Puzzling Sakwala Chakraya Carving Could Be World’s Oldest Map Of The Universe – Mystery Of Sri Lanka’s Stargate

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - There is a truly puzzling ancient carving in Sri Lanka covered with strange symbols, lines, and other geometric figures. The ancient chart-like carving in Sri Lanka's sacred city of Anuradhapura remains an enigma.

Sakwala Chakraya has long puzzled scientists. Image credit: DestiMap

Some who attempted to decipher the rock’s cryptic content think it depicts a map of the Universe. It has also been suggested the Sakwala Chakraya (which translates to "Universe Cycle" in Sinhalese) is a stargate, an ancient gateway through which humans can enter the Universe.

Nicknamed the Star Gate of Sri Lanka, the 1.8m in diameter Sakwala Chakraya carving has puzzled historians, archaeologists, and academics for more than a century.

Strange Symbols And Carvings Found On Sakwala Chakraya

There is very little information about the chart and its purpose. Scientists who examined the Sakwala Chakraya discovered it much different from other carvings from the same period that usually feature swans, the lotus flower, and typical Buddhist iconography.

Archaeologists H.C.R. Bell, who examined the ancient carving wrote in his report the “centre of the chakra is filled by a large circle comprising seven concentric rings, within a square 1 ft 2 in., to which cross lines are drawn vertically and horizontally from the encircling hand, cutting the chakra into quadrants.

Further, parallel lines divide the circles vertically into ten strips, or slices, varying in width from 3 in. to 9 in., but matching to left and right of the central vertical line.

The site of the Sakwala Chakraya on the bund of Tisavewa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Credit: H.C.R. Bell

All strips but the outer two are bisected by the horizontal base line and subdivided into dual or quadripartite partitions. The outermost strips, unbisected, contain a single small circle, quadrisected by cross lines, and a figure of phallic suggestion. In each of the penultimate divisions right and left is a tiny circle in line with the horizontal bisection of the chakra, but nothing else. In the third pair are shown four more quadrisected circles, two and two, one in each of the upper and lower partitions left and right.

The fourth strip to right contains four more such circles, bigger, and each in a separate partition. But that to left has compressed its circles into a quadripartite panel below the horizontal base line; leaving the upper panel free for four distinct diagrams - second seven ringed circle (differing only in size from its larger counterpart in the centre of the chakra), beneath which are two umbrella like emblems, and a pinnated three forked figure -the whole intertwined by a fret.

Each of the eight divisions of the fifth strips, which meet as one broad band, above and below the concentric ringed circle on either side of the central vertical line of the chakra holds one of the small circles with cross lines ; the two left upper partitions containing also a square and a wavy diagonal line. Outside all these divisions is the 4 in tyre or band bounding the chakra.” ¹

When Bell examined the surrounding area, he noted no inscriptions at any of the caves or anywhere among these ruins that could shed more light on this puzzling rock carving. Bell also observed several symbols that led him to believe people who made this mysterious ancient carving had a profound knowledge of the Universe.

In his report, Bell explained that a weird circular diagram, incised on the bare rock gives a reason to claim the reason the rock art is an old-time cosmographical chart illustrating in naivest simplicity the Buddhistic notions of the universe.

“The concentric circles with their interspaces at the centre of the chakra can assuredly mean only the Sakvala, in the centre of which rises Maha Meru, surrounded by the seven seas (Sidanta) and walls of rock (Yugandhara, &c.) which shut in that fabulous mountain, l,680,000 miles in height, half below, half above, the ocean's surface.

Sun and moon (in the second strips) lie on either side of the Sakvala : round about in space are scattered innumerable other worlds represented by quadrisected circles.* Below and around is the "world of waters" (i.e., the circular band) in which swarm gigantic uncouth denizens-fish, turtle, crab, chank, and other marine fauna!

Sakwala Chakraya May Be The Oldest Astronomical Map

This ancient "map of the world"-perhaps the oldest in existence is of quite extraordinary interest. Its presence here, within an eremite's cave at an out-of-the way nook of ancient Anuradhapura, testifies to the antiquity of that astronomical lore still pursued in some of the Buddhist monasteries of Ceylon.” ²

Could Sakwala Chakraya be an ancient map of the Universe? Credit: Traventy

Most scientists do not think the Sakwala Chakraya carving offers evidence ancient people possessed knowledge of stargates, but like most ancient civilizations there was an interest in astronomy. Ancient people in Sri Lanka watched the objects in the sky and outer space. Scientists have discovered several Brahmi inscriptions that mention specific stars and concepts related to astronomy.

According to Professor Raj Somadeva, senior professor of archaeology at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka there are many Brahmi inscriptions, found in Sri Lanka, there are a number of names that refer to specific stars and concepts related to astronomy. For example, inscriptions in Kirinda, a religious and historic site on Sri Lanka's southern coast, contains the phrase 'aparimita loka datuya' meaning 'the infinite universe'.

Was Sakwala Chakraya Created By An Unknown Ancient Lost Civilization?

Deciphering the Sakwala Chakraya carving would be easier if researchers could determine its true age, but this has been difficult. Some say Sakwala Chakraya was created during the Anuradhapura Kingdom that existed from about 400 B.C. to about 1000 A.D. However, there also many who suggest this rock carving is at least 5,000-year-old.

Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka at dusk. Credit: Adobe Stock - Richie Chan

There is evidence “Buddhist worship and the teachings of the Enlightened One existed in Sri Lanka before the establishment of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, and raised the question whether the early wave of settlers who arrived around 500 BCE and possibly even earlier were in fact people who were aware of the teachings of the Enlightened Ones. “ ²

Could the mysterious Sakwala Chakraya be a legacy of an ancient lost civilization that once lived in Sri Lanka?

Whether the Sakwala Chakraya carving depicts an ancient map of the Universe, a stargate, or something entirely different remains an unanswered question. Still, there is no doubt this is a fascinating ancient carving we can admire today.

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

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