Gaveshaka
has a close look at the regalia
The Dutch gift to King Vimala Dharma Suriya II
The last historic capital of the Sinhala kings, ‘Senkadagalapura’
or Kandy is located in a central valley of unsurpassable natural
beauty and salubrious climate. Much of the city and periphery of
Kandy is surrounded by the meandering River Mahaweli while the ranges
of hills encompassing the valley form a natural defense system.
The lake 'Kiri Muhuda' laid out on the side of the palace complex
by the last king Sri Vickrema Rajasinghe filled with the milky waters
flowing down from the surrounding hills and the forest hermitage
in the background, magnifies the natural beauty of this historic
city.
You
are greeted with this description as you enter the Kandy Era Gallery
at the National Museum. Here is more: "The two main Buddhist
monasteries 'Malwatta' and 'Asgiriya' chapters are located proximal
of the palace complex. The Sacred Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada
Maligawa) attracts thousands of Buddhists of the world to Kandy
for veneration. The annual Temple pageant known as Dalada Perahera
remains the cynosure par excellence of the tourists.
A large
number of temples containing Kandyan murals, shrines dedicated to
Buddhism, Hindu divinities as well as mosques and churches of Muslim
and Christian denominations, the renowned high seat of learning,
the University of Peradeniya and the Royal Botanical Gardens are
indeed attractions to the city of Kandy.
Kandyan
architecture is of a distinctive character both religious and domestic,
and remains to this day preserving their pristine features.
Kandyan crafts continue their respective professional products having
evolved into cottage industries, and much sought after by tourists.
Above all, the lifestyle of the people portrays the simple folk
traditions that existed in the villages in the past. The commercial
activities, however, commencing with the British period, seemingly
have transformed the city into a bustling metropolitan hill station.
One
cannot miss the majestic throne and crown of the last King of Kandy
being displayed prominently in the gallery. They occupy centre stage
in the gallery and are visible from a distance.
Research
has revealed that the throne and foot-stool had been presented by
the Dutch Governor, Van Rhee to King Vimala Dharma Suriya II of
Ceylon in the year 1693. It may either have been imported by the
Dutch or turned out in the coastal regions over which they held
sway. The French influence is seen in the design. It had been accepted
that Dutch furniture craft had been influenced by French designs
and ideas at the end of the 17th century.
R.
L. Brohier, an authority on the Dutch period, says that the more
exquisite decorations of the throne-chair, namely gold sheeting
covered with precious stones, were undoubtedly the handiwork of
Sinhala goldsmiths and silversmiths. The most prominent feature
in this curious relic, blended by ideas occident and orient, was
the two golden lions or sphinxes forming the arms, the heads of
the animals turned outwards, and on the back of the chair near the
top, a large golden representation of the sun and of the moon -
the former symbolic of Suriya and Solar Dynasty from which the Sinhala
sovereigns claimed descent, and the latter of Candra of Lunar Dynasty
with which they claimed connection.
The
foot-stool was also of European design and handsomely decorated.
It was 10 inches in height, a foot broad, and two feet and a half
long. A moulding of cut crystal ran about the sides of it, beneath
which, in front were flowers studded with amethysts and crystals.
The regalia was returned to Sri Lanka by the British on September
22, 1934.
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