North Central Province (Mihintale)
Leaving the Abhayagiri monastery, Ashby's next stop was Mihintale, the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Pilgrims travelled there to visit Aradhana Gala, the site of the first sermon on Buddhism. To reach it, they would climb a giant staircase (1,840 steps) that ascends Mihinthalawa Mountain.
Mihintale is also an archaeological site, which dates to the third century BCE. During his visit, Ashby took seven photographs of the site while climbing the giant staircase. You will see three images on following pages:
• Image 1 shows the entrance to a temple in the Medamaluva Monastery, which is one of two forest monasteries at Mihintale that date to the 10th century CE. In the foreground, stand two guard stones carved with water pots or vase motifs (punkalasa), symbols of abundance in Buddhist culture. Between them, a rise of steps flanked by a low stone balustrade leads to the temple.
• Image 2 depicts the second stage of the massive stone staircase leading to Aradhana Gala. By framing the photograph to include the people ahead of him, Ashby gives us a sense of the sheer scale of the stone structure.
• Image 3 is a photograph of the Maha Seya, a structure of 41 metres in diameter which was built in honour of Buddha during first century CE. In Ashby's 1914 photograph, the Maha Seya is the overgrown dome at the top left of the slope. In recent years, it has been dramatically restored, painted and transformed into a gleaming white building.
All photographs by Thomas Ashby, BSR, Thomas Ashby Collection:
Guard stones at Medamaluva Monastery, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, TA-XLVII.058
Stone Staircase, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, TA-XLVII.057
Maha Seya, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, TA-XLVII.060
