Location
Arankele forest monastery and caves lie at a distance of
117km from Colombo.
Reaching Arankele
Arankele Forest Monastery, an archaeological site, is
reached by Colombo- Kurunegala- Ibbagamuwa - Moragolla road.
Setting
Arankele Forest Monastery’s sylvan environment and ruins of
bathing ponds gives the impression it was once a pleasure park. Arankele, on
the contrary, was a 6th century cave hermitage up a forested hillside. The
densely wooded terrain crowded with huge hardwood trees are interspersed by the
openings and clearings created by the on-going process of clearing scattered
debris to unearth the ruins and re erecting the fallen ruins.
Rock Caves
On the slopes of Arankele hill is a cluster of natural rock
caves once used by monastic monks for shelter and meditation. Though remain
rough outside with the exception of the drip ledges, the interior walls are
well plastered with lime
Ruins of the monastery
it was the site of an ancient forest monastery - the austere
abode of a sect of recluse monks who had been attracted to this site because of
its very isolation and seclusion. The building at the entrance of the Arankele
site has been identified as a Jantagara or hot water bath with the dimensions
of 100ft in length and 60ft in breadth. There also vestiges of grinding stones
which had been used to prepare herbal medicines in the past. Amongst the other
ruins that have been identified are meditating promenades, ponds and long
winding pathways. Long pathways that cut across the dense forest lead to stone
carved drip-ledged caves used for mediation alms-giving halls and bathing ponds
that testify to the excellent craftsmanship.
Architecture
Ancient stone slabs of inscriptions in Brahmi script have
revealed the existence of meditation halls, stone-faced double platform
structures and ambulatories for the austere Buddhist monks here. The platforms
aligned in east-west axis consist with the entrance porch to the east bridged
by a large monolith. The smaller of the double platform structure herein, the
roof being supported on columns, has the impression of being divided into cells
for the monks. The purpose of the construction of double platforms hasn’t been
yet determined though some scholars are of the opinion those were used for
meditation, ceremonies and teaching.
In line with the severe simplicity and austere religious
practices of Arankele Forest Monastery, the building had been built with no
pretentions to decorations. Furthermore stupas, shrines and status found in the
ancient urban monasteries weren’t found herein either. The exception to the
minimalist architecture is the existence of urinal stones decorated with
carvings. The purpose of the practice of decorating urinal stones hasn’t been
established.
Hot water bath and grinding stones
Arankele Forest Monastery is home to the largest hot water
pond in Sri Lanka: it is around 100ft in length and 60ft in breadth. Also seen
are vestiges of grinding stones that had been used to prepare Ayurvedic
medicines. All these ruins now being unearthed testifies to the existence of a
large Ayurvedic hospital at the monastery.
History of the monastery
Arankele Forest Monastery was the austere abode of a sect of
recluse monks called Pansukulika practicing extreme austerity. The history of
the cave hermitage dates back to the 6th century: Arankele Forest Monastery is
believed to be where the last known Arhat monk, Maliyadeva resided along with
no less than 12,000 monastic monks.
Picture gallery of Arankele Monastery
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