Sandagiriya Stupa
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The perfectly polished flower alter at the Sandagiri Stupa
Image Souce : www.deepsouth.lk |
According to the Great Chronicle Maha Vamsa, when the Sri Maha Bodhi was brought to Sri Lanka by Theiree Sangamitta, members of the 'Kshethiya' clan of 'Chandana Grama' was present at Anuradhapura taking part of the celebrations. It is now accepted that the 'Chandana Grama' is the area now known as Sandagiriya.
Emperor Asoka also send various relics as gifts to the Sri Lankan king Devanampiyathissa (250-210 BC) and it is believed that they were handed over to his brother Mahanaga who was a regional king in the Ruhuna. The king Mahanaga built Sanadagiri Stupa enshrining these relics and a rare conch shell in the 3rd century BC. This shell has been later enshrined in the Tissamaharama Dageba. Therefore this stupa is believed to be the oldest stupa in the southern part of the country. Nearby inscriptions records land donations to this temple by the Kings Bathikabhaya and Vasaba.
The temple is built on 200x200 feet platform. The floor is tiled with bricks. Only about 1/2 of the stupa remains today. The circumference of the stupa is 700 feet. The granite Yupa Kanuwa (yRp knEv) and the pinnacle (gl~ CwYy) now lies on the floor of the platform.
It has flower altars at the four cardinal points and on the north side a remarkable piece of stone carving, perfectly cut and beautifully polished, can be found.
Location
The stupa lies east to the Tissamaharama Dageba in Tissamaharamaya.
Primary Source : "Sri Lankave Purana Stupa By Malinga Amarasinghe
Map
See also other sites in the area
Created November 21, 2007
Updated
May 22, 2011
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