Felt peaceful, yet saddened—because even some monks seem to work hard to hide the true history of Lord Buddha and Sri Lankan Buddhism.
In the image, you can see a stone chair. Behind it are the remains of two stone pillars, which appear to have once supported a roof over the chair. Nearby lies a stone plate that seems to symbolize the identity of the person or group who built the structure.
This site is located near the Bodhi tree, where the stone chair rests beneath its branches. Interestingly, the monks at the temple have covered the chair. A stream flows close by, which some believe to be the ancient Neranjana River.
If King Muchalinda—often referred to as a Naga—was not a serpent but a human king, then this structure could represent how he offered shelter to Lord Buddha during the rainy season.
