Sigiri Piyuma
Author: Sirisena (Bandu) Deegoda Gamage
An author publication
Price: Rs. 400
An author publication
Price: Rs. 400
Much has been written about the history
of Sigiriya and its beautiful frescoes. The 600 feet high huge black rock has a
long history dating back to 477 AD. It is believed that the black rock had been
painted white and it appeared like a massive dazzling cloud floating in the
sky. Although it was surrounded by the think jungle, Sigiriya was known as
Alakamanda, the palace of King Kuvera.
According to legend, King Ravana
defeated Kuvera and made Sigiriya one of his palaces. Historians, however,
believe that Sigiriya was the palace of King Kasyapa who ruled his kingdom from
477 AD to 495 AD. After killing his father – Dhatusena – by plastering him up
in a wall, Kasyapa was tormented by his guilt and abandoned his magnificent
Anuradhapura kingdom.
After Kasyapa’s era, Sigiriya did not
draw anybody’s attention until it was discovered by archaeologists. They came
across the famous Sigiriya frescoes on the Western surface of the rock. It is
believed that there were more than 500 frescoes but only about 23 survive today
in a small pocket halfway up the rock, about 100 metres above the ground.
There has been much speculation over who
they represented. According to one view, they depict Ravana’s consort Mandodari.
Others believe that they were dancing women in Kasyapa’s palace. The paintings
are of semi-nude Apsaras or celestial nymphs showering flowers from above on
the humans below.
Sirisena (Bandu) Deegoda Gamage’s Sigiri
Piyuma is, in fact, not a historical exploration of Sigiriya. It is a
historical novel based on the Sigiriya frescoes. The theme of the novel appears
to be that the Sigiriya frescoes depict Buddhist philosophy. To expand his
theory through the novel, the author deftly creates a love affair between
Suryaputra and Pramitha.
Dhatusena was not a popular king. He had
two sons - Kasyapa and Moggallana. When they grew up, they tried to capture the
kingdom. The story begins when Kasyapa’s men kidnap Suryaputra and Pramitha.
The author describes the events that followed in a matter-of-fact style. He has
been able to maintain some degree of suspense until the end of the novel. It is
a sine qua non for any novel.
Historical novels of this nature are
very rare in modern times. Many so-called novelists turn out cheap love
stories. As a result, only a very few authors write historical novels these
days. Sigiri Piyuma will be a treat to those who are fascinated by the Sigiriya
frescoes.
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