Buddhist sites in Anuradhapura

Abhayagiri Stupa

Creator ?: King Wattagamini ?(also known as King Valaganba)[There is controversy here. The surrounding monastery of course was created by King Valagamba, but who created the stupa is still somewhat debated, whether it is by King Valagamba or by King Gajabahu 1]

When ? : 89 BC (The monastery)

Highlights?

• 235 feet tall !, and the diameter at the base is 310 ft

• located in the centre of the Abhayagiri monastery, one of the oldest and largest monastic complexes of anuradhapura

• Second largest Stupa in Sri Lanka

• There is a belief that the stupa is built on a holy footprint of the Buddha

• Since it is not fully renovated, this gives a good chance for us to see what an ancient stupa looks like with its old elements.

Historical glimpses

• The Chinese monk Fa-Hsien , who visited Sri Lanka in the fifth century gives a vivid description of the stupa of having a height of 400 feet decorated with gold and silver. He goes on to say that the surrounding monastery had 5000 monks and had a hall of worship which in turn was decorated with gold and silver and precious stones and contained a magnificent jade statue of the Buddha decorated with precious stones and 20 feet high with the hand of the image holding a priceless pearl. The Chinese monk goes to say that this is the second largest Stupa at that time in the entire Buddhist world (the first being an Indian Stupa)

• Some believe that the Stupa was actually made by King Gajabahu 1 (See "Atamasthana", by Professor Chandra Wickramage for more details on this controversy)

• What we see today not the original stupa but a total renovation done by King Parakramabahu 1(1153-1186)