The Ruwanweli Maha Seya , also known as the Maha Thupa ( lit. ' 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. It is also known as Swarnamali Seya , Svaṇṇamāli Mahaceti (in Pali ) and Rathnamali Seya .
26-473: This is one of the " Solosmasthana " (the 16 places of veneration) and the " Atamasthana " (the 8 places of veneration). The stupa is one of the world's tallest ancient monuments, standing at 103 m (338 ft) and with a circumference of 290 m (951 ft). The original stupa had been about 55 m (180 ft) in height and was renovated by many kings. The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda in Sagaing , Myanmar
52-479: A dispute between Naga kings Chulodara and Mahodara regarding a jeweled chair. In the eighth year after enlightenment, the Buddha made his third and final visit to the country accompanied by 500 bhikkhus . This visit was to Kelaniya and was due to an invitation by a Naga king named Maniakkika, who had asked the Buddha to come to his kingdom during the previous visit. After a discourse on Dharma at Maniakkika's abode,
78-452: A single scratch shall not appear within the relic-chamber; stains shall not appear in any of the golden goods that were offered.’ All this occurred by the determination-power of all Arahants present. They determined also that inimical persons should not be able to even see the relic-chamber. Furthermore, by order of king Dutugemunu, the people of Srī Lanka enshrined, along with many other objects such as golden and silver caskets, thousand more of
104-450: Is modelled after this stupa The Mahavamsa contains a detailed account on the construction and the opening ceremony of the stupa. The stupa was covered by wilderness as of the 19th century. After fund raising efforts by a bhikkhu , it was renovated in the early 20th century. The Ruwanweli Seya Restoration Society was set up, most notably the philanthropist Hendrick Appuhamy, donated Rs 20 million (1912 ) adjusted for inflation in 2021 it
130-525: Is worth 611 million US Dollars for the restoration works, the foundation was founded in 1902 and the modern day crowning (a "crown" is a large gem placed at the very top of the stupa) was done on June 17, 1940, and the final crowning of the stupa took place on November 26, 2019. In the Mahavamsa , Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty chooses not to retrieve Buddha relics in the possession of Nagas at Ramagrama. It
156-521: The Buddha's relics over the relic-chamber." King Dutugemunu started the construction of the stupa, however he died from an illness before it was finished. The construction began only after he conquered Rajarata from the Chola general Elāra. The stupa was damaged during the Chola conquest of Anuradhapura, but was renovated during the reign of Parakramabahu I (1153–1187), who invaded South India, capturing few parts of Pandya Nadu . Parakramabahu used
182-516: The Buddha). Dutthagamani ceremoniously enters with the urn atop his head; but as he is about to place the urn on the golden throne, the relics rise into the air and form Buddha, with each of the 32 major signs and 80 lesser signs of a great man. In this form he performs the twin miracle of fire and water, fulfilling the fifth of his death bed resolutions. One hundred and twenty million gods and humans gain arhatship from this experience. The relics return to
208-526: The Buddha. [REDACTED] Sri Lanka portal Rajarata Rajarata ( Sinhala : රජරට , romanized: rajaraṭa ( IPA: [rad͡ʒəraʈə] ); Tamil : ரஜரட , romanized: rajaraṭa ; meaning "King's country") was one of three historical regions of the island of Sri Lanka for about 1,700 years from the 6th century BCE to the early 13th century CE. Several ancient cities, including Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, were established as capitals within
234-485: The Buddha’s relics upon his head in a casket and departed from the golden pavilion in the midst of manifold offerings and honours made by gods and ‘‘ Brahmas ’’. He circumambulated the relic-chamber three times, entered to it from the east, and when laid the relic-casket on a silver couch one ‘‘koṭi’’ worth, that was arranged in the north side. An image of the Buddha was then, according to the Buddha’s determination, created in
260-591: The Magha's administration at Pollonnaruwa. The Sinhalese gathered around inaccessible towns, fortresses and mountains including Yapahuwa and Gangadoni under army generals including Subha and Sankha. Because of the rising threat, Pandyan troops established an administration centre in Jaffna Peninsula which was more secure and isolated by the impenetrable Vanni forest. Later Rajarata was annexed by king Parakramabahu II(1236–70). His power extended over Rohana,
286-643: The Mahavamsa records that the Buddha visited Samantakuta , Diva Guhava , Dighavapi , and the places where the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi , Ruwanwelisaya , Thuparamaya and Sela Cetiya now stand. The Samantapasadika mentions that the Buddha also visited Muthiyangana during this visit. It is possible that the other sites may have been included in Solosmasthana because of the monumental stupas built by Buddhist kings at these locations. With
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#1732772888177312-719: The Malvathu Oya. In 377 BCE, King Pandukabhaya moved the administrative centre to Anuradhapura . Most of the settlements were located near rivers and reservoirs. Water was used for agricultural purposes. According to the Yodha wewa area in Mannar District by King Dhatusena, Eropathana in Vavuniya District , Padawiya area in Anuradhapura District and Mullaitivu District by King Moggallana II
338-730: The Malvathu Oya. King Pandukabhaya , once a prince descended from local Yaksha and Sinha tribes, formed a stable kingdom in Anuradhapura. He garnered support from tribes in different areas of the island. Administrative centres in Rajarata: Prince Vijaya and his clan settled in Tambapanni, near the Malvatu Oya delta. According to Mahavamsa , various groups came from India in the period between Prince Vijaya and King Pandukabhaya's reign, frequently settling along
364-528: The Malvathu River between Chilaw and Mannar . According o a local myth, Prince Vijaya married a local princess, Kuveni , to gain control of Rajarata. With her help, he betrayed and killed all of the regional leaders. After his death, the administrative center was moved to the countryside along the Malvathu Oya. The river was ideal for agriculture. The first three administrative centres Tambapanni, Upatissa Nuwara, and Anuradhapura, were situated close to
390-621: The Naga king Mahakala who until recently guarded them. The relics were to be placed atop a golden throne crafted by Visvakarman the divine artificer; the throne brought by Indra. Brahma offers his invisible umbrella of sovereignty, with the king Dutthagamani offering his own. The arhat Indagutta creates a metal canopy over the universe, so that Mara will not interfere, as monks chanted the Sutta Pitaka (the Collection of Discourses delivered by
416-515: The area by successive rulers. Rajarata was under the direct administration of the King (raja/king, rata/country). Two other areas, Mayarata and Ruhunurata, were ruled by the king's brothers "Mapa" and "Epa" . The Magha invasion in the 13th century brought about the end of the Rajarata kingdom. The first kingdom in Rajarata was established by Prince Vijaya in 543 BCE. He settled near the delta of
442-531: The captured Tamils for the work of renovation. Again it was invaded by Kalinga Magha with Tamil and Kerala Army who ransacked and destroyed it. Solosmasthana Solosmasthana are 16 sacred places in Sri Lanka , believed by Buddhists to have been hallowed by visits of Gautama Buddha . These places of worship are among the most important religious locations in Sri Lanka, and are located throughout
468-639: The central hills, Rajarata and the Vanni. The Sinhalese tried to re-establish the administrative centre in Rajarata but this never happened because of constant battles with invaders from south India. The administration centre was moved away from Rajarata by the Sinhalese. The defeat of Pandyan in South India in the rising Mogul empires weakened the Tamil power in Sri Lanka. The last Pandyan ruler of Madurai,
494-480: The country. Ancient Buddhist and historical sources of Sri Lanka assert that the Buddha visited the country on three occasions. These three visits are given in some detail in the ancient chronicle Mahavamsa , which describes his journeys to eleven of the Solosmasthana. Other sources such as the Pujavaliya , Samantapasadika and Butsarana also mention these visits. The first visit was made to Mahiyangana in
520-477: The decline of the ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa , most of the Solosmasthana were abandoned. It was not until the 20th century that all of them received the attention of the Sangha and Buddhists in the country and were renovated. A Pali gatha , praising the Solosmasthana, is in use among Buddhists. This gatha, which lists all of the Solosmasthana, is recited especially when making offerings to
546-475: The extent of Sri Lanka's golden civilization spread to the southern boundary of the Vanni forest . The thick Vanni forest acted as a barrier to colonizers above the southern border of the forest. Tanks built during the Anuradhapura era (Giant's, Padaviya, Minneriya, Kantale, Mahavillachchiya, Thabbowa, Kala) are proof of the early settlements in Rajarata area. Initial settlements based near rivers: Boundaries of
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#1732772888177572-601: The lion’s reclining posture (‘‘sīhaseyya’’), and all the relics were enshrined within that image. When the enshrining of the relics in the Great Stūpa Ruvanveli was completed, the two novices Uttara and Sumana closed the relic-chamber with the stone-blocks that were previously hidden to be used as a lid. In the Thupavamsa numerous types of beings attended the enshrinement of the relics into the Mahathupa; including
598-500: The ninth month after the Buddha attained enlightenment . The Mahavamsa says that he conquered the yakshas there and sent them to an island named Giri, thereby setting the background for the establishment of Buddhism in the country later on, where the Buddha knew that the Dhamma would prevail "in all its glory". The Buddha's second visit to Sri Lanka was made to Nagadipa in the fifth year after attaining enlightenment, where he settled
624-645: The three divisions (Rata): In 1215, Kalinga Magha invaded Rajarata with an army of 24,000 soldiers . After the conquest of Rajarata, Magha established his capital in Pollonnaruwa. Then the Kalinga forces extended their power to the Malaya Rata. During the rise of the Kingdom of Dambadeniya under the king Vijayabahu III (1220-1224 CE), Magha lost the control of Malaya Rata. The native Sinhalese resisted
650-408: The urn and they are laid to rest and the chamber sealed with forty meter stone slabs. ‘‘"The relic-chamber shall not shake even by an earthquake; flowers such as jasmine that were offered on that day shall not wither till the end of Buddha Gotama’s Dispensation; the lamps that were kindled with ghee-oil shall not be extinguished; the clay that was mixed with perfume and sandalwood shall not dry; even
676-559: Was said that on his deathbed, Buddha told a prophecy that of the eight donas of his body relics, one would be venerated by the Koliyas of Ramagrama, then the relics would belong to the Nagas until being enshrined in Sri Lanka. Ashoka is told more prophecy by arhats , who speak of the future enshrinement of these relics by king Dutthagamani . King Dutthagamini then received from the Sangha
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