WORLD BUDDHIST STAMPS e.GALLERY
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| Wesak 2004 - Sri Lanka | |
The murals of the Sambhava Jataka story done on a “pettagama’ – big wooden box found at the Nagolla Raja Maha Vihara, Kurunegala. The stamp relate the story of King Dhananjaya Kaurawa’s quest for the formula to be a righteous ruler. It depicts the king sending his Brahmin advisor Suchirata to meet the learned Pandit Vidura. Suchirata returns after meeting the youths Bhadraka and Sanjaya and hands over the gold leaf with the formula to the king
The Nagolla Raja Maha Vihara is situated at the bottom of the Nagolla range of hills starting with the Kumbalpola protected forest in Kurunegala. A series of caves form the nucleus of the ancient temple. During excavations several things of historical value had been found. Among these had been a copy of the Tripitaka written on ola leaves. Other findings included Buddha statues and wall paintings. These are believed to have a long history dating back to the days of King Valagamba (89-77 BCE) when monks lived in forest hermitages devoting themselves to meditation. The temple has been in a perfect state even by 1782 as evidenced by writings on ola leaves. |
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| Issued Country | Sri Lanka |
| Issued Year | 2004 |
| Category | Events Buddhist Arts |
| Type | Commemorative/Special Stamps |