{"id":82878,"date":"2021-12-29T08:10:42","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T08:10:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=82878"},"modified":"2021-12-29T08:10:42","modified_gmt":"2021-12-29T08:10:42","slug":"ingenious-elephant-lamp-at-dedigama-marvelous-craftsmanship-of-yesteryear-by-arundathie-abeysinghe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/ingenious-elephant-lamp-at-dedigama-marvelous-craftsmanship-of-yesteryear-by-arundathie-abeysinghe\/","title":{"rendered":"Ingenious elephant lamp at Dedigama – marvelous craftsmanship of yesteryear By Arundathie Abeysinghe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ingenious elephant lamp<\/strong> at Dedigama – marvelous craftsmanship of yesteryear<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

By Arundathie Abeysinghe<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

\"Ingenious<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Unique elephant lamp discovered from *Dedigama Kota Vehera (Sutighara Stupa) is an ingenious creation based on hydro static principles displayed at the Dedigama Museum. The elephant lamp has been excavated from the upper relic chamber of Sutighara Stupa at Dedigama in 1951. There are three stupas of the Kota Vehera type in Sri Lanka; Sutighara Cetiya at Dedigama, *the stupa at Yudaganawa (largest stupa in the south and east of Sri Lanka) and the Damila thupa at Polonnaruwa which date to the 12th century and are attributed to King Parakramabahu I.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to scholars, during the Polonnaruwa Era, the oil lamp has been an integral element of art and religion of Sri Lankan society and various artistic elements had been added to adorn the structure of the oil lamp. Oil lamps had often been made with bronze stands of varying heights. The brass lamps had been in two major forms; standing and hanging. The features of these lamps had been enhanced by elaborate carvings of human figurines, flowers and birds including roosters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scholars are of the view that the flickering brightness emanating from an oil lamp symbolizes wisdom, hope and new beginnings. Hence, the traditional oil lamp that dispels the surrounding gloom is an integral element of Sri Lankan culture. At present too, the oil lamp is inextricably linked to the key moments of lives of Sri Lankans.<\/span><\/p>\n

This unique elephant lamp depicts excellent craftsmanship and advanced state of technological expertise of the ancient Sri Lankan craftsmen. The elephant lamp popularly known as \u201cEth Pahana<\/em>\u201d (meaning elephant lamp in Sinhala) is a hanging lamp of a unique design with an oil regulating device. A figure of an elephant carrying a rider on its shoulder predominates the oil receptacle. The hollow of the elephant\u2019s stomach serves as a vessel as well as a reservoir for the oil, whereas one of the elephant\u2019s forelegs serves as a funnel for pouring in the oil.<\/span><\/p>\n

The elephant is 12.6 cm tall and 6.1 cm wide and stands on top of an oil receptacle which has a diameter of 23 cm and a height of 8.5 cm. Height of the entire lamp is approximately 28.5 cm. The chain with which with the lamp is hung is decorated with a female dancer, a male cymbal player as well as a drummer. The end of the chain is decked with an open-hooded cobra forming a hook to hang the lamp, a unique design\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

The elephant lamp made by an unknown craftsman is dated to 11th<\/sup> \u2013 12th<\/sup> centuries AD, the era of King Parakramabahu I (1153 to 1186 AD) of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. The elephant lamp is made out of bronze. According to scholars, bronze had been a common material during this period. During this period, Sri Lankan craftsmen had possessed advanced skills of bronze casting technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

The mechanism of the elephant lamp is marvelous. The elephant figure stands in the middle of a basin which can filled with oil. When the level of the oil in the basin goes down below the level of the hole in the foreleg of the elephant serves as a funnel. A mechanical devise based on hydrostatic principles causes the oil to flow into the receptacle through the a body part of the elephant and the flow automatically ceases when the oil reaches the level of the elephant\u2019s feet, an ingenious craftsmanship…<\/span><\/p>\n

The chain of the lamp is also modeled with fine artistic skill and is incorporated with the figures of female dancers and drummers. The \u201cthorana<\/em>\u201d (the archway) under which the elephant figure stands is of fine work.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to scholars, the elephant and the rider, the thorana<\/em>, the chain as well as the lamp are unique excellent craftsmanship and technological expertise with hydro engineering principles are used in the lamp.<\/span><\/p>\n

Directions:<\/strong> Take the right turn at the Nelundeniya junction (on Colombo \u2013 Kandy Road) and travel approximately one kilometer. Towards the right side, the mound of the Sutighara Cetiya, popularly known as the Kota Vehera, at Dedigama can be seen. According to typical architectural style of King Parakramabahu I, the stupa<\/em> has its hemispherical form truncated on the top, hence named as Kota Vehera (meaning short stupa in Sinhala).<\/span><\/p>\n