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Kandy: An Ancient City of Rich and Royal Traditions
Located in the heart of the hill country, the picturesque city of Kandy was the last bastion of the Sinhalese, withstanding three centuries of foreign invasion before agreeing to British rule in 1815. The geographical location of the city with thickly forested mountains rendered it difficult to approach, thereby safeguarding it as the final Sinhalese kingdom. To this date it remains rich in its ancient traditions and arts, providing visitors with a view of the vibrant cultural heritage of Sri Lanka.
The city is home to the island’s most important Buddhist shrine, the Temple of the Tooth which holds the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. A visit to the temple and its surrounding devalas or shrines honouring the four protective deities of the city will provide an insight to the religious observances, the amalgamation of Buddhist and Hindu practices and the art and architecture that is characteristic of Kandy. It is also the venue of one of the most magnificent pageants in the world, The Esela Perehera which takes place in early August. The carefully orchestrated, gigantic event is formed by five processions from the Temple of the Tooth and from the four devales with spectacular traditional dances, drumming, flute playing, acrobatic performances and fire displays. However, the central focus of the pageant is the great tusker carrying a replica of the tooth relic distinguished from the myriad other richly arrayed elephants by its perfectly proportioned build and majestic demeanour.
Kandy also has several museums showcasing its history and artistic achievements. The tusker museum at the Temple of the Tooth encases the world’s only stuffed elephant: the mortal remnants of the country’s most famous elephant, Raja. The city regularly has traditional dances and cultural shows as well as many interesting handicrafts unique to the region. A visit to this historical city with its tranquil natural beauty is a must for everyone who wishes to experience the dynamic cultural legacy of the island. Comprehensive information on cities in Sri Lanka can be obtained from the TrulySriLanka website ensuring that visitors will be able to successfully plan out a truly memorable tour of this paradise island.
About the Author
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.
Archaeologists, digging in the Iron Age earth of the Romano-British temple at Harlow, Middlesex, came across a gruesome reminder of Celtic religion in the shape of a coin. It showed the Iron Age chieftain Cunobelin on the obverse side, while on the reverse is the clear picture of a man, wearing an apron, but otherwise naked, holding aloft a human head.
There's no question that there was the 'Cult of the Severed Head,' but we mustn't be misled by Roman writers such as Strabo and Tacitus, the latter being otherwise fairly reliable. They both wrote about rites performed by the druids as being particularly bloodthirsty; human victims being stabbed in the back, and the Druids making divinations through their death throes.
Both these writers, and others as well, were writing for their readers. In other words, they wrote to titillate, to shock and to excite their Roman audiences, many of whom had appetites jaded from the sights they'd witnessed in the various arenas and circuses.
Certainly one of the most reliable of chroniclers was Caesar, but of course even he was guided by his Roman nature. Militarily, there was no-one to top him, but he did go a little bit off track with the druids. His readers, too, were urbane, so his writing does tend to be a bit coloured. However, he was certainly correct in reporting that the druids were powerful men, in authority in both religious and legal matters. He was right, as well, in saying that there was an arch-druid and that there were druidic schools where young men were taught what were, presumably, the mystic arts as well as the niceties of the law.
All this would be taught through word of mouth, since there was nothing written down in those times. If we look back to a previous article, we recall the feasts of Beltane and Samhain, to name but two. From whence did they come? They were ancient at the time of the druids, so it's impossible to say what historical mists hid their origins. However, the severed head recurs time and again and was certainly some form of rite. It seems that it was considered by the Celts in the same light as we view the soul. Everything that made a person human resided in the head.
Water played a large part in Celtic and druidic lore. Skulls have very frequently been found close to, or actually in, water.
Skulls weren't always associated with cults or religion. Celtic warriors were head-hunters who'd display the heads of their enemies above the gates of their hill-forts. A bloodthirsty relic was found at Stanwick in Yorkshire, the Brigantian stronghold. A skull with three wounds, one of which was fatal, had been hacked from the rest of the body at the fourth vertebra, and it still carried the pole on which it had been displayed. A sword and scabbard were found nearby.
There's a growing belief among archaeologists that early Bronze Age Britain was ruled by a priestly caste that was responsible for the designs of the circles at Avebury, Stonehenge, Brodgar and Callanish. It's suggested that this priesthood originated in Neolithic times and there are certain strong clues that the Celtic religion had its roots much earlier, in pre-history.
The oak tree was reverred by the druids, as was mistletoe. Pliny the Elder tells us that it was cut with a golden sickle by a white robed priest. After this, two bulls were sacrificed, all this done with great ceremony on the sixth day of the moon.
In conclusion, I think we have to assume that the religions of the Bronze and Iron Ages came from a time so distant in the mists of history, almost certainly from central and northern Europe
My thanks again to professor Lloyd Laing
This is Mike, delving into Celtic religion. I find it so fascinating to ponder on the origins of the Celtic religion, who was the priestly caste prior to the druids, and where did they come from? I do hope you found this article interesting. We're working up to the chaotic period that ushered in Celtic barbarism at its worst. But more of this next time. Have you visited the Knight's Site yet? If not, please try to take time to have look. I'm sure you'll be interested in all that it has to offer.
http://www.theknightssite.com
mkbnd8@gmail.com
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