Sigiriya and its Significance: A Mahayana-Theravada Buddhist Monastery by Raja De Silva offers a groundbreaking reinterpretation of one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic sites. Widely regarded as the royal capital and palace of King Kassapa in the fifth century AD, Sigiriya has long been understood as a testament to this ruler’s grandeur. However, De Silva’s meticulous study challenges this traditional view, revealing Sigiriya as a vast Buddhist monastic complex devoted to Mahayana-Theravada worship, with origins predating Kassapa by centuries and active until the thirteenth century.
 
Drawing on archaeological, architectural, and ancient literary evidence, De Silva dismantles the long-held belief that Sigiriya was Kassapa's pleasure palace, arguing instead that its structures were consistent with monastic design. The renowned paintings of Sigiriya, thought to depict Kassapa’s courtesans or apsaras, are reinterpreted here as representations of Tara, the revered goddess of Mahayana Buddhism. De Silva draws parallels with the Ajanta cave paintings in India, dating to an earlier period, and links Sigiriya to Mount Potala, the mythological home of Tara, strengthening his argument for Sigiriya’s religious and spiritual significance.
 
Through detailed analysis and a critical look at biased historical sources like the Mahavamsa, Sigiriya and its Significance redefines our understanding of this ancient site, presenting it as a devotional monument that served as a center of Buddhist worship and meditation. A must-read for historians, archaeologists, and anyone intrigued by the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka, this monograph unveils a spiritual legacy that reshapes our understanding of Sigiriya and its place in Buddhist history.