德维努瓦拉

德维努瓦拉 德维努瓦拉 德维努瓦拉

德维努瓦拉(Dondra)是位于斯里兰卡最南端的一座城镇。它坐落在印度洋沿岸,靠近马塔拉,属于南部省。在其周边可见Dondra Head灯塔、古老佛寺遗址以及位于Tenavaram的多处印度教神庙。

历史上,这里被称为德维努瓦拉寺庙港口城或Dondra(18至20世纪),直到16世纪末一直是一个重要的寺庙港口城市综合体。作为一个多宗教中心,其主要神祇是佛教神乌普尔万(Upulvan),在印度教中被称为Tenavarai Nayanar(毗湿奴)。在鼎盛时期,它是岛上最著名的宗教圣地之一,拥有数千尊雕像,可能分别属于印度教和佛教的不同教派。其历史可追溯至Dappula一世(公元659–660年)时期,主要由僧伽罗国王和南印度商人行会维护。这些商人定期造访该港口,使其成为重要的朝圣地和繁荣的贸易中心,并与马拉巴尔海岸、东南亚、西北非洲和欧洲建立了广泛联系。

乌普尔万神庙建在拱形结构之上,是一座三层建筑,坐落在俯瞰浩瀚印度洋的海岬之上。它是一个更大型佛教僧院建筑群的一部分,内有多个圣殿。在僧伽罗、中国以及可能的泰米尔王朝和多民族朝圣者的支持下,Tenavaram神庙成为最重要的宗教崇拜场所之一。13世纪帕拉克拉马巴胡二世(Parakramabahu II)进行修缮后,乌普尔万(或毗湿奴)神庙按照切拉风格的古典德拉维达建筑重新建造。该神庙及周边佛教建筑覆盖了广阔区域,包括佛塔、菩提树圣地、卧佛与立佛雕像圣殿,以及供僧侣使用的三层建筑。

此外,乌普尔万神庙的婆罗门祭司被安置在附近卡普加马村授予他们的阿格拉哈拉姆社区中。他们在乌普尔万(毗湿奴)神庙内还设有施舍大厅。供奉多位印度教神祇的圣殿,包括象头神、湿婆神和帕提尼女神,分布在中央神庙附近的东西海岸。出土的雕像与遗址(可追溯至公元7至15世纪)反映了帕拉瓦艺术的鼎盛时期。

德维努瓦拉 德维努瓦拉 德维努瓦拉

About Matara District

Matara District, located in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, is renowned for its coastal beauty, rich history, and thriving local culture. Bordered by the Indian Ocean, it features stunning beaches like Polhena and Mirissa, which are popular for swimming and whale watching. The district's economy is driven by agriculture, particularly coconut and tea cultivation, as well as fishing. Historical landmarks such as Matara Fort and the Dondra Head Lighthouse highlight the area's colonial past. With its mix of natural attractions and cultural heritage, Matara District is a captivating destination for both locals and tourists.

About Southern Province

The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle,Matara and Hambantota. Subsistence farming and fishing is the main source of income for the vast majority of the people of this region.

Important landmarks of the Southern Province include the wildlife sanctuaries of the Yala and Udawalawe National Parks, the holy city of Kataragama, and the ancient cities of Tissamaharama, Kirinda and Galle. (Although Galle is an ancient city, almost nothing survives from before the Portuguese invasion.) During the Portuguese period there were two famous Sinhalese poets called Andare who was from Dickwella and Gajaman Nona who was from Denipitiya in Matara District, composing poems on common man.