage Site),Sri Lanka with three Buddha Statues of heroic proportions and a smaller image having a touch of Mahayana Buddhist influence, is the most perfect specimen of Buddha statues hewn out of solid granite in Sri Lanka. According to the Culavamsa, the second part of Mahawamsa, the unparalleled historical chronicle of Sri Lanka,Gal vihara, an archeological wonder of the orient near the Demalamaha seya stupa at Polonnaruwa was constructed by King Parakrambahu the Great (1153-1186 A.C), the supreme builder of the Sinhalese Buddhist Nation. Gal Vihara statues, ambitiously conceived and gloriously perfected according to the Oriental canons, on an abrupt boulder of dark granite about 27 meters in length and 10 meters in height at the centre and sloping towards the ends are still in perfect preservation with their irresistible charm and sublimity.
All four images hallowed out of the single massive slab, bringing to life serene facial expressions and graceful flow of the robes, are highly credible efforts to capture the boundless compassion and the infinite wisdom of Siddhartha Gauthama Buddha, the Tathagata (the one who came thus), the Omniscient. The ravages of time, rain, thunder and heat have done no harm upon the statues as if gods, the superior and resplendent beings in some other worlds have protected those for centuries.
In eternal love with Gal Vihara since the discovery of it at the early medieval lost city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Nearly a century and a half following the wild flight, the great escape from the natural fortress of Kandy surrounded by wooded hills and River Mahaweli Ganga (Sinhala: Great Sandy River), through Anuradhapura,a world of hewn stone pillars of Sri Lanka Holidays by British sailor Robert Knox Jr. (1641-1720) (An historical relation of the Island of Ceylon) in the year 1679, Lieutenant Mitchell Henry Fagan of the 2nd Ceylon Regiment, forcing his way through almost impenetrable undergrowth in the year 1820, encountered-face to face-a colossal statue gazing out at him from the foliage: Gal vihara. A colossal figure of Buddha cut from a granite wall was most serenely gazing at him from out of the foliage. I cannot describe what I felt at that moment, he wrote.
Neither could I when I first saw the great statues at the tender age of 8. It was like dream that you dream when just about to wake up. And you wake up with the dream & still on a cloud. But the upright Big Buddha most definitely smiled at me. Am I dreaming? No, Big Buddha smiled again. That's bunpeiris. There sprang up an eternal love on the spur of the moment: Gal Viharawas no longer a rock temple of rock carved statues. It is the heartthrob. If it was the flow of the sculptor's heart then, since then, it has been the stream that wash and cleanse the minds and the hearts of all those who stand in front of it. Stand, kneel or sit in front of the great statues. The sweeping serenity of the statues would breeze-open your heart and inflame it with eternal love.
Location of Gal Vihara
The Buddha statues at Tantrimalai close to glorious capital of ancient Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura (a UN
Sri Lanka Telecom Pura Varuna - Polonnaruwa Gal Viharaya
Daily, let us get enchanted with the beauty & character of Sri Lanka just before the 12noon and the 8pm Sinhala News on Rupavahini.
Pura Varuna takes you on a journey of charm, beauty & knowledge throughout our resplendent paradise isle. Catch today's episode of Pura Varuna on Rupavahini and discover interesting facts about Polonnaruwa Gal Viharaya you never knew.
Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Budas de Gal Vihara Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka - HD
- Viajar a Sri Lanka es visitar el grupo escultórico conocido como el Gal Vihara y contemplar de cerca las estatuas de granito de Buda están en Polonnaruwa antigua ciudad y un gran centro de fe de budista con impresionantes y extensos monumentos. Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka Tourism is visiting the sculpture known as the Gal Vihara and watch closely the granite statues of Buddha are in Polonnaruwa ancient city and a major center of Buddhist faith and extensive impressive monuments. Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Budas de Gal Vihara (Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka)
Los Budas de Gal Vihara, en Polonnaruwa (Sri Lanka) están modelados en una roca maciza de granito. Son, sin duda, los mejores ejemplos de escultura budista de la isla. Sus rostros expresivos sólo pueden ser obra de un genio. Más info sobre Sri Lanka y otros viajes en EL RINCÓN DE SELE
Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, Jack Daulton videoblog
Art Historian Jack Daulton and Microsoft Exec Roz Ho explore and discuss the 12th century rock-cut Buddha sculptures at Gal Vihara in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, December 2010. (Contact: jack@jackdaulton.com)
Gal Viharaya Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
News article of Gal Vihaaraya. Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.
By- Thakshila Dilrukshi Jayasena
( BBC Sandeshaya )