Abhayagiri Monastery
Abhayagiri Monastery in Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura established in the second century B.C., by King Valagamabau, during its glorious days, was not only complex of monastic buildings but also a great seat of learning. Unlike orthodox Mahavihara monastery, Abhayagiri Monastery accommodated the intellectual discussion on various schools of Buddhist thought in addition to Theravada Buddhism, considered as the pure words of Buddha. The center of attraction of the monastery was Abhayagiri stupa, the second tallest stupa at Anuradhapura, also built by King Valagambahu (89-77 BC).
In the 5th century, the Chinese monk Fa-Hsien visited Abhayagiri, the flourishing center of Buddhist studies. The monk lived 2 years at Abhayagiri Monastery copying Buddhist texts and took all copies to China. Fa-Hsien also made written records of his life and times at Abhayagiri Monastery. In his memoirs, he wrote about the Tooth Relic, monasteries, stupas, and statues of Sri Lanka.
The new museum at Abhayagiri Monastery, a source of valuable information to the tourists, was established in memory of Fa-Hsien to house the treasures discovered during the excavations at Abhayagiri Monastery. A large horde of artifacts was unearthed at the monastery during the recent excavations: ornaments and jewelry made of gold and studded with gems and crystals; coins belonging to the pre-Christian era; metal objects; molds and crucibles used in their manufacture; ceramics; pottery; glass; tiles; sculptures etc.
Abhayagiri Monastery, Highlights
Lankarama Dagoba
Lankarama Monastery is located to the south of the Abhayagiri Monastery and east of the Bulankulama man-made tank. Lankarama Dagoba, known as Mani Somarama meaning “the monastery of Soma” in Sinhalese, was built by King Valagambahu in celebration of the return of Somadevi, who was captured and taken to southern India by the marauding Dravidian Army. Having regained his kingdom from the Dravidian invaders, the king secured the release of his queen too. It is believed that Lankarama was the nunnery of the Abhayagiri Monastery.
Lankarama Dagoba is another vatadage (circular relic house) in Sri Lanka: in its days of glory, Lankarama had 88 stone columns, in three concentric circles, surrounding the dagoba that held up a circular roof. Today only a few of the carved stone pillars can be seen around the renovated dagoba. The renovated dagoba measuring 38 feet in diameter is set up on a platform 10feet in height and 132 feet in diameter. Four flights of steps from the cardinal directions take the devotees to the platform 10 feet above the ground level. The four vahalkadas (front entrances doorways) no longer exist. Among the ruins are few damaged Buddha statues and stone tubs for washing feet before entering the sacred terrace, the platform.
Eth-Pokuna
Eth-Pokuna (Sinhala: Elephant Pond), located south-west of the Abhayagiri stupa was built during the third century A.C. A flight of steps from each of the four sides leads down to the rectangular pond measuring 150 meters in length and 50 meters in width and 10 meters in depth. I
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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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RuwanweliseyaRuwanweli Maha Seya, även känd som Mahathupa (den stora Thupan), är en stupa (en halvklotformad struktur som innehåller reliker) i Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Två kvartar eller en Dona av Buddhas reliker är förvarade i stupan, vilket gör den till den största samlingen av hans reliker någonstans. Den byggdes av den singalesiska kungen Dutugemunu omkring 140 f.Kr., som blev kung av Sri Lanka efter ett krig där Chola-kungen Elāra (Ellalan) besegrades.
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ThuparamayaThuparamaya är det första buddhistiska templet som byggdes efter mahinda thero (mahindagamanaya) ankomst till Sri Lanka. Thuparamaya Stupa ligger i det heliga området i Mahamewna-parken och är den tidigaste dagoban som byggts på ön, och dateras tillbaka till kung Devanampiya Tissas regeringstid (247-207 f.Kr.). Templet har formellt erkänts av regeringen som en arkeologisk plats i Sri Lanka.
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LovamahapayaLovamahapaya är en byggnad belägen mellan Ruwanweliseya och Sri Mahabodiya i den antika staden Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Den är också känd som Brazen Palace eller Lohaprasadaya eftersom taket var täckt med bronsplattor. I forntiden inkluderade byggnaden en refektori och uposathagara (Uposatha-huset).
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Abhayagiri DagobaAbhayagiri Vihāra var ett viktigt kloster för Mahayana-, Theravada- och Vajrayana-buddhismen, beläget i Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Det är en av de mest omfattande ruinerna i världen och en av de heligaste buddhistiska pilgrimsstäderna i landet.
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JetavanaramayaJetavanarama-stupan eller Jetavanaramaya är en stupa, eller ett buddhistiskt relikvarium, belägen i ruinerna av Jetavana-klostret i UNESCO:s världsarvsstad Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Med sina 122 meter var den världens högsta stupa och den tredje högsta strukturen i världen när den byggdes av kung Mahasena av Anuradhapura (273–301).
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Mirisawetiya StupaMirisaweti-stupan är en minnesbyggnad, en stupa, belägen i den antika staden Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Kung Dutugamunu (161 f.Kr. till 137 f.Kr.) byggde Mirisaveti-stupan efter att ha besegrat kung Elara. Efter att ha placerat Buddha-reliker i spiran gick han till Tissa Wewa för ett bad och lämnade spiran.
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LankaramaLankarama är en stupa byggd av kung Valagamba, på en forntida plats i Galhebakada i det antika kungariket Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Ingenting är känt om stupans forntida form, och senare renoverades den. Ruinerna visar att det finns rader av stenpelare och det råder ingen tvekan om att det har byggts ett hus som omger stupan (vatadage) för att täcka den.
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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.
