Vatadage
Encyclopedia
Vatadage is a type of Buddhist structure found in Sri Lanka
. It also known as dage, thupagara, and cetiyagara. Although it may have had some Indian influence, it is a structure that is more or less unique to ancient Sri Lankan architecture
. Vatadages were built around small stupa
s for their protection, which often enshrined a relic or were built on hallowed ground. Circular in shape, they were commonly built of stone and brick and adorned with elaborate stone carvings. Vatadages may have also had a wooden roof, supported by a number of stone columns arranged in several concentric rows.
Only ten vatadages now remain in Sri Lanka. The builders of many of these monuments are unknown, as are their time of creation. The oldest such construction is believed to be the one surrounding the Thuparama stupa. The best example of a vatadage is generally believed to be the one at Polonnaruwa
. Along with it, the vatadages at Medirigiriya, and Tiriyaya remain more or less intact.
and Polonnaruwa Vatadage
. However, ancient Pali
texts use the name thupaghara. The name cetiyaghara is also used in some sources.
The word vatadage literally means circular relic house or shrine. Dage simply means "relic house". Similarly, cetiyaghara means "house of the stupa", as does thupaghara.
The concentric rows of stone columns were presumably used to support a wooden roof. However, it is disputed if a roof was constructed in some vatadages. If a roof did exist, the part over the stupa itself may have been domed. However, the positioning of the stone columns suggest that the rest of the roof may have been conical in shape. A brick wall often surrounded this platform, and there is evidence that the inside of this wall had been adorned with paintings.
Vatadages often had four entrances, usually oriented to the four cardinal points
. However, not all of them have been built according to this tradition, and vatadages such as the Thuparama have only one entrance. These entrances were elaborately decorated. The steps that lead to the raised platform were adorned with carvings, as were the korawak galas (stone balustrades). A sandakada pahana
(moonstone) was placed at the foot of the steps, flanked by two muragalas (guard stones).
have platforms decorated with carvings at their bases, such as the Amaravati stupa in Andhra Pradesh
. Although this type of structure may have influenced the more elaborate vatadage, it is more or less unique to ancient Sri Lankan architecture
.
The oldest vatadage in Sri Lanka is believed to be the one at the Thuparama temple in Anuradhapura
. It was built by Vasabha around an already existing stupa, during his reign from 67 to 111 AD. Although a number of vatadages were built following this, in most cases it is uncertain who constructed them or when. Only ten vatadages now remain in the country. These are located at Thuparama, Lankarama, Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, Medirigiriya, Attanagalla, Rajangana, Menikdena, Devundara, and Tiriyaya. Of these, the vatadages at Polonnaruwa, Medirigiriya, and Tiriyaya are relatively well preserved, and provide a good indication as to the original appearance of this type of constructions. The vatadages at Mihintale and Attanagalla may have been constructed by Gothabhaya
, who ruled in the 3rd century.
The Rajangane Vatadage, which was probably built during the 7th or 8th century, differs from others in that it has a square platform rather than a circular one. The vatadage at Tiriyaya was built in the 8th century. The Polonnaruwa Vatadage, considered to be the "ultimate development" of vatadage architecture, was built during the 12th century.
Vatadages were usually constructed around stupas which were either built on hallowed ground or contained a relic of the Buddha or an object used by him. The Polonnaruwa Vatadage may have had the tooth relic
of the Buddha
enshrined within it. Similarly, it is believed that a hair relic of the Buddha is enshrined at Tiriyaya, and his collarbone at Thuparama. The Attanagalla and Mihintale vatadages are both believed to have been built over hallowed ground.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. It also known as dage, thupagara, and cetiyagara. Although it may have had some Indian influence, it is a structure that is more or less unique to ancient Sri Lankan architecture
Architecture of ancient Sri Lanka
The architecture of ancient Sri Lanka displays a rich variety of architectural forms and styles, varying in style and form from the Anuradhapura Kingdom to the Kingdom of Kandy. Ancient Sri Lankan architecture mainly grew around religion, styles of Buddhist monasteries were in excess of 25...
. Vatadages were built around small stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
s for their protection, which often enshrined a relic or were built on hallowed ground. Circular in shape, they were commonly built of stone and brick and adorned with elaborate stone carvings. Vatadages may have also had a wooden roof, supported by a number of stone columns arranged in several concentric rows.
Only ten vatadages now remain in Sri Lanka. The builders of many of these monuments are unknown, as are their time of creation. The oldest such construction is believed to be the one surrounding the Thuparama stupa. The best example of a vatadage is generally believed to be the one at Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa Vatadage
The Polonnaruwa Vatadage is an ancient structure dating back to the Polonnaruwa period of Sri Lanka. It is believed to have been built during the reign of Parakramabahu I to hold the tooth relic of the Buddha, or during the reign of Nissanka Malla to hold the alms bowl used by the Buddha...
. Along with it, the vatadages at Medirigiriya, and Tiriyaya remain more or less intact.
Etymology
Although popularly known as vatadage now, the structure has had several different names. In ancient Sinhalese literature, this type of structure is referred to as vatadage or dage. The 12th and 13th century chronicles Poojavaliya and Dalada Siritha use these names when mentioning the ThuparamayaThuparamaya
Thuparamaya is a dagoba in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist sacred place of veneration.Mahinda Thera, an envoy sent by King Ashoka himself introduced Theravada Buddhism and also chetiya worship to Sri Lanka. At his request King Devanampiyatissa built Thuparamaya in which was enshrined the...
and Polonnaruwa Vatadage
Polonnaruwa Vatadage
The Polonnaruwa Vatadage is an ancient structure dating back to the Polonnaruwa period of Sri Lanka. It is believed to have been built during the reign of Parakramabahu I to hold the tooth relic of the Buddha, or during the reign of Nissanka Malla to hold the alms bowl used by the Buddha...
. However, ancient Pali
Pali language
Pāli is a Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is best known as the language of many of the earliest extant Buddhist scriptures, as collected in the Pāi Canon or Tipitaka, and as the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism.-Etymology of the name:The word Pali itself...
texts use the name thupaghara. The name cetiyaghara is also used in some sources.
The word vatadage literally means circular relic house or shrine. Dage simply means "relic house". Similarly, cetiyaghara means "house of the stupa", as does thupaghara.
Features
As the name implies, vatadages were circular in shape. They were constructed around small stupas for their protection, as well as shelter for devotees. The stupa is located at the centre of a raised circular platform, commonly paved with stone. The vatadage in Polonnaruwa has two platforms, one above the other. This platform contained several concentric rows of stone columns. The columns on the inner row were the highest, while the heights of the columns in the outer rows gradually diminished as they spread further from the center. The number of stone columns and rows have varied from structure to structure, with the vatadage in Lankaramaya originally having as many as 88 columns.The concentric rows of stone columns were presumably used to support a wooden roof. However, it is disputed if a roof was constructed in some vatadages. If a roof did exist, the part over the stupa itself may have been domed. However, the positioning of the stone columns suggest that the rest of the roof may have been conical in shape. A brick wall often surrounded this platform, and there is evidence that the inside of this wall had been adorned with paintings.
Vatadages often had four entrances, usually oriented to the four cardinal points
Cardinal Points
Cardinal Points is a student newspaper published in Plattsburgh, New York which serves the SUNY Plattsburgh community. The newspaper publishes 3,000 copies every Friday morning throughout the semester, from February until May 12...
. However, not all of them have been built according to this tradition, and vatadages such as the Thuparama have only one entrance. These entrances were elaborately decorated. The steps that lead to the raised platform were adorned with carvings, as were the korawak galas (stone balustrades). A sandakada pahana
Sandakada pahana
Sandakada pahana, also known as Moonstone, is a unique feature of the Sinhalese architecture of ancient Sri Lanka. It is an elaborately carved semi-circular stone slab, usually placed at the bottom of staircases and entrances. First seen in the latter stage of the Anuradhapura period, the sandakada...
(moonstone) was placed at the foot of the steps, flanked by two muragalas (guard stones).
History
Some ancient stupas in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
have platforms decorated with carvings at their bases, such as the Amaravati stupa in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. Although this type of structure may have influenced the more elaborate vatadage, it is more or less unique to ancient Sri Lankan architecture
Architecture of ancient Sri Lanka
The architecture of ancient Sri Lanka displays a rich variety of architectural forms and styles, varying in style and form from the Anuradhapura Kingdom to the Kingdom of Kandy. Ancient Sri Lankan architecture mainly grew around religion, styles of Buddhist monasteries were in excess of 25...
.
The oldest vatadage in Sri Lanka is believed to be the one at the Thuparama temple in Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
. It was built by Vasabha around an already existing stupa, during his reign from 67 to 111 AD. Although a number of vatadages were built following this, in most cases it is uncertain who constructed them or when. Only ten vatadages now remain in the country. These are located at Thuparama, Lankarama, Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, Medirigiriya, Attanagalla, Rajangana, Menikdena, Devundara, and Tiriyaya. Of these, the vatadages at Polonnaruwa, Medirigiriya, and Tiriyaya are relatively well preserved, and provide a good indication as to the original appearance of this type of constructions. The vatadages at Mihintale and Attanagalla may have been constructed by Gothabhaya
Gothabhaya of Sri Lanka
Gothabhaya, also known as Meghavannabhaya, Gothakabhaya and Goluaba, was a king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom of Sri Lanka who ruled the country from 249 to 262 AD. During his reign, Gothabhaya renovated several temples and monasteries and also built a new temple. He is the last of three friends who...
, who ruled in the 3rd century.
The Rajangane Vatadage, which was probably built during the 7th or 8th century, differs from others in that it has a square platform rather than a circular one. The vatadage at Tiriyaya was built in the 8th century. The Polonnaruwa Vatadage, considered to be the "ultimate development" of vatadage architecture, was built during the 12th century.
Vatadages were usually constructed around stupas which were either built on hallowed ground or contained a relic of the Buddha or an object used by him. The Polonnaruwa Vatadage may have had the tooth relic
Relic of the tooth of the Buddha
The Sacred Relic of the tooth of Buddha is venerated in Sri Lanka as a relic of the founder of Buddhism.-The relic in India:...
of the Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
enshrined within it. Similarly, it is believed that a hair relic of the Buddha is enshrined at Tiriyaya, and his collarbone at Thuparama. The Attanagalla and Mihintale vatadages are both believed to have been built over hallowed ground.