It is from the Mahiyangana stupa that paintings drawn within a relic chamber is discovered in Sri Lanka for the first time. This relic chamber was opened o January 03, 1951 during excavations conducted by the Department of Archaeology where it was found that mortar containing the paintings had been fallen on the ground. Out of the fragments about thirteen parts of paintings could be protected and conserved. Incidents such as the defeat of Mara, the Enlightenment, the worship of Buddha by the Devas and the Brahma in the three world etc. are depicted by those paintings.
Among these paintings which are considered to be dated back to the 9-10th centuries AD, the well preserved one is that which depicts the God Vishnu with four hands and carrying a basket of flowers in two hands getting ready for the worship of the Buddha. While red, orange, yellow, black and white have been used as the main colors in drawing the pictures, the line is given prominence in executing them. At present the plates containing these paintings are securely kept at the Anuradhapura museum for exhibition. |
| * Date of Issue : 04th May, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 10.00 * Catalogue No. : CSL2109 * Stamp Designer : K.N. Prasadani Kumari * Stamp Size : 41mm * 30mm * Format : Horizontal * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet |
* Perforation : 13 3/4 * 14 * Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed : 500,000 * Last Date of Sale : 03rd May, 2016 |
Amisa Pooja (Material Offerings)
Offerings of material items such as flowers, incense, water, victuals (Gilanpasa) etc. by way of paying homage to Buddha is known as Amisa Pooja. Apart from such offerings, activities such as conducting Dan Sal (offering free foods and drinks to devotees), making Vesak lanterns and taking part in pilgrimages too are considered as Amisa Poojas. Particularly on Vesak days, Buddhist devotees engage themselves in the practice of decorating their homes with Buddhist flags, lanterns etc., and making offerings of flowers, incense to Buddha by way of invoking merit for themselves. The main virtue which is developed through such Amisa Poojas is Saddha or piety. It is the basic requirement for Buddhists in the realization of the ultimate goal of Nibbana which is the sum total of the Dhamma. Therefore, it is with great enthusiasm and devotion that Buddhist people engage themselves in Amisa Poojas in order to cultivate such virtues as Saddha. Pratipatti Pooja (Spiritual Offerings) Making offerings to Buddha by engaging in excellent good deeds such as Sila (good conduct), Bhavana (meditation) etc, is known as Pratipatti or spiritual offering. Buddha has highly valued this type of activities in the total elimination of powerful evil deeds such as Lobha (desire), Dvesha (malice) and Moha (ignorance) which contribute to the prolongation of the Samsaric journey. Those good practices help the total elimination of such evil deeds; purify one’s mind and restrain one’s body and words. Ultimately, a noble being is created in this manner. Therefore this practice is the nobler one of the two and Buddha has even preached that it is the best respect that one can bestow upon him. Therefore Buddhists make it a point to engage in observing Sil on the full moon day of every month in order to make that noble offering and particularly on the Vesak day they engage themselves in such meritorious acts in large numbers. |
| * Date of Issue : 20th April, 2015 * Denomination : Rs. 8.00, Rs. 10.00, Rs. 50.00 * Stamp Designer : Piyaratne Hewabatage * Stamp Size : 41mm * 30mm * Format : Horizontal * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet * Perforation : 13 1/2 * 14 |
* Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed Stamps : 500,000 each Souvenir Sheets : 15,000 each * Last Date of Sale : 19th April, 2016 |
The Great Renunciation of Prince Siddhartha
Prince Siddhartha, having decided to renounce all the luxuries and worldly pleasure on seeing for himself the four signs of the unsatisfactoriness of life was marking time in his palace waiting for an opportune moment to abandon lay life and to seek truth. His father King Suddhodana’s wish at all times was to see his son prince Siddhartha become the universal King of Sakviti. The king adopted various strategies to have his wish realized. However, Prince Siddhartha was not pleased with the worldly life. One day, when he was in the royal garden, a messenger brought him a message that caused a great disturbance in his mind. That was the news of the birth of a little son to his consort Yasodhara. Thereafter, one day, after witnessing the sight of the weary palace dancers who had fallen asleep here and there making an ugly sight after performing of dances in the palace, he became disgusted with life. It was an incident that made him further unhappy with worldly life after witnessing the previous four sights of life. Thereafter, having asked his close associate, courtier Channa, to saddle the horse secretly without letting anybody in the palace know of it, he looked inside the chamber where his consort Yasodhara was asleep peacefully in bed with little Rahula and leaving all luxuries behind in that night, left the palace in order to seek the truth that soothed the entire three world. The horse Kanthaka, carrying price Siddhartha on his back, crossed the ford of the river Anoma keeping in its heart the pain of departure from its master. Prince Siddhartha, alighting from the horse after crossing the river Anoma, handed over all royal ornaments worn by him to Channa and cut his hair with the sword and went into the forest to seek truth, leaving Channa and the horse there. |
| * Date of Issue : 12th May, 2014 * Denomination : Rs.5/-, Rs.10/-, Rs.15/-, Rs.20/- * Stamp Designer : Kumudu Tharaka * Stamp Size : 30mm * 41mm * Format : Vertical * Printing Process : Offset Lithography * Sheet Composition : 20 stamps per sheet * Perforation : 13 1/4 * 12 3/4 |
* Printers : Department of Government Printing, Sri Lanka * Color : 4 Process Colors * Paper : 102 gsm security stamp paper * Gum : PVA * Quantity Printed : Rs.5/- 500,000 , Rs.10/- 300,000, Rs.15/- 500,000 , Rs.20/- 300,000 * Last Date of Sale : 11th May, 2015 |
