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Thuparamaya

Thuparamaya
ථූපාරාමය
The Stupa
Religion
AffiliationTheravada Buddhism
DistrictAnuradhapura
ProvinceNorth Central Province
RegionAnuradhapura
Location
LocationAnuradhapur
CountrySri Lanka
Thuparamaya is located in Sri Lanka
Thuparamaya
Shown within Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates8°21′19″N 80°23′46″E / 8.35528°N 80.39611°E / 8.35528; 80.39611
Architecture
TypeBuddhist Temple
FounderKing Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 BC)
Specifications
Width18 m
Height (max)50.1 m

Thuparamaya is the earliest documented Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. Its building dates to the arrival of Mahinda Thera (Mahindagamanaya) and the introduction of Buddhism to the island.

Located within the sacred precinct of Mahamewna park, the Thuparamaya Stupa is the earliest Dagoba to be constructed on the island, dating back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 BC).[1] The temple has been recognised by the Government and listed as a protected archaeological site in Sri Lanka.[2]

History

Stone pillars around the Stupa suggest that a Vatadage with a conical roof once sheltered the Stupa at the center of the covered space

Thuparamaya is closely linked to Mahinda Thera, the envoy sent by King Ashoka to Sri Lanka, bringing Theravada Buddhism and Chaitya worship to the island. At Mahinda's request, King Devanampiya Tissa built Thuparamaya to enshrine the right collar-bone of the Buddha,[3][4] thus the claim to be the first stupa built in Sri Lanka. It also marks the formal arrival of Buddhism. The name Thuparamaya comes from "stupa" and "aramaya" which is a residential complex for monks.

According to the Palumekichchawa Inscription, the tank called Madamanaka (Palumekichchawa Wewa) at Upala Vibajaka area had been constructed at a cost of 5000 Kahavanu and donated on behalf of the Bhikkus who were living at the Thuparama temple. It further states that the harvest from the paddy fields surrounding the tank was presented to the Bhikkus at the temple. The inscription is the earliest chiseled stone inscription in which the name of the Thuparama temple is inscribed and said to belong to the reign of King Gajabahu (114-136 A.D.).[5]

The Stupa

Thuparamaya dagoba was built in the shape of a bell. This dagoba was destroyed from time to time. By the reign of King Aggabodhi II the site was in ruins and was fully restored by royal edict. The current construction of the dagoba dates to the 1842 rebuilding.[6] As of the 21st century after repeated renovations over centuries, the monument has a diameter of 59 ft (18 m), at the base. The dome is raised on a plinth 11 feet 4 inches (3.45 m) off the ground, and the entire structure is 164+1⁄2 ft (50.1 m) in diameter. The compound is paved with granite with two rows of stone pillars ringing the dagoba. These are remnants of the roofed vatadage once built over Thuparamaya.

Thuparamaya Stupa and Stone Pillars
Thuparamaya Stupa and Stone Pillars

See also

References

  1. ^ Gunawardena, C. A. (2003). Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka. Sterlin Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi-110020. p. 290. ISBN 81-207-2536-0.
  2. ^ "Archaeological Sites (Map)". Department of Archaeology. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  3. ^ De Thabrew, W. Vivian (2013). Monuments and Temples of Orthodox Buddhism in India and Sri Lanka. AuthorHouse. p. 59. ISBN 9781481795517. Accordingly the right collar-bone of the Buddha was received with great veneration and pomp and enshrined
  4. ^ Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Sri Lanka Branch (1990). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, Volume 33. Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. p. 10. ...to the building of the Thuparamaya, the first stupa to be built in Lanka to enshrine the right collar-bone relics of the Great Teacher (Buddha).
  5. ^ "To protect oldest stone inscription Irrigation Dept constructs wall". Ceylon Today. Ceylon Newspapers (Private) Limited. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  6. ^ "සෙල්ලිපියට කොන්ක්‍රීට් දැමූ පින්වතුන්! (In Sinhala)". Deshaya. Wijeya Newspapers. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
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