Unique en son genre
C’est l’endroit où le sage mythique Pulasthi aurait vécu et où le roi légendaire Ravana serait né. Le temple a été construit par le roi Devanampiya Tissa (307 av. J.-C. à 267 av. J.-C.), qui régnait sur l’ancienne capitale du Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura. Après l’ordination de 500 enfants de haute caste, Isurumuniya fut construite pour leur servir de résidence. Le roi Kasyapa I (473–491 apr. J.-C.) a ensuite rénové ce vihara et l’a nommé « Boupulvan, Kasubgiri Radmaha Vehera ». Ce nom est dérivé de ceux de ses deux filles et du sien. Il existe un vihara relié à une grotte, au-dessus de laquelle se trouve une falaise surmontée d’une petite stupa. On peut constater que les travaux de construction de cette stupa appartiennent à la période actuelle. Plus bas, de part et d’autre d’une fissure dans un rocher qui semble émerger d’un bassin, des figures d’éléphants ont été sculptées. Sur le rocher, la figure d’un cheval est également gravée. La sculpture des Amants d’Isurumuniya sur la dalle a été apportée d’un autre endroit et placée ici. À quelques mètres de ce vihara se trouve Ranmasu Uyana.
Amants d’Isurumuniya
Les Amants d’Isurumuniya représentent le prince Saliya, fils du roi Dutugemunu, et Asokamala, une jeune femme de caste inférieure dont il était amoureux.
Sculpture de la famille royale
La sculpture de la famille royale est gravée sur une dalle de granit et présente cinq figures humaines.
Sculpture de l’étang des éléphants
Dans cette sculpture, on trouve quatre éléphants représentés en train de se baigner. Les figures d’éléphant ici sont très similaires à celles trouvées à Mamallapuram en Inde.
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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.
