Lowamahapaya

Lovamahapaya - Is situated between Ruvanweliseya and Sri Mahabodiya. In ancient times the building included the refectory and the uposathagara. As the roof was covered with tiles made of bronze, this was known as the Brazen Palace or Lohaprasadaya. There are 40 rows, each row consists of 40 stone pillars and a total of 1600 stone pillars were used for the building. The building was completely destroyed during the reign of King Saddhatissa.

In 150 BC, Great King Dutugemunu built this beautiful nine-storey building as the monk’s residence for the Mahaviharaya Buddhist University.

Each floor had apartments. First floor was for the student monks. Second floor was for the monks who knew Tripitakaya. 3rd, 4th and 5th floors were for the monks who had achieved Sovan, Sakurdagami and Anagami states. Top four floors were for the monks who had reached the state of Arahath.

Altogether Lova Maha Paya accommodated over 3000 monks at any given time.

British archaeologists were puzzled as to why such a beautiful palace was built for the students engaged in religious activities. It was the Sinhalese way to build some of the most beautiful buildings at religious places. It was intended as an attraction to the would-be-monks. Sinhalese made sure that those who remain in the monk hood were the ones who had chosen the path for inner peace, after experiencing the ultimate luxuries of life. The student monks would realize the impermanence of things when surrounded by the ultimate beauty and luxuries. This helped those who wanted the luxuries of life to leave the monk hood and live a material life.

The greatest display of the standard of civilization the humble Sinhalese achieved was in Lova Maha Paya. All window frames were made of silver. The coral balustrades were decked with gems and were surrounded by rows of little silver bells. There were Vedikas( stages & pavilions), Varandahs ( lobby's), and Inner courtyards, backyards full of vegetation, waterfalls, fountains and flowergardens inside. Lotus blossoms, made of gems, decorated the inside. Scenes from Jataka stories were painted in gold on the walls. Beds, chairs, coverlets, and carpets were all expensive ones. The jars, mugs, vessels, plates used were all made of gold. In the center of the building was a beautiful gem set pavilion. Even the pillars were embedded with gems. Figures of wild animals, especially lions, were everywhere watching the visitors. Lines made of pearls decorated all around the pavilion. Seven gems were embedded on the pavilion itself. On the pavilion was a throne made of ivory. Its seat was made of mountain crystal. On the background of the pavilion, a sun was made of gold, and a moon was made of silver, and stars of pearls decorated the sky. The roof was made of copper plates, which shine brightly during the sunset.

Abhayagiri Dageba

Established by King Vattagamini in 88 BC, the Uttravihara (Northern Monastery) is now known as the Abhayagiri Monastery. This was a result of the King being jeered by a Jain hermit, while fleeing from from the South Indians, after losing his throne. He spent 14 years 'in the wilderness'.
When he returned to power, he destroyed the Jain Monastery, and around the the Jotiya shrine, he built a Buddhist monastery.
It was the largest monastery in Sri Lanka for about 600 years. It housed 5000 monks in its grounds of more than 500 acres (235 hectares), and was at the time the most powerful institution in the country after the king.
Here in the grounds of the Abhayagiri you will see some of the most beautiful architecture and sculpture in Anuradhapura. Since the chronicle of the Northern Monastery has not survived. and the Great Chronicle does not devote much space to it's rival monastery (the Great chronicle was written by an orthodox Maha vihara monk - the monks of the Abhayagiri were labeled as 'Heretics').
The Abhayagiri Dagaba itself was the work of King Gajabahu (114 - 136). and it reached a height of 370 feet (115m), and although rather smaller than the Jetavana dagaba, was the second largest stupa in the world. It is one of the eight holy shrines of the Buddhists

Jethawanaramaya

it was Built in 3rd centaury. A.D. by king Mahasen (Mahasena). Originally it was about 400 feet high. It was the 3rd tallest building in the world during that time. 2 pyramids were higher than Jethawanaramaya. However pyramids were not constructed using brick Therefore Jethawanaramaya is the tallest building made out of brick. The only dagaba situated outside the Mahamewna Uyana garden. It is situated in Nandana Uyana garden.There are several opinions to the creation of the Name Jethawanaramaya. Part of the robe wore by Lord Buddha is kept inside the dagaba as a relic. There were 4 entrances to the dagaba. Unfortunately they have been partially collapsed. There are beautiful stone carving in these entrances. The dagaba is being reconstructed under the Cultural Triangle Project. King Mahasen has donated the temple to Sagalika sect.

 Inside ‘budu ge’ (worship house for Lord Buddha) there are 3 statues of Lord Buddha and few statues of kings. The first statue among them is the statue of king Mahasen who build the temple. 
 

Ruwanweli Seya

 

This Dagoba, constructed in the 2nd century B.C. by King Dutugamunu, Standing 55m (180ft) tall, it was originally even taller is without a doubt the greatest of the of the dagobas at Anuradhapura. The original stupa was modeled in the shape of a pure "water bubble". On the south-west side of the compound there is a small dagoba that has this shape. This may have been used as a model for the great stupa. The larger-than-life statue of the dignified man, respectfully watching the dagoba is considered to be Dutugmunu himself. On the west side of the compound, Basawakkulama tank dates back to the 4th century B.C. and is probably the oldest tank in Sri Lanka. The Thuparama Dagoba, north of the Ruwanweli Seya is considered to be the oldest dagoba in Sri Lanka. It is popularly believed that the collar bone of Lord Buddha is enshrined within this sthupa



Ruwanweli Seya means gem sand. This dagaba or sthupa is a dome or relic chamber which is build over sacred relics of the Buddha. The construction of this dagaba was prophesied by Mahinda himself. When King Tissa erected a tall stone pillar for the future building King Dutugemunu decided to build this great thupa on this site. He had consulted several master builders and chose the best out of the submitted tenders. The building was started on the full moon day of May 144B.C. The foundation of Ruwanweli Seya was made of butter clay imported from India ; which was used as cement. Then bricks, rough cement, gum and mountain, crystal were lard with a net work of iron. The foundation was finally plated in copper and then silver the saddert part told by the chronicle is that the King fell sick with a sickness that was to be mortal before the work was completed. Dutugemunu sent for his younger brother Suddha Tissa to complete the work before he died. Because of his brothers weakness Saddha Tissa had a covering made of white cloth by seamstress and therewith was the dome covered. There after he commanded painters to make on it a Buddhist railing and he had the upper portion made of bamboo reeds and he had this thupa painted cunningly with lacquer and imitation gold lying on a palanquin the King was brought to see it and when he beheld the splendid Maha Thupa he became glad at heart that his wish was fulfilled before his death. Later the Thupa was completed by Saddatissa

Siri Maha Bodhi

 

the Sacred Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura is reckoned as the oldest surviving historical tree in the world. It was brought to Sri Lanka by the Theri Sangamitta, daughter of Emperor Asoka and was planted in the Mahameghavana Park in Anuradhapura in 249 BC by King Devanampiyatissa. It is said to be the southern branch of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. 

the Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of the Sinhalese provides an elaborate account of the establishment of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi in the island. Bodhi means wisdom that understands the four Noble Truths. Thus the tree which assisted Lord Buddha to achieve wisdom or enlightenment is called Bodhi.

Twin Ponds

The Kuttam Pokuna, which means Twin Ponds, is a beautiful set of bathing ponds located in Abhayagiri, in northern Anuradhapura Sri Lanka. These ponds were built in 6th-8th century Anuradhapura. If you look at these two seemingly identical ponds of Kuttam Pokuna carefully, you would realise that one is larger than the other (by about 12 m in length). Nevertheless, the ponds of Kuttam Pokuna are positioned in such a way that they appear almost the same. Although the design and lines of the Kuttam Pokuna are simple, the effect is nothing less than impressive.

The Kuttam Pokuna is one of the ancient sites that I visited together with a small group of members of AsiaExplorers when we explored the ancient city of Anuradhapura. I find that the Kuttam Pokuna is one of the loveliest ancient architectural wonder. Not only is it functional, but it was also built with an eye for beauty.

The Kuttam Pokuna was built as the bathing ponds for the monks of Abhayagiri Monastery in northern Anuradhapura. Water is carefully channelled to gush out of a lion's head, and through a sophisticated system of filtration. At the far end of the Kuttam Pokuna ponds is a system to trap mud and dirt. Water flows into a pit, where the mud and dirt sinks to the bottom. It ensures clean water flow into the Kuttam Pokuna ponds.

The monks perform their ablutions under the protective gaze of a five-hooded naga, the cobra believed to bring good fortune. Steps leads down to the two ponds while around them are shallow pools to cool off one's feet befond diving into the ponds. The Kuttam Pokuna demostrates not only great engineering feat by also workmanship and artistry of the ancient Sinhalese builders. 

Samadhi Statue

Mahamevuna Uyana. Anuradhapura,
"Samadhi Budu Pilimaya"

This limestone image of lord Buddha is dating from the 3rd Century. Seated under a Bo tree, depicts the Lord Buddha in the serene state of Samadhi, or deep meditation. It's not secret why the Great Indian statesman Jawaharlal Nehru found solace and strength in a photograph of this statue when he was imprisoned by the British in 1940s.The kindness of Lord Buddha flows through the half closed eyes, Watch as as long as you like. This is the finest Meditation Buddha statue in the whole World.

Awukana Buddha Statue

It is the 5th century AD and a man, a very special sculptor,  takes his first blow at a jungle rockface ... a few miles away an enormous tank or lake is being constructed ... and the king, Dhatusena, is in Anuradhapura where
Buddhism unites the Singalese people in a common purpose and gives them a vision of this life and those to come ...

Today, you can still stand where the king once stood at Aukana and look up at the Buddha statue, 12 metres high, carved from the living rock. And you can feel the serenity as the Buddha's rock hand gives the same blessing as the day the statue was finished.

Now, as through so many centuries, the monks gather the morning flowers and offer them in front of the statue as the sun creeps down its beatifully preserved form to the lotus plinth.

And, on special days, there are still the ceremonies - including one involving local children who parade from the village, up the hill and before the Buddha at the Aukana Rajamaha Viharaya (the temple complex).

The complex has a quiet feeling of history brought to modern life with the presence of the children and adults of the community who use the school, big enough for perhaps 100 children at any one time, pray under the Bodhi tree, linger on the concourse that enjoys a clear view of the Buddha and the ceremonies around its feet...

The Aukana Buddha is the most spectacular in Sri Lanka and as rivetingly interesting any anywhere in the world.It is the one that Sri Lanka's government take visiting heads of state and dignitaries. But on most days, there are not many visitors and you will be able to linger in the serenity.You will get a warm welcome from the monks, teachers and children - they are always pleased to see visitors.And you leave with a feeling of having

an unforgettable experience with the Buddha statue from 1,500 years ago.

Temple of Tooth

Kandy (Ancient Senkadagala) is the last capital of the Sinhala Monarchy the History of which goes back to at least five centuries before the beginning of the Common Era. The city is surrounded by a ring of mountain ranges and Sri Lanka’s largest river Mahaweli Ganga.Kandy enjoys a salubrious climate and still breathes the ancient lifestyle of the people.The heritage of Kandy, Architecture, Sculpture, painting, Dance and Music, all such cultural traditions are endemic to Sri Lanka.Kandy remains the home for all denominations of major world religions.


Kandy (Ancient Senkadagala) is the last capital of the Sinhala Monarchy the History of which goes back to at least five centuries before the beginning of the Common Era. The city is surrounded by a ring of mountain ranges and Sri Lanka’s largest river Mahaweli Ganga.Kandy enjoys a salubrious climate and still breathes the ancient lifestyle of the people.The heritage of Kandy, Architecture, Sculpture, painting, Dance and Music, all such cultural traditions are endemic to Sri Lanka.Kandy remains the home for all denominations of major world religions.

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic constitutes the premier Buddhist Institution of Sri Lanka and remains the cynosure of the world Buddhist and is a great tourist attraction. The annual pageant (Esala Perahera) constitutes the greatest religious festival of Sri Lanka which attract thousands of pilgrims as well as tourists from all over the world. The web site on the Sri Dalada maligawa attempts to introduce all its aspects of history, rituals, cultural and other social activities.