Misplaced Pages

#507492

47-691: Today, the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is situated on a high terrace, about 6.5 meters above the ground, and surrounded by 4 other lower-level terraces with Bo trees called “Parivara Bodhi” planted for its protection. The site is currently administered by the Chief High Priest of Atamasthana and the Atamasthana Palakasabha, the administrative body of the Atamasthana. It receives millions of pilgrims each year. The site

94-529: A conical wooden roof, there is no archaeological evidence for this theory, nor does it follow any known antecedent in South India, whose dagebas were the prototypes for virtually all Sinhalese dagebas. Lovamahapaya is a building situated between Ruvanveliseya and Sri Mahabodiya in the ancient city of Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka . It is also known as the Brazen Palace or Lohaprasadaya because the roof

141-450: A heretical sect that studied both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, also Chinese traveller Faxian (also spelt Fa Hsien) visited in AD 412. The dageba was probably rebuilt several times to reach its peak 75m height. It has some interesting bas-reliefs, including one near the western stairway of an elephant pulling up a tree. A large slab with a Buddha footprint can be seen on the northern side, and

188-740: A number of Sinhalese-Buddhists on the upper terrace in 1985. This incident is known as the Anuradhapura massacre . [REDACTED] Sri Lanka portal Atamasthana Atamasthana ( Sinhala : අටමස්ථාන ) or Eight sacred places are a series of locations in Sri Lanka where the Buddha had visited during his three visits to the country. The sacred places are known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya , Ruwanwelisaya , Thuparamaya , Lovamahapaya , Abhayagiri Dagaba , Jetavanarama , Mirisaveti Stupa and Lankarama . They are situated in Anuradhapura ,

235-465: A royal capital, with magnificent monasteries rising to many stories, roofed with gilt bronze or tiles of burnt clay glazed in brilliant colours. To the north of the city, encircled by great walls and containing elaborate bathing ponds, carved balustrades and moonstones, stood "Abhayagiri", one of seventeen such religious units in Anuradhapura and the largest of its five major viharas . Surrounding

282-442: A single slab of dolomite marble, measures 3.3 metres in height and is since 1911 installed in the image-house located east of the sacred Bodhi-tree. This Buddha is presumably the only known Sri Lankan Buddha seated in the “diamond posture” ( vajraparyaṅkāsana ) with both soles pointing upwards, and displaying the gesture of touching the earth ( bhūmisparśa-mudrā or māravijaya-mudrā ). All other seated Sri Lankan Buddhas usually rest in

329-501: A successful harvest, reducing the impact of challenges like drought, pest infestations, and even damage from wildlife, such as elephants. In the 3rd century BC, it was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta Theri ( Pali ; Skt. : Sanghamitra), the daughter of Emperor Asoka and founder of an order of Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka. In 288 BC it was planted by King Devanampiya Tissa on a high terrace about 6.5 m (21.3 ft) above

376-659: Is 1,332 feet (406 m). Thero Thero (commonly appearing in the masculine and feminine forms thera and therī respectively) is an honorific term in Pali for senior bhikkhus and bhikkhunis (Buddhist monks and nuns) in the Buddhist monastic order . The word literally means "elder". These terms, appearing at the end of a monastic's given name , are used to distinguish those who have at least 10 years since their upasampada (higher ordination). The name of an important collection of very early Buddhist poetry

423-405: Is a dageba in Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka . It is a Buddhist sacred place of veneration. Thera Mahinda , an envoy sent by King Ashoka himself introduced Theravada Buddhism and also chetiya worship to Sri Lanka . At his request, King Devanampiyatissa built Thuparamaya in which the collarbone of the Buddha was enshrined. It is considered to be the first dagaba built in Sri Lanka following

470-459: Is a very rare creation, showing the embossed figure of cobra . Several monolith heads with plain incisions are in this religious site. The largest – and also in other aspects the most spectacular – stone image of a seated Buddha in Sri Lanka is located since about the sixth century on the premises of the Śrī Mahā Bodhi Shrine at the Mahāvihāra complex at Anurādhapura. The statue is carved out of

517-424: Is all that remains from the last rebuild – that of King Parakramabahu around the 12th century. The Abhayagiri Dagaba is situated in Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka . It was built during the reign of King Wattagamini Abhaya (commonly known as King Valagamba). It is one of the most extensive ruins in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage cities. Historically it was a great monastic centre as well as

SECTION 10

#1732772522508

564-568: Is called the Therigatha , "verses of the therīs ". The terms mahāthera and mahātherī (the prefix mahā meaning 'great' in both Sanskrit and Pali) are used to refer to very distinguished elderly and venerable monks and nuns considered to have reached a higher level of spiritual development. Usage of these terms varies according to the Buddhist tradition and culture. In Sri Lanka , these terms are widely used. Some prominent theras and therīs: This Buddhism -related article

611-411: 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. The round courtyard of the stupa seems to be 10 feet (3.0 m) above the ground. The diameter of the stupa is 45 feet (14 m). The courtyard is circular in shape and the diameter

658-507: Is now accessible once again. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka . It is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC and is said to be the southern branch of the Sri Maha Bodhi Bodhgaya India, also the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. The sacred tree brought by

705-477: Is open to visitors and continuously hosts numerous acts of worship throughout the year. However, access to the uppermost terrace where the bo tree is located is restricted due to the old age of the tree and various acts of vandalism it has endured throughout history, including a terrorist attack by the LTTE in 1985, where around 146 pilgrims were massacred . The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred Bo tree that stands in

752-542: Is said to contain the right collarbone of the Buddha. Its ‘heap-of-paddy-rice’ shape was restored in 1862 in a more conventional bell shape and to a height of 19m. The surrounding vatadage's slender, capital-topped pillars, perhaps the dageba's most unusual feature, enclose the structure in four concentric circles. Impressions on the dageba pediments indicate the pillars originally numbered 176, of which 41 still stand. Although some Sri Lankan scholars believe these once supported

799-463: The Mahavansa the sacred city was founded around 350 BC by Pandukabhaya , the 1st king of the Anuradhapura kingdom and sixth since the arrival of Vijaya . It eventually became the principal shrine of Buddhism including the branch planted of the sacred fig tree, Bodhi tree from Bodhgaya , under which Siddharta attained spiritual enlightenment and supreme wisdom. The sacred tree was brought there in

846-459: The bhūmisparśa-mudrā is thus fittingly placed beside the principal Bodhi-tree of Sri Lanka located at the Mahāvihāra complex. This Buddha was commissioned to be installed in the Śrī Mahā Bodhi Shrine and likely copied after an early North-Eastern Indian Pāla style image. Faxian, the Chinese pilgrim, left the following account of his visit to the Śrī Mahā Bodhi Shrine during his stay in Sri Lanka in

893-599: The sangha . In order to punish himself he built the Mirisavetiya Dagaba. The extent of this land is about 50 acres (20 hectares). Although the king Kasyapa I and Kasyapa V renovated this, from time to time it was dilapidated. What stands today is the renovation done by the Cultural Triangle Fund. Lankarama is a stupa built by King Valagamba , in an ancient place at Galhebakada in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka . Nothing

940-469: The 3rd century BC during the second mission, led by Sangamitta , a Buddhist nun and daughter of Emperor Ashoka . The relics of Buddha have, moreover, shaped the religious topography of Anuradhapura, where the Thuparamaya was built by Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BC to house the clavicle of Buddha, an important religious relic presented by Emperor Ashoka. The city's apogee was reached under

987-468: The 6th century. Therefore it can be concluded that the present Buddha image was likely not the first one to be installed near the Bodhi tree, but possibly the first depicted with the gesture of touching the earth ( bhūmisparśa-mudrā ). Buddha of the Śrī Mahā Bodhi Shrine Ruins of an ancient building called Mayura Pirivena (Mayura Monastery) have been found to the south-west of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, and

SECTION 20

#1732772522508

1034-483: The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi can bring about meaningful and positive changes in their lives. Devotees often make special vows at the shrine, seeking blessings for safe childbirth and healing from various ailments. Farmers in the Anuradhapura region also uphold the tradition of presenting rice from their first paddy harvest to the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. This practice is rooted in the belief that such offerings help ensure

1081-607: The Mahamewna Gardens in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Not only is it the closest authentic living link to Gautama Buddha, it is also the oldest human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date and a recorded history. About 2,600 years ago, Lord Gautama Buddha sat with his back against an Esathu ( Aśvattha ) tree on the banks of the Neranjana River in Bodhgaya, India. It was at this moment, as he sat against

1128-492: The Mirisaveti Stupa after defeating King Elara . After placing the Buddha relics in the sceptre , he had gone to Tisawewa for a bath leaving the sceptre. After the bath, he returned to the place where the sceptre was placed, and it was said that it could not be moved. The stupa was built in the place where the sceptre stood. It is also said that he remembered that he partook in a chilly curry without offering it to

1175-533: The Ven. Sangamitta, the sister of Ven. Arahath Mahinda who introduced Buddha's teachings to Sri Lanka. The area around the Sri Maha Bodhi, the Brazen Palace and Ruvanvelisaya dageba was once probably part of the Maha Vihara (Great Temple). The sacred bodhi tree is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world, for it has been tended by an uninterrupted succession of guardians for over 2000 years, even during

1222-578: The blessings of the Sri Maha Bodhi before commencing any important work. The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Sri Lanka , considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world. It was built by King Dutugemunu , who became lord of all Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elara , was defeated. It is also known as Mahathupa , Swarnamali Chaitya , Suvarnamali Mahaceti (in Pali ) and Rathnamali Dagaba . Also, King Dutugemunu didn't live to see

1269-417: The capital of the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdom . The sacred city of Anuradhapura exerted a considerable influence on the development of architecture in the country for several centuries. The city was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, it lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in the island's North Central Province , on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya . According to

1316-460: The completion of dageba but his final sight as he lay on his deathbed could be a false bamboo-and-cloth finish placed around the dageba to show his ‘completed’ masterpiece. Today, after incurring much damage from invading Indian forces, it rises 55m, considerably less than its original height; nor is its form the same as the earlier ‘bubble’ shape. A limestone statue south of the great dageba is popularly thought to be of King Dutugemunu. Thuparamaya

1363-461: The dageba's brick core to make a 3m-high wall stretching from London to Edinburgh. Behind it stand the ruins of a monastery that could accommodate around 3000 monks, and one building has doorjambs over 8 m high which is still standing, with another 3 m underground. At one time, massive doors opened to reveal a large Buddha image. The Mirisaveti Stupa is situated in the ancient city of Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka . King Dutugamunu built

1410-400: The eastern and western steps have unusual moonstones made from concentric stone slabs. The Jetavanaramaya is a stupa , located in the ruins of Jetavana Monastery in the sacred world heritage city of Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka . King Mahasena (273-301 AD) initiated the construction of the stupa following the destruction of Mahavihara , and his son Meghavanna resumed the construction work of

1457-514: The ground in the Mahamevnāwa Park in Anuradhapura and surrounded by railings. Several ancient kings have contributed in developing this religious site. King Vasabha (65 - 107 AD) placed four Buddha statues in four side of the sacred tree. King Voharika Tissa (214 - 236 AD) added metallic statues. King Mahanaga (569 - 571 AD) constructed a water canal around the sacred tree and King Sena II (846 - 866 AD) renovated it. The present wall

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi - Misplaced Pages Continue

1504-611: The humped dagaba, Abhayagiri Vihara was a seat of the Northern Monastery or Uttara Vihara. The 1st or 2nd century BC Abhayagiri dageba (confused by some books and maps with the Jetavanarama), was the centrepiece of a monastery of 5000 monks. The name means ‘Hill of Protection’ or ‘Fearless Hill’, another claim ‘Giri’ was the name of a local Jain monk. The monastery was part of the ‘School of the Secret Forest’,

1551-402: The introduction of Buddhism. This is considered the earliest monument, the construction of which was chronicled in Sri Lanka. The name Thuparamaya comes from " stupa " and "aramaya" which is a residential complex for monks. Thuparama dageba is the oldest dageba in Sri Lanka – indeed, probably the oldest visible dageba in the world. It was constructed by Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BC and

1598-519: The periods of Indian occupation. The Uda Maluwa, 35 feet by 55 feet, is 35 feet above the ground. The wall was constructed during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha, to protect it from wild elephants. The late Ven. Pallegama Rewatha Thera had planted the Pariwara Bo trees (accompanying Bo trees) to camouflage the Bodhi to pd to safeguard it from natural disasters such as strong winds and rains. All Sri Lankan Heads of State usually have sought

1645-526: The present wall, the rubble wall with its foundation created by King Gotabhya, and the rock-laid terrace together with a lattice wall constructed by King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna were found. These were preserved in place, and were opened to public in January 2010. Two branches of the sacred tree were broken during separate storms in 1907 and 1911. An individual called Katuwawala Jamis, cut down a branch in 1929. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam shot and massacred

1692-648: The reign of Dutthagamani who, in 161 BC, defeated the South Indian invader Ellalan re-establishing Buddhism in place of Brahminism and endowed the site with extraordinary monuments including the Mirisaveti Stupa , Ruwanwelisaya , and the Brazen Palace . The city flourished for 1,300 years, then was abandoned after an invasion in 993 . Later hidden away in dense jungle for many years, the splendid site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments,

1739-477: The ruins of a stupa called Dakkhina Tupa (Southern Monastery) can be seen nearby. According to the ancient chronicles in Sri Lanka, some walls and terraces had been built surrounding the sacred tree at some time in the past. Mahavamsa states that King Gothabhaya (249 – 262 AD) built a rubble wall. Dipavamsa reports that a rock-laid terrace and a lattice wall was built by King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna (302 - 330 AD). During excavation for reconstructing

1786-405: The sacred tree was constructed by some Buddhist followers in Anuradhapura under the guidance of Yatirawana Narada Thero in 1969. The iron fence below the above golden fence was created by people of Anuradhapura under the guidance of Yagirala Pannananda Thero. Two statues of Buddha can be seen in the image-house; a stone-standing-statue is in the right side of the stone wall. The cobra-stone

1833-521: The stupa. A part of a sash or belt tied by the Buddha is believed to be the relic that is enshrined here. The archaeologists believe it may have an original height of over 100m, but today is about 70m, and this was a similar height to the Abhayagiri as well. When it was built, it was the third-tallest monument in the world, the first two being Egyptian pyramids. A British guidebook from the early 20th century calculated that there were enough bricks in

1880-408: The tree over the centuries, and many vows and offerings have been made by Buddhists at the foot of the sacred fig. At times the tree has faced serious threats, and not only from wild elephants. Two storms in 1907 and 1911 resulted in broken branches. A vandal attacked the tree in 1929, hacking off another branch. In 1985, Tamil Tiger separatists stormed the site and massacred 146 Sinhalese-Buddhists on

1927-471: The tree, that the Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment. In doing so, the tree also gained a venerated status. It became known as the Bodhi tree, and pilgrims came to see it even within the lifetime of the Buddha. Later, in 236 BC, the Buddhist nun Sanghamitta Maha Theri was sent by Emperor Asoka from India to Sri Lanka. With her, she carried a southern branch of the original sacred fig. This branch

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi - Misplaced Pages Continue

1974-447: The upper terrace. On the island, Buddhists continue to honor a longstanding tradition of visiting and paying homage to the sacred Bodhi tree. Every year, pilgrims from remote areas travel to the city of Anuradhapura to pay their respects to the Sri Maha Bodhi, a site of immense spiritual significance. The site is maintained with care, and daily offerings are provided by its custodian. Today, many Buddhists believe that making offerings to

2021-399: The years 411 to 413 AD, which was during the reign of King Mahānāma (c. 406–428 AD): “ At the foot of the tree a shrine has been built, with the image of Buddha seated inside, an object of ceaseless worship to priests and laymen ”. The image seen by Faxian in the early 5th century cannot be the one installed at present in the Śrī Mahā Bodhi Shrine at the Mahāvihāra complex, dating earliest from

2068-554: The “noble posture” ( sattvaparyaṅkāsana ) with the right leg placed upon the left leg with only the sole of the right foot visible, displaying instead the gesture of meditation with both hands placed in the lap ( dhyāna-mudrā ). The gesture of touching the earth ( bhūmisparśa-mudrā ) symbolizes Buddha Siddhartha’s defeat of Māra ( māravijaya ) and subsequent enlightenment under the Bodhi-tree at Bodhgayā (Gayā district, Bihar, N.-E. India). The only known Sri Lankan Buddha image displaying

2115-428: Was ceremoniously presented to Devanampiya Tissa , one of the earliest kings of Sri Lanka whose reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism. In 236 BC, Tissa planted the branch of the Bodhi tree in his Royal Park in Anuradhapura. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, as it became known, has since been cared for and protected by Buddhist monks and dedicated kings. Statues, water canals, golden fences, and walls have been built around

2162-421: Was constructed by Ilupandeniye Athtadassi Thero during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha (r. 1747-1782), to protect it from wild elephants which might have damaged the tree. The height of the wall is 10 ft (3.0 m); and 5 ft (1.5 m) in thickness; its length from north to south is 388 ft (118.3 m) and from east to west 274 ft (83.5 m). The first golden fence around

2209-423: Was covered with bronze tiles. It was originally built by King Dutugemunu more than 2,000 years ago, but throughout the ages, it was rebuilt many times, each time a little less grandiosely. There are remains of 1600 columns all that is left of this huge palace, Archaeological evidence said to have had nine storeys and could accommodate around 1000 monks and attendants. The current stand of pillars (now fenced off)

#507492