Sunday, January 13, 2008

Places in Ancient Lanka - Anuradhapura

Abayagiri Viharaya - Anuradhapura


World's Best Sandakadapahana (Moonstone) & Muragala (Guardian Stone)




Thuparamaya -Anuradhapura:first dageba in Sri Lanka

Thera Mahinda himself introduced Theravada Buddhism and also chetiya worship to Sri Lanka. At his request King Devanampiyatissa built Thuparamaya in which was enshrined the collarbone of the Buddha and is considered as the first dagaba built in Sri Lanka, after the introduction of Buddhism. This is considered the earliest monument of chronicled Sri Lanka. The name Thuparamaya comes from "stupa" and "aramaya" which is a residential complex for monks.

This chetiya was built in the shape of a heap of paddy. This dagaba was destroyed from time to time. During the reign of King Agbo II it was completely destroyed and the King restored it. What we have today is the construction of the dagaba, done in 1862 AD. As it is today, after several renovations, in the course of the centuries, the monument has a diameter of 59 ft (18 m), at the base. The dome is 11 feet 4 inches (3.45 m) in height from the ground, 164½ ft (50.1 m) in diameter. The compound is paved with granite and there are 2 rows of stone pillars round the dagaba. During the early period vatadage was built round the dagaba.





Ruwanweli saya and Lovamahapaya (The Brazen Palace)




Jethawanaramaya Dagoba
ethawanaramaya Dagoba is the highest dagaba in Sri Lanka and built in 3rd centaury A.D., by king Mahasen






Sri Maha Bodhi
Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.

It was planted on a high terrace about 6.5 m (21.3 ft) above the ground and surrounded by railings, and today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world. This wall was constructed during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha, to protect it from wild elephants which might have damaged the tree.





Ath Pokuna (The Elephant Pond-Anuradhapura)

The Elephant Pond so named because of its gigantic size is equal in area to six modern Olympic swimming pools joined together. The pond may have been built to store water for the large congregation of Buddhist monks at the monastic complex of Abhayagiri.

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