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Writer's picturePasan Tharinda

The Mystery of Sigiriya: A Legacy of King Ravana or King Kashyapa?

Pasan Tharinda, Jadetimes Staff

P. Tharinda is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Historical and Cultural News

 
The Mystery of Sigiriya: A Legacy of King Ravana or King Kashyapa?
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Sigiriya is the celebrated archaeological site of the iconic rock fortress in central Sri Lanka. History says that King Kashyapa is traditionally credited with the construction of this magnificent palace and fortress atop the massive rock during his reign from 477 to 495 CE. However, a growing body of research and ancient texts suggests that Sigiriya may not be entirely Kashyapa's creation.

It might have been an ancient structure, even ascribed to the mythical King Ravana, and Kashyapa simply renovated and refurbished it to suit his purpose.


This hypothesis derives credibility from ancient Sri Lankan chronicles, Indian epics, and archaeological findings that point to the origin of Sigiriya going back to Ravana's era, thousands of years before the reign of Kashyapa.


The Traditional Story of Sigiriya


According to the Sri Lankan historical records, mainly the Mahavamsa, King Kashyapa built Sigiriya as his capital after he usurped the throne from his father, King Dhatusena, and in fear of retaliation from his brother, Mugalan. Kashyapa converted this rock into a fortress with water gardens, frescoes, and an impregnable palace.

Yet, doubts arise when one considers the advanced technology and architectural ingenuity displayed in Sigiriya, which seems to surpass the capabilities of 5th-century CE construction methods.


Proofs of Ravana's Connection to Sigiriya


References in the Ramayana

The Ramayana, one of the world's oldest epics, portrays Lanka as the golden kingdom of King Ravana. Ravana was said to be a scholar, warrior, and architect who allegedly built beautiful palaces and fortresses. Some researchers state that Sigiriya is the place described as the royal palace of Ravana.

The epic describes a central fortress on an elevated peak with beautiful gardens all around and a sophisticated watering system. All these are very similar to Sigiriya, especially its superior water gardens and the nearly impregnable arrangement of the rock fortress.


Ancient Texts and Local Legends

The Yuddha Kanda portion of the Ramayana speaks of Ravana's use of flying chariots and sophisticated technology. According to Sri Lankan local legends, Sigiriya may have been one of Ravana's strongholds, built for strategic defence and administration.


Further, ancient Sri Lankan texts like the Vishnu Purana and Ravana Samhita give evidence that Ravana has built many structures of magnificence in Lanka, which were either adopted or rebuilt by successive rulers.


Archaeological Evidence


The advanced water management system at Sigiriya, comprising underground reservoirs and fountains working during the monsoon, depicts an engineering that has to be much earlier than the time of Kashyapa. The hydraulic systems' scale and accuracy certainly suggest an even older civilization.


Moreover, some of the inscriptions in the Sigiriya area are in Brahmi script dating as far back as the 3rd century BCE or even earlier, long before the time of Kashyapa. This gives evidence to the pre-existence of Sigiriya as an important place long before the reign of Kashyapa.


Cultural Markers of Ravana's Era


Archaeological remains in and around Sigiriya are very much like those attributed to the age of Ravana, which also includes traces of the tribe of Yaksha, to whom Ravana is claimed to belong. This, in another way, confirms the roots of Sigiriya to have been well ahead of written history.


King Kashyapa: The Renovator, Not the Creator?

Though King Kashyapa is credited to have turned Sigiriya into a royal residence, more likely he would have converted some already existing structure. In the case of Kashyapa, fleeing from his brother, he would need to find the safest place where he could establish his capital. With its natural defences and already existing infrastructure, Sigiriya would have been that ideal place.


Historians indicate that Kashyapa added such features as the frescoes, the mirror wall, and the lion-shaped entrance to make the site even more magnificent, but the base of the fortress with its water gardens and rock structures seems to have been there well before his arrival.


The Advanced Engineering of Sigiriya


Water Gardens and Hydraulic Systems

The intricate irrigation systems at Sigiriya are truly a marvel of ancient engineering; the fountains in water gardens work by natural pressure, a principle that may have been perfected in Ravana's time, if one were to go by the Ramayana.

Rock-Cut Caves and Chambers Sigiriya has rock-cut caves with inscriptions and carvings older than Kashyapa. Some researchers attribute these caves to Yaksha culture, which is in line with Ravana's lineage. Strategic Location Sigiriya's location central to the island and elevated for defense, follows the description of Ravana's strongholds in the Ramayana. Its location would have given a strategic advantage in Ravana's time.


A Palace of Ancient Mystery While the story of King Kashyapa may have sealed the fate and legend of Sigiriya, evidence suggests the origins of the site might go much further back than that, perhaps even to the legendary King Ravana. Ancient texts, local lore, and archaeological defence findings speak about a time of Sigiriya associated with an era of high-tech, advanced architecture, which dispels the conventional story of Sigiriya. Sigiriya is not only the monument of the ambition of Kashyapa but also one showing the ingenuity of ancient civilizations—reminding us that the mysteries of the past are often more complex than history books reveal.

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