Presentation made at the Maritime Buddhism class conducted by Prof. Lewis Lancaster as a part of our PhD Course.

1. MARITIME BUDDHISM – REL 640
(PROFESSOR LEWIS LANCASTER)
DAMBAKOLA PATUNA – PLACE ID 55
VEN. N. SUMITTA
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST
LOS ANGELES
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2. Dambakola Patuna
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3. DAMBAKOLA PATUNA – JAMBUKOLA
PATTINA
Samudda Pannasala = Jambukola Viharaya
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4. sumitta2012@gmail.com 4

5. H. G. Wells – Historian
• In Ceylon there grows to this day a tree, the oldest historical tree in
the world, which we know certainly to have planted as a cutting from
the Bodhi Tree in the year 245 B.C. From that time to this it has been
carefully tended and watered.
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6. Jaffna Penninsula 6

7. Sri Lanka
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8. SRI LANKA FEATURING IN THE
BAY OF BENGAL BUDDHISM
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9. The Route of Sanghamitta from Buddhagaya
to Dambakola Patuna
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10. A replica of the boat Sanghamitta travelled
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11. A model of the boat Sanghamitta
travelled
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12. Evening scene of Dambakola
Patuna see port
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13. Day light scene of Dambakola
Patuna sea port
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14. Present Day entrance to the Dambakola
Patuna Sanghamitta Viharaya
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15. PRESENT DAY CHAIYA (PAGODA,
STHUPA) AT DAMBAKOLA PATUNA
VIHARAYA
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16. Bodhi Tree sapling planted after the war
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17. Statue of Theri Sanghamitta 17

18. Some Historical Facts
• King Devanamapiyatissa (250-210 B.C.)
• King Vijayabahu (1070-1110 A.D.)
• Theri Sanghamitta was the daughter of emperor Ashoka (304-232
B.C.) and sister of Thera Mahinda.
• Sanghamitta brought the Bodhi Tree during the 12th year of Asoka’s
reign
• The journey route followed by Sanghamitta who carried the right
south branch of Bodhi tree on a ship to Anuradhapura.
• The route was from Gaya to Pataliputta and then Tamalitti in Bengal.
Then to Dambakola Patuna probably via Vishaka pattinam.
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19. Some Historical Facts of Sanghamitta Arrival
• One of the foremost maritime Buddhist tour
• Initiating the Buddhist Order of Nuns (Bhikkhuni Sasana/ Bhikkhuni Order)
in Sri Lanka.
• One of the earliest Buddhist nuns to travel through sea to propagate
Buddhism
• Along with Sri Maha Bodhi Tree sapling she also brought a unique cultural
heritage from India.
• Sri Lankan bhikkhuni Devasara and a group of bhikkhunis went to China
and established bhikkhuni order there in the 12th C.
• Nuns lineage was also established in Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand by Sri
Lankan nuns.
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20. • Jambukola Patthana or Dambakola Patuna was venerated by
King Devanampiyatissa by building a vihara called Samudda
Pannasala (samudda = sea).
• Subsequently as a mark of respect to the venue, the king also
established one of the eight offshoots of the sacred Bodhi tree
at this vihara.
• Historical reports record that later in the Polonnaruwa period,
King Vijayabahu restored this temple premises.
• However, this all important historic place has not been taken
care of by the later rulers and some of the remains of the
vihara, such as Buddha footprint stone and vatadage which
were prevalent up to recent times, have disappeared due to
various reasons.
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21. •This port gradually faded in importance while
port Mahathiththa/ Mahathota/ Mantota (now
Mantai) located at the mouth of Malvatu oya
developed as a key intersection of sea-routes
and the Dambakola Patuna Viharaya was lost in
time.
•The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, the
Mahavamsa and Samanthapaasasdika mention
pilgrims coming from “Yonaka” country to
Jambukola to worship the Jambukola Viharaya
in the ancient times.sumitta2012@gmail.com 21

22. Some Buddhist ruins still existent in close
proximity to Dambakola Patuna
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23. References
 Mahavamsa
 Deepavamsa
 Maha Bodhivamsa
 Samantapasadika
 Internet
 Newspapers
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24. Thank you
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