A Guide to Buddhist Temples (An Old and Rare Book)

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Whatever may be thought of the statement of it here, from a Buddhist point of view the fact is undeniable that to a tourist one of the chief sights in Colombo is a Buddhist temple. There are many good reasons why this should be so. Even if the plea of novelty and newness- for there is nothing even remotely resembling a Buddhist temple in Europe, America, or Australia-be put by as too apparent for mention, there yet remains the good reason that in Ceylon is found the most primitive form of Buddhism; and if Buddhism is to be seen in its best and most favourable aspects, it is in Ceylon. That reason will, how- ever, only appeal to a limited number; but all visitors to these shores can be assured of a good half hour of the most novel and pleasing interest in a temple. They will see there what is entirely outside the run of sights and shows at the various ports of this highway of the sea; and they will have gained a nearer and more accurate estimate of the true Oriental than any rushing through the business parts of the town, where the impressions are, to a large extent, such as to be got at any port east of the Suez. Here in a temple everything is new-the yellow-robed Buddhist mendicant, with his shaven poll and his meditative eyes; the quaint temple, and the large collection there of images and frescoes instinct with an ancient and forgotten art; the seductive, fugitive, but very pleasant, odour of spices and resin incense in the image house and the sacred libraries, the latter full of quaint rectangular block books of palmyra leaves threaded by a coloured string; the umbrageous bo-tree, the sacred tree of the Buddhists, with the polyglot of offerings and quaint hand- lamps round its masonry basement, etc. The list of attractions can be interminably extended, but these are experiences never to be got anywhere else. Set the several sights in their native setting, with the various peoples of the country in their picturesque costume, the flower-sellers, the betel-nut vendors, and the other usual concomitants to a temple, and a series of pictures will have been gained which will be a lingering memory of a very crowded and pleasantly spent half hour. There is a certain amount of sameness in the temples in the maritime provinces-so that to those having no particular object (each temple has its peculiarities and specialities) a visit to one will be all that need be under- taken a great advantage when the exigencies of a visitor's 6 time are taken into account. That being so, it is all important to visit the temple which is the completest of its kind and has the largest number of attractions, and has the most interesting information to offer. The visitor will be well advised to go to the Dipaduttamarama, in Kotahena, commonly known as the Prince Priest's Temple. It takes no more than fifteen minutes to drive to it from the jetty, the route being through the busiest part of the city, and thus having its own recommendations. The Temple is quite close to St. Lucia's (the Roman Catholic) Cathedral, the largest Church in the Island, to the Anglican Cathedral, the Dock Works, etc. It is the temple that is most often visited by tourists. His Excellency Sir Henry Blake (Governor of Ceylon), and Lady Blake, and, when she was in the Islar, H. R. H. Princess Louise of Schleswig- Holstein, and nearly all distinguished visitors to the Island have visited the Temple more than once. The prominent notabilities, among them the Duchess of St. Albans, H.L.H. Prince Tsai, Imperial High Commissioner, who have called are too numerous to mention. Their autographs will be found in the visitors' book of the Temple and of its sacred museum. At this Temple, too, the visitor will have a most engaging and interesting guide the only Oriental Buddhist monk with an English education in all Asia, and a Prince of the Royal House of Siam, H.R.H. P.C. Jinavaravansa Thera (the late Prince Prisdang) C.M.O., A. M. I. C. E, etc., commonly known as the Prince Priest. His kindness in acting as guide is invaluable, and the visitor will have every opportunity to take an intelligent interest in what he sees. There is much that will require explanation to be thoroughly appreciated, and the Prince Priest makes it his business to give every assistance. The images, the frescoes and ancient paintings, the bas reliefs, the depictions of mythology, all have their peculiar interest and charm; and with the Prince Priest for guide these charms become possible. This Temple again is the only temple with a labyrinth, and here too is a sacred museum, the only one of its kind, and replete with rare and unique relics, ancient sculptures, images, plaster-casts, ancient manuscripts, historical relics, and exhibits not to be seen anywhere else in Ceylon. The claims of this Temple to its popularity with tourists do not end here, but in a general survey nothing more need be said. The following pages will deal more in detail with the chief centres of interest.