Anuradhapura - Sri Lanka

Sri Maha Bodhi – Anuradhapura Ruwanweli Maha StupaLowamahapaya / Brazen Palace Abhayagiri ViharaElephant Pond The Twin Ponds Refectory Hall Thuparama Stupa Jethavana Vihara The Samadhi StatueMoonstone – Anuradhapura

Sri Maha Bodhi – Anuradhapura The enlightenment of Lord Buddha took place under a Bo tree which is situated at Buddhagaya, State of Bihar in India.

Nun Sangamittha arrived to Sri lanka with a branch from the right hand side of the sacred Bo tree at buddhagaya.

As proved the arrival of Nun Sangamittha was at Dambakola Patuna in 247 B.C, At the time of King Devanampiya Tissa.

The 3 main Ceremonies held to worship the sacred Bo tree, Aluth Sahal Mangallaya

New year & Nanu Mura Mangallaya

Karthika Mangallaya

Today many devotees visit Sri Maha Bodhi in order to show their respect and to make vows.

Currently the entrance to the Sri Maha Bodhi is shown in the bottom picture.

Ruwanweli Maha Stupa

An image of The Ruwanweli Maha Stupa

The original stupa was modeled in the shape of a pure "water bubble".

The above picture is the current image of Ruwanweli maha stupa.

The above image is the entrance to the Ruwanweli Maha Stupa.

The Snake charmer tries to offer us a show, When on our way to Ruwanweli maha stupa !!

UMMMMMMM!!! Yikes !!! No thanks!!

But the snake show attracts many foreigners !!!

Lowamahapaya / Brazen Palace

Lowamahapaya or the main monastery or the brazen palace is situated in between Sri Maha Bodhi and Ruwanwelisaya towards the east direction.

Abhayagiri Vihara

Abhayagiri Vihara was built by King Valagamba, Which was fortified by educated buddhist monks.

The last known renovation was done by King Parakrama Bahu.

Today as shown above in the image, Renovation activities are been held to bring rebuild the unique Abhayagiri Vihara.

Elephant Pond

This is the bathing tank of the Abhayagiri Vihara. This is the largest bathing pond found in Anuradhapura measuring 150 ft. by 500 ft. The stone walls of this large tank are impressive.

As for the huge size the name too goes together !!!

There are many unique techniques which have been used to build this magnificent structure.

The Twin Ponds

Close to Abhayagiri are the Twin Ponds, Kuttam Pokuna.  The walls and floors are of cut granite slabs; buried pipes both filled and drained the ponds.

The pots which are placed at the entrance of the ponds are known as punkalas, The symbol which gave the meaning “PLENTY”.

Refectory Hall

The above images show the Monks’ dining hall.

This stone boat were filled with rice which nearly fed up to 5000 Monks.

It is known that the devotees who offered cooked rice as alms.

Thuparama Stupa

Above is an old image of the Thuparama Stupa.

This is know as the oldest and the first stupa built in Sri lanka by King Devanampiya Tissa.

Thuparama stupa has been built in the shape of a heap of paddy.

Also this has been renovated from time to time and been rebuilt by kings.

The above image is the current entrance to the stupa. And the right image is a side view of Thuparama.

Jethavana Vihara

The Samadhi Statue

The Samadhi Statue is situated at Mahamevuna Park in Anuradhapura, SriLanka. found in 1880 AD. This was known as an extra ordinary creation of the Sinhala sculpture.

Buddha is depicted in the position of the Dhyana Mudra, the posture of meditation associated with his first Enlightenment, also called Nirvana.

The Eyes of the statue were adorned with diamonds, which was later in 1914 AD pulled out by treasure hunters causing more damages to the statue.

The current image of the statue is shown in the above picture.

Moonstone – Anuradhapura

The moon stone is an unique architecture of ancient Sri- Lanka.

It is an elaborately carved semi circular stone slab, Placed at the bottom of the entrance.

The Outer Rings

Flames – For never ending life. Animals – Birth, Sickness, Decay, & Death. Liyavel – Unending desires. Swans – Discriminate good & bad.

Inner Rings

Lotus – as Nibbana