8 Secrets of Sigiriya that are still unsolved

- January 19, 2023

Friday, 20th of January 2023

8 Secrets of Sigiriya that are still unsolved

💎 Sigiriya can be named as another famous place in the list of Sri Lankan kingdoms. Although it did not exist as a city of a long time, it is named as s kingdom because it was a land where a king lived.

💎 Sigiriya can be called a fort because it is built on a rock. The ruler here king Kashyapa was the eldest son of great king Dhathusena.

💎 This is a place that has been talked about by many people based on historical sources. This is because there are many mysteries hidden in the technological and scientific landscape as well as legends.

💎 In this blog, Let's find out about 8 secrets that led to such doubts.

01. Mirror wall called "Ketapath Pawura"

Mirror Wall of Sigiriya

💎 This was called the mirror wall, mirror rock, this is no ordinary creation. This is not built for beauty. This is a war tactic. One aspect of the stone is thus wonderfully finished.

💎 This is a rock polished and smoothed like a mirror. The purpose of this was to see the reflection of an enemy army coming from a far. Another time to hidw thw palace gate of Sigiriya.

💎 Starting at the base of the rock, when the general in the Sigiri palace sees an enemy army approaching from a distance, immediately they alerts the king in the top palace for counter attack or defense.

💎 Later, the transparency of the rock was lost due to the destruction of various people here. This is not an inscription to write poetry or to write memories.

02. Who is these Apsaras ?

Apsaras

💎 The main reason why Sigiriya is world famous is the wonderful paintings here. Images of a group of women holding lotuses are seen throughout. There are many opinions about these images.

💎 One of them is that these images show Apsaras, carrying bunches of flowers going to "Pidurangala temple" which is not far from Sigiriya.

💎 Another view is that these images show the wives of king Kashyapa called "Anthappura" of him. It is said that the set of wives are showing the coming to visit the king.

💎 Other vies is that these female figures represent natural objects like wind and thunder. The reason for this is one group of female figures here colored blue and rest of figures are golden yellow. So these imags were named "Vijjulatha" and " Meghalatha".

💎 The final opinion is to accept that these females figures are goddesses. Legend has it that Sigiri rock was entrusted to a goddess named "Arundathi" to protect it. There are also opinions that the paintings were name for the attendant goddesses of the lord Arundathi.

💎 Therefore Sigiriya was named "Arundathi Mandala" and later it turns to "Alakamanda".

03. Lion feet or Peacock ?

Lion's feet entrance

💎 King Kashyapa's emblem was the Lion. It is possible to think that the lion may have been used as a symbol of his kingdom. It is said that in the past there was a full fledged head here.

💎 The entrance to the Sigiri rock from the mouth of the lion was made by steps built between the feet of the lion. But this too has many ideologies.

💎 In this structure really a lion ? A lion's foot has 4 toes but this carving has only 3 toes. The cone shape of the nails mentioned in the engraving compared to the toe nails of a lion. Therefore, there is an opinion that these are not the feet of a lion but of a peacock.

💎 Along with that opinion, the concept of Rawana is taxed. Because Rawana's emblem is peacock. His flying machines were due to marking the peacock. What could that opinion be ?

💎 Even the name Sigiriya was formed because the name of that area name "Seehagiriya" not because it is the rock's name.

04. Water Transport System

Rock's top ponds and pools

💎 There are many opinions about the water transportation system of Sigiriya. Even if there was a technology of using air global pressure a that time, How such beam of water was taken to the top of the rock ?, How the working water flowers work ?, Is the fact that there is no definite evidence even today.

💎 At the base of the rock, the remains of a system of pipes and drains made of stone have been found. It is surprising that the suction concept used today is used to draw water up the rock.

💎 There is a system of water flowers and attractive water decorations on top of Sigiri which is still in operation today.

💎 On a rainy day, after the ponds and pools above are filled, the water flowers can be seen in active.

05. Is there any Underground Palace ?

💎 Among the ruins of Sigiri, the rock-top as well as rock-bottom rock formations are important. Among the ruins of the royal palace and temple on the top of the rock. We can see what we can see at a glance.

💎 But according to the legends, it is said that prince Kashyapa built an earthen hut at the foot of the rock because of the suspicion that the prince Mugalan who was the Kashyapa's younger brother, invaded Sigiriya and attacked again.

💎 Legends say that many such underground bunkers were built for their safety

💎 Another opinion is that Sigiri is a pavilion inside the rock. The reason for that is that during the archaeologists' test, the laser beams aimed at the rock appeared through the rock to the other side.

💎 Therefore, it has been suspected that there is a vacuum inside the rock. It has net been confirmed yet.

06. "Kurutu Gee" poems

Ancient Sigiri Scribbles

💎 You all know about Sigiriya scribbles called Kurutu gee. No specific author is mentioned. People who came to see Sigiriya say that they wrote their thoughts in these graffiti.

💎 Here there are various links to poems about Buddha's attributes, Sahali, commentaries on Apsaras, etc.

💎 Some of these characters are ancient Sinhala. Sanskrit and Devanagara letters are also mentioned. When translated into modern Sinhala, these are called a type of script written after the Kashyapa era. (Hindu - Brahmi Letters).

💎 Another opinion is that these Kurutu gee were broadcasted from mantras. It is said that some Suthras and Protective hymns were written in this entrance of Sigiriya called "Vahalkada".

07. Is Empire Rawana the first ruler of Sigiriya ?

Empire Maha Rawana

💎 In Sri Lanka, the concept of Empire Maha Ravana is a very respectable tradition. In the Indian epic Ramayana, it is said that during the battle of Rama - Rawana, Rawana used a rock called "Sinhagiri" as oe of his palaces. People believe that it is Sigiriya.

💎 There is also an opinion that it is one of the airports where King Rawana's flying machine called "Dndu Monara" plane stopped. Hence, Sigiriya is known as "Variyagiri".

💎 According to the Ramayana, there are legende that mother Sitha, who was brought to Sri Lanka, was hidden here. (Sithagiri is said to have later become Sigiri).

Rawana on his Flying Machine called "Dandu Monara"

08. The great sword of king Kashyapa is still in Sigiriya ?

💎 Among some legends, it is said that the great sword of king Kashyapa who maned Lion of the Sigiri, is buried in a secret shrine in Sigiri rock. Although the sword has not been confirmed archaeologically, evidence has been found that an armory existed among the ruins of Sigiriya.

💎 It is said that when king Kashyapa was about to die, he took his sword and placed it in the rock pavilion and vowed that no one would be able to control this Sigiri site after his death.

💎 Also sources do not mention any other king in Sigiriya except Kashyapa name.

Thank you for all Sri Lankans........ !🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Blog by - Chathuranga Lakshan Perera

( Undergraduate at University of the Visual and Performing Arts - Faculty of Music)

(Past President of Sri Chandananda Buddhist College's History and Archaeology Society -19/20 )