Divurumpola

I continue to try and get caught up long-delayed blogging, which also allows me to clean up my long-suffering phone. Here are a number of pictures from Dirumumpola in Sri Lanka. It's mainly a Buddhist site (complete with stupa, which I somehow don't have a picture of) but also plays a key role in the Ramayana story. While those no great proof that there's any historical basis to the Ramayana, this is the location associated with the place where Sita proved her virtue to Rama by jumping in a fire with Agni. Historical foundation or not there is a definite Ramayana tourist path, which the Sri Lankans have done much more in constructing than the Indians themselves. I'm hoping to run this trip again in a year or two, so I'm definitely looking forward to another visit.

Buddhism is a very iconographic religion, which makes it just about the opposite of Islam in that fashion.

More images of the Buddha.

As I've discussed in previous posts, every subtle movement and placement of the Buddha's hands have tremendous symbolic significance.

The notion of hell, although mainly in the metaphoric sense, plays a big role in some Buddhist art, which always seems strange if you're on the outside of the faith looking in.

More images of hell, which would seem to fit in perfectly with a medieval church painting.

The reclining Buddha is a staple of Buddhist art. Here the Buddha accepts impending death and waits for it peacefully.

More images from the Buddhist side of the temple, as you walk around towards the back. A more gifted photographer (meaning, everyone) could have done great things with this image.

And when you get around to the back of the temple you come across a series of murals associated with the Ramayana itself, forming a little metaphor for how Hinduism and Buddhism have lived side by side in India for centuries. Here are Rama, Sita and Lakemana during their exile. The golden dear, which Ravana used to distract Rama and kidnap Sita, is seen in the backgroun.

Here Hanuman has bounded across the Indian Ocean from India to Lanka and discovered the kidnapped Sita. She refuses to go back with him, leaving the honor of saving her to Rama.

Hanuman is captured, and in the process of escaping manages to burn down much of Lanka.

The monkeys building the stone bridge that will carry Rama's army to Lanka for the truly epic final batte.

The shot is out of order, as it actually occurred very early in the Ramayana. Here Lakamana cuts off the nose and ears of Ravana's sister at Rama's command. This plays an even bigger version of the Sri Lankan understanding of the Rama story because it justifies Ravana's actions in kidnapping Sita; that is, he kidnapped her not out of lust, but rather to avenge his sister and to teach Rama a lesson.

A statue of Hanuman in the back of the temple.

A close-up, showing Hanuman ripping open his chest to show that Rama and Sita are always in his heart, making him a natural symbol for all of India.

Sita jumping into the flames to prove her virtue to Rama after her rescue. The first of two times when Rama cruelly doubts her love and fidelity. For this reason outsiders are often cold to Rama, which Indians have trouble understanding. They view Rama as a heroic but also a tragic figure, who did what he had to do because of duty.

Another view of the same statue, this time showing the people's horror, including that of Rama, at Sita jumping into the fire.