Sigiriya a historical milestone of SriLanka








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Sigiriya also known as the Lion's rock is an ancient rock fortress and a castle which at present lay in ruins is located in Matale District of Sri Lanka. It is one of the favorite tourist destinations which is popular for the ancient paintings very similar to the paintings in Ajanta Caves of India. It was built during the time of King Kashyapa (5th century AD) and one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya was used as a rock-shelter monastery from about the 5th century BC by Buddhist Sangha. The garden and palace were built by King Kashyapa. The ruins were discovered in 1907. The Sigiri inscriptions were translated by the archeologist Senarath Paranavithana.

The Mahavansa, the most ancient historical literary record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kashyapa as the son of King Dhatusena. Kashyapa killed his father and then captured the kingship of Anuradhapura kingdom which rightfully belonged to his brother Moggallana. Moggallana fled to India and promised revenge. As a protective measure, Kashyapa is said to have built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya as a fortress and pleasure palace.


Moggallana finally arrived and declared war. During the battle Kasyapa's armies abandoned him and he committed suicide. Moggallana re-established the capital to Anuradhapura and turned Sigiriya into a monastery complex.


Other sources depict the site as the work of a Buddhist community, with no military function at all. This site may have been important in the competition between the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist traditions in ancient Sri Lanka.










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