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Pansukulika Monasteries - with Padanagara double platforms

Padanagara double platform in Anuradhapura's Western Monasteries
Padanagara double platform in Anuradhapura's Western Monasteries
The Pansukulikas, a Buddhist reform movement in the late Anuradhapura period (7th to 10th century AD), intended to lead an even more austere life than required by the monastic rule and to focus on meditation more than on scholarship. For their mediation practices they created a new type of monastic architecture called Padanagara (also spelled Padhanagara or Padhanaghara). This kind of building is a double platform, the two terraces of which are separated by a dig but connected by an often monolithic small bridge. This type of mediation platform, which is unique to Sri Lanka, was namegiving for this specific kind of specific forest monasteries. So the terms "Pansukulika monastery" and "Padanagara monatery" are used synonymously, they refer to the same forest temples used by the Pansukulika fraternity and including Padanagara structures. The main Pansukulika monasteries of Sri Lanka are Kirilagala, which seems to be the oldest one, Ritigala, which is the largest, Arankale and Manakanda, both situated at the feet of mountains just like Ritigala, and the so-called Western monasteries of Anuradhapura, which represent the most developed type of Padanagara architecture.
"Pansukulika" is somtimes transcribed "Pamsukulika", more correctly "Paṃsukulikaṃ", but this "ṃ" (called Anusvara in Indian languages) is a nasal that is homorganic to a following plosive, for example, it's pronounced "m" in front of a "b", but "ng" when followed by a "k". Followed by an "s", however, "ṃ" sounds like an "n". This is why prefer "Pansukulika" as the English transcription, because it's pronounced this way.
The Pali term "pansu-kula", from which the word "pansukulika" for its practitioner is derived, literally means "dust-jutting", but is often translated as "rag robes". The term actually refers to "forsaken clothes", abandoned rags found at garbage heaps and particularly at cremation sites, where discarded textiles full of dust could be seen jutting out from the ground. Wearing robes made of such rags is considered a rigid form of asceticism in Buddhism. This practice is one of the so-called Dhutangas. It's the first one on a list of 13 Dhutanga austerities mentioned in the Visuddhimaggha of Buddhaghosa Thero, which is considered the authorative compendium of Theravad teachings and practices, arranging the canonical teachings in a systematic compilation. Dhutangas are means to eliminate the defilements in the mind, and thus contributing to deepening Buddhist practice. However, Dhutangas are not part of the Vinaya. This is to say, they do not belong to the mandatory monastic rules of Buddhism. The Buddha called his teachings the middle path between sensual pleasures and extreme forms of austerities. He refused practicing both extremes, this means, unlike Jainism, Buddhism does not teach "the more asceticism the better for the path to salvation". But the Buddha allowed some ascetic practices without prescribing them as rules of the community of monks, the Sangha. The Dhutangas in general and Pansukula in particular belong to such permitted austerity practices of monks.

The Pansukulika brotherhood of the ancient Sinhalese civilization was not formed as a separate Nikaya, it did not constitute a schism of the Sangha. Rather, all existing Nikayas seem to have developed their own respective Pansukulika branch in the late Anuradhapura period. Pansukulika monks did not refuse to share ceremonies with monks from the urban or other monasteries of their respective Nikaya. (Not sharing common ceremonies any longer though living in the same town or village is the definition of schism in the monastic religion of Buddhism.) Nor did Pansukulika strictly disagree with other monks in questions concerning basic teachings of their religion or regarding leadership authority (which would be the definition of schism in confessional or hierarchical religions of the Western style). They simply wanted to focus more on meditation and austerity practices than on scholarship and priestly functions. (For comparison, if some Roman Catholic priests are Jesuits, this does not mean that they form a separate church).

For culturally interested travelers who enjoy visiting heritage sites, Pansukulika monasteries are interesting, because in style they differ much from other temples from the same period. Surprisingly, Pansukulika monasteries have no stupas within the sacred monastic compounds. Strikingly, they do not have any works of sculptural art, though sometimes there is an exceptions: Toilets and urinal stones in particularly are elobaretely carved, depicting ornaments or even palace buildings. This, of course, is a highly symbolic method of expressing contempt of the fine arts. Pansukulika monasteries have no Bo-trees, either. They have no symbols or idols used in worshiping practices of lay people. However, they welcomed lay people as visitors. The veneration of the Sangha in itself, however, was the only accepted practice of lay devotion within a monastic compound. Instead of classic Buddhist buildings, Pansukulika monasteries gad lots of the double platforms called Padanagaras. The function of having a second platform is not entirely clear. There are mainly two different interpretations, which do not exclude each other. Both interpretations agree that the main platform served as the place where monks dwelt. Monk cells where erected there as single huts or groups of such cells. The separate other platform was void of buildings. One interoretation says, this is where monks meditated under the open sky, but protected from wild animals, just as it is recommended in the ancient scriptures. The other interpretation says, that the plain platform served as the place where lay devotees stood or sat down when bringing alms or asking for blessings or sermons. As said, both explanations are not mutually exclusive. They may both be true at the same time. Or some double platforms may have been used only for mediations, whereas others, the larger and more elaborate ones, were also used for audiences. Remarkably, the largest Padanagaras have three platforms.

Apart from the Padanagaras, Pansukulika monasteries have two other architectural features in common. The bathing place plays a more  is more relevant role than at other monastaries. And so-called Janthagaras, Ayurvedic treatment centers with warm-water or even steam-bath facilities and millstones to grind herbs, are of much significance in Pansukulika monasteries, too. To be sure, elaborate bathes and Ayurvedic hospitals are found in some other monasteries, too, for example in Mihintale, where even a Padanagara survived, though Mihintale was definitely not a Pansukulika monastery. However, in contrast to ordinary hospitals, the three abovementioned typical features play a much more predominant and, as said, almost exclusive role in the architecture of Pansukulika monasteries. The bathes and Ayrvedic facilities are of much larger proportion in relation to the size of the monastery, and whereas some other monasteries sometimes have Padhanagara, Pansukulika monasteries have numerous of them. This is why the term Padanagara monasteries obviously makes sense for this special type of temple complexes.

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Lake Gregory near Nuwara Eliya
Lake Gregory near Nuwara Eliya
dam of the Kotmale Reservoir
dam of the Kotmale Reservoir
Victoria reservoir east of Kandy
Victoria reservoir east of Kandy
Kaluganga Reservoir near Riverston
Kaluganga Reservoir near Riverston
Rangala Natural Pool in Knuckles Range
Rangala Natural Pool in Knuckles Range
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    • Sacred Places >
      • buddhist sites >
        • Mahiyangana
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        • Somawathiya
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        • Bhadravathi
      • Sinhalese Shrines >
        • Maha Saman Devale
        • Seenigama
      • Tamil Hindu Temples >
        • Munneshvaram
        • Ketheesvaram
        • Kataragama
        • Kanniyai
        • Madampe
      • Ramayana Sites >
        • Sita Eliya
        • Manavari
        • Divurumpola
        • Shtripura Caves
      • Christian >
        • Adisham Hall
    • Giant Stupas >
      • large ancient stupas >
        • Dighavapi
        • Yudaganawa
        • Dedigama
      • large modern stupas >
        • Kotmale Maha Seya
        • Sandagiri Maha Seya
    • Rock Buddha statues >
      • Gal Vihara
      • Aukana Buddha
      • Sasseruwa Buddha
      • Buduruwagala
      • Dowa
      • Maligawila
      • Kushtaraja Statue
      • Thanthirimale
      • Bakamuna
      • Maboda Temple
      • Rambodagalla statue
    • National Parks >
      • Yala NP
      • Wilpattu NP
      • Maduru Oya NP
      • Gal Oya NP
      • Udawalawe NP
      • Minneriya NP
      • Kaudulla NP
      • Kumana NP
      • Bundala NP
      • Ussangoda
      • leopards
    • Activity Attractions >
      • Kandy Perahera 2024
      • Kithulgala
      • Pinnawela
      • Madu Ganga
      • Muthurajawela
      • Meetiyagoda
      • Rekawa
      • Induruwa
      • Brief Garden
      • Lunuganga
      • Peradeniya
      • Gampaha
      • Kanneliya
      • Bodhinagala
      • Mahapalessa Hot Springs
      • Thoppigala
      • Rufus Kulam
      • Wewurukannala
      • Kalawewa
      • Kandalama
      • Wavulpone
    • Beaches >
      • southwest coast >
        • Beruwela
        • Bentota Beach
        • Balapitiya
        • Ambalangoda
        • Hikkaduwa
      • south coast >
        • Unawatuna
        • Weligama
        • Mirissa
        • Dondra
        • Hoomaniya Blowhole
        • Hiriketiya
        • Kirinda
      • southeast coast >
        • Okanda
        • Arugam Bay
        • Thirukkovil
      • northeast coast >
        • Pasikuda
        • Thennadi Bay
        • Nilaveli Beach
        • Kuchchaveli
        • Pulmoddai
      • west coast >
        • Mannar Island
        • Kalpitiya Peninsula
        • Marawila
        • Negombo
    • Jaffna Peninsula >
      • Jaffna
      • Nallur
      • Kandarodai
      • Nilavarai
      • Point Pedro
      • Manalkadu
      • Naguleshvaram
      • Jambukola
      • Nainativu
      • Delft Island
      • Elephant Pass
    • top 20 attractions >
      • top 20 in Colombo
      • top 20 in Kandy
    • off the beaten track
    • A - Z
  • Highlands
    • mountains >
      • Adam's Peak
      • Pidurutalagala
      • Lakegala
      • Namunukula
      • Ambuluwawa
    • hiking areas >
      • Knuckles Range
      • Hanthana Range
      • Sinharaja
    • viewpoints >
      • Riverston
      • Peacock Hill
      • Chariot Path
      • Madulsima
      • Deanston
      • Corbett's Gap
      • Mathalagala
      • Uda Pathana
      • Hulangala
      • Mani Katthitheri
    • high plains >
      • Horton Plains
      • Moon Plains
      • Pitawala Patana
    • Highland Towns & Villages >
      • Meemure
      • Ella
      • Haputale
      • Pussellawa
      • Gomara
      • Hakgala
      • Passara
      • Hunnasgiriya
      • Narangamuwa
      • Ranamure
      • Medamahanuwara
      • Kadugannawa
      • Retiyagama
    • Waterfalls >
      • high falls >
        • Bambarakanda Falls
        • Diyaluma Falls
        • Devon Falls
      • wider falls >
        • St. Clair's Falls
        • Bomburu Falls
        • Huluganga Falls
        • Jodu Ella
        • Dodam Falls
        • Seven Falls Knuckles
        • Hiru Ella
      • famous falls >
        • Dunhinda Falls
        • Ramboda
        • Ravana Falls
        • Lovers Leap
        • Hunas Falls
        • Bopath Falls
      • hidden falls >
        • Aberdeen Falls
        • Lakshapana
        • Dunsinane Falls
        • Mannakethi Falls
        • Kirindi Falls
        • Bambarakiri Falls
        • Rawan Ella
        • Diyakerella Falls
        • Saree Ella
        • Yatawatta Biso Ella
    • highland lakes & ponds >
      • Lake Gregory
      • Kotmale reservoir
      • Victoria Lake
      • Kaluganga reservoir
      • Rangala Natural Pool
      • Wattegama
    • rocks & scarps >
      • Dolukanda
      • Kondagala
      • Bible Rock
    • highland tea >
      • Uda Pussellawa
      • Rothschild Tea Estate
      • Frotoft Estate
  • Culture
    • Food >
      • Rice
      • Breakfast
      • Kottu Roti
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      • Egg-fried rice Sri Lanka style
    • Tea
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    • LGBTQ+ in Sri Lanka
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