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Story of Buddha in Paintings at Kalutara Temple (Kalutara)
The Kalutara Chaitya is a Stupa (Buddhist shrine) situated just south of the Kalutara Bridge in the Kalutara District of Sri Lanka. It is unique as one of the few hollow Buddhist stupas in the world, featuring an interior adorned with 74 murals, each illustrating different aspects of the Buddha's life. Inside the larger hollow stupa are four smaller chaityas (stupas), and its walls are decorated with scenes from the Jataka tales. Visitors can enter the Kalutara Chaitya to worship and admire the statues and wall paintings depicting the stories of Buddha.
The stupa was commissioned by Sir Cyril de Zoysa, with the design created by Justin Samarasekera in collaboration with A. N. S. Kulasinghe. The construction was executed by the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka, utilizing the country's first computer to perform the complex calculations required. The large concrete dome, with a diameter of 30.5 meters (100 feet) and a circumference of 91.5 meters (300 feet), features a thin shell structure with a thickness of 140 mm (5.5 inches). This was the first thin hemispherical shell built in Sri Lanka.
Historically, the site was occupied by the Gangatilaka Vihara, which was destroyed by the Portuguese during their invasion. They built a fort on the small hill, which was later expanded by the Dutch and surrendered to the British in 1796. The British converted the fort into the office and residence of the Government agent. During the British colonial period, Galle Road was constructed between the Uda Maluva and the Pahala Maluva, dividing the site into two sections. The Kalutara Bodhiya, one of 32 saplings of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, was situated on the premises shared with the Government agent's residence and the local Kachcheri. Sir Cyril de Zoysa convinced the government to relocate the agent’s residence and offices to a site he owned in Nagoda, facilitating the development and restoration of the Bodhi premises.
The foundation of the stupa was laid in 1964, and the pinnacle was completed in January 1974. The pinnacle was officially unveiled, and relics were deposited in the inner chamber by President J. R. Jayewardene on 28 February 1980.
First Blessings from Deepankara Buddha
Future or To be Buddha finds water in the desert thru his wisdom
Budhisatva - Devidatta First Enmity
Preaching convinced devil to stop killings
The Hare offering himself as Dhane to Future Buddha
Future Buddha saving the drowning mother
An Ugly (Dark) Prince Kusa and the beautiful (Fair) Princess
Budhisatva settles the ownership of child between 2 women
Budhisatva Looks after his blind parents
Bodhisatva settles dispute over a wife
A Queen eloes with a legless person
Mother Maya sees a dream a white elephant coming
Birth of Goutam Sidarth Buddha in Lumbini Nepal
Gautam Sidarth presented to the chief Birhaman to make a fortune map of child
Prince Sidarth performing a miricle of cultivation
Prince Sidarth see the suffering, death
Sidarth looks at his wife before his great departure
Bodhisatva Leaves home life
Budhisatva leaving Palace in search of enlightenment
Budhisatva chops his hir to become an ascetic
Meditation under a Bo tree for 6 years (fasting)
For survival he takes Milk and rice
Sidarth becomes Buddha the enlightenment under the Bo tree
Buddha pays gratitude to the Bo tree under which he got enlightened
Buddha Gets forst meal the honney comb
Buddha performs miracles for his relatives
Buddha visits the former father the King Sudhodhana
Brahma Sachchaka Loses debate with Buddha
Nandapananda (Nangapananda) the king of cobras loses debate with Buddha
Religious leader Baka Brahama loses debate to Buddha
Buddha vists Mahiyangana
Buddha visits Kelaniya
Buddha visits Sri Pada
Buddha attends the final Dhane and becomes ill
Buddha returns to Kusinara
Buddha passes away (His last word were : Transient are all forms of being be aware all the times)
Cremation of the Buddha
Distribution of relics (Ashes) of Buddha
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