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Este es el lugar donde se dice que vivió el sabio mítico Pulasthi y donde se cree que nació el legendario rey Ravana. El templo fue construido por el rey Devanampiya Tissa (307 a. C. a 267 a. C.), quien gobernó en la antigua capital de Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura. Después de que 500 niños de casta alta fueran ordenados, Isurumuniya fue construida como su residencia. El rey Kasyapa I (473–491 d. C.) posteriormente renovó este vihara y lo nombró “Boupulvan, Kasubgiri Radmaha Vehera”. Este nombre se deriva de los nombres de sus dos hijas y del suyo propio. Hay un vihara conectado a una cueva, sobre la cual se eleva un acantilado con una pequeña estupa construida en la cima. Se puede observar que la construcción de esta estupa pertenece al período actual. Más abajo, a ambos lados de una grieta en una roca que parece emerger de un estanque, se han tallado figuras de elefantes. En la roca también se ha tallado la figura de un caballo. La escultura de los Amantes de Isurumuniya en la losa fue traída de otro lugar y colocada aquí. A pocos metros de este vihara se encuentra Ranmasu Uyana.
Amantes de Isurumuniya
Los Amantes de Isurumuniya representan al príncipe Saliya, hijo del rey Dutugemunu, y a Asokamala, una joven de casta inferior de la que se enamoró.
Relieve de la Familia Real
El relieve de la familia real está grabado en una losa de granito y presenta cinco figuras humanas.
Relieve del Estanque de Elefantes
En este relieve hay cuatro elefantes representados bañándose. Las figuras de elefante aquí son muy similares a las encontradas en Mamallapuram en la India.
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Sri Maha BodhiyaJaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred bo tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.
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RuwanweliseyaThe Ruwanweli Maha Seya, also known as the Mahathupa (the Great Thupa) is a stupa (a hemispherical structure containing relics) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Two quarts or one Dona of the Buddha's relics are enshrined in the stupa, making it the largest collection of his relics anywhere. It was built by Sinhalese King Dutugemunu in c. 140 B.C., who became king of Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elāra (Ellalan) was defeated.
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ThuparamayaThuparamaya is the first Buddhist temple that was constructed, after the arrival of mahinda thero(mahindagamanaya) in Sri Lanka. Located in the sacred area of Mahamewna park, the Thuparamaya Stupa is the earliest Dagoba to be constructed in the island, dating back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 BC). The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.
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LovamahapayaLovamahapaya is a building situated between Ruwanweliseya and Sri Mahabodiya in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is also known as the Brazen Palace or Lohaprasadaya because the roof was covered with bronze tiles. In ancient times, the building included the refectory and the uposathagara (Uposatha house).
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Abhayagiri StupaAbhayagiri Vihāra was a major monastery site of Mahayana, Theravada and Vajrayana Buddhism that was situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most extensive ruins in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage cities in the nation.
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JetavanaramayaThe Jetavanarama stupa or Jetavanaramaya is a stupa, or Buddhist reliquary monument, located in the ruins of Jetavana monastery in the UNESCO world heritage city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. At 122 metres (400 ft), it was the world's tallest stupa, and the third tallest structure in the world when it was built by King Mahasena of Anuradhapura (273–301).
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Mirisawetiya StupaThe Mirisaweti Stupa is a memorial building, a stupa, situated in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. King Dutugamunu (161 BC to 137 BC) built the Mirisaveti Stupa after defeating King Elara. After placing the Buddha relics in the sceptre, he had gone to Tissa Wewa for a bath leaving the sceptre.
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LankaramaLankarama is a stupa built by King Valagamba, in an ancient place at Galhebakada in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Nothing is known about the ancient form of the stupa, and later this was renovated. The ruins show that there are rows of stone pillars and it is no doubt that there has been a house built encircling the stupa (vatadage) to cover it.
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IsurumuniyaIsurumuniya is a Buddhist temple situated near to the Tissa Wewa (Tisa tank) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. There are four carvings of special interest in this Vihara. They are the Isurumuniya Lovers, Elephant Pond and The Royal Family. The ancient Meghagiri Vihara or Meygiri Vihara is presently identified as the Isurumuni Vihara.
