Anuradhapura Kingdom was built by King Pandukabhya, son of Princess Unmada chithtra. The city was the first of it's kind with well designed sanitary system, Gardens, Irrigation and Water supply systems, Temples, cemeteries and burial grounds, etc. The city was then became the capital city of Sri Lanka and flourished under many subsequent Kings ruled for centuries.
Anuradhapura Kingdom was highly vulnerable to invasions from South India and suffered usurp of throne several times, by invading Kings from south India. Singhalese Kings have managed to defeat the invaders after reorganizing the troops, although the invading kings ruled in the mean time. One such historic battle held Between King Dutugamunu and South Indian King, Elara. In that, King Elara was defeated and King Dutugamunu ruled the country in single sovereignty.
The Anuradhapura Kingdom was under constant threat from south Indian kingdoms. The King Mahinda V ascended to throne in 982 A.C, and was the last Sinhalese king to rule the country from Glorious city. At this time the South Indian realm Chola, became very powerful under the Great Rajaraja (985- 1018 A.C) and conquered Sri Lanka. The King Mahinda was captured and imprisoned in South India.
The South Indians ruled the country for next 75 years. They shifted the Capital city to Polonnaruwa due to strategic reasons after considering the vulnerably for attacks from both native Sinhalese people and other south Indian Kingdoms.
Ruwanwalisaya .........
Every monastery has a dagoba. Ruvanveliseya is the dagoba of Maha Vihara. It was built by a Sinhalese hero King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century B.C. The architect ingeniously combined the Buddhist philosophy in the architectural conception. He conceived this as a bubble of milk: representing life, which will burst in no time just like the fragility of our lives. Its dome represents the vastness of the doctrine; the four facets of the box oh top represents the four noble truths. The concentric rings there after indicate the noble eightfold path that leads man to illumination. The illumination: the whole truth is light and transparent like the rock crystal at the pinnacle. The 1956's restoration curb on the dome is much to the chagrin of the purists: which looks flatter than bubbly.
Ruvanweliseya is opposite the museum. It was begun to house relics; priests from all over India were recorded as being present at the enshrinement of the relics in 140 BC. A huge dagaba, It is surrounded by the remains of lots of buildings. you can see the columns often no more than 500 cm in height dotted around in the grass underneath huge rain trees where monkeys play. The dome is 80m in diameter at its base and 53m high. A small passage leads to the relic chamber. At the cardinal points are four ' chapels' which were reconstructed in 1873, when renovation started. The restoration has flattened the shape of the dome, and some of the painting is of questionable style, but it remains a remarkably striking monument. Today, you may find watching the dagaba being "white washed"- an interesting spectacle.
Jatawanaramaya......
Jetavana Dageba was named after the first Buddhist monastery (names of the Jethavanarama and Abhayagiriya Dagabas are sometimes reversed). The largest dagaba in Anuradhapura (considered by some to be the highest in the world). It is also being renovated with help from UNESCO.
Started by King Mahasena (AD 275-292), the paved platform on which it stands covers more than 3 ha and it has a diameter of over 100m. In 1860 Emerson Tennet, in his book Ceylon, calculated that it had enough bricks to build a 3m high brick wall 25cm thick from London to Edinburgh, equal to the distance from the southern tip of Sri Lanka to Jaffna and back down the coast to Trincomalee.
Its massive scale was designed in a competitive spirit to rival the orthodox Maha Vihara.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya
The 'Bo' ( 'Bodhi') tree or Pipal (ficus religiosa) was planted as a cutting brought from India by by emperor Ashoka's daughter, the Princess Sangamitta, at some point after 236 BC. Guardians have kept uninterrupted watch over the tree ever since. There are other Bo trees around the Sir Maha Bodhi which stands on the highest terrace. In April a large number of pilgrims arrive to make offering during the Snana Pooja, and to bathe the tree with milk. Every 12th year the ceremony is particularly auspicious.
A board, paved path leads from the point you leave your shoes. It is shaded by a tent like structure - tasseled ropes crossing the path colored yellow, blue, red, white and orange. You can only see the top of the BO tree which is supported by an elaborate metal structure and is surrounded by brass railing which are bedecked with colorful prayer flags and smaller strips of cloth which pilgrims tie in expectation of prayers being answered
Samadhi Buddha Statue
The road north ( Sangaraja Mawatha) goes 1.5 km trough the site of the 11th century palace of Vijayabahu I to the superb statue of the serene Buddha with an expression depicting ' extinction of feeling and compassion'; some think the expression change as the sun's light moves across it. Roofed to protect it form the weather, it probably dates form the 3rd century AD. It is one of the more active religious sites it is adorned with lotus buds and payer flags
Mahamevuna Uyana. Anuradhapura,
"Samadhi Budu Pilimaya"
This limestone image of lord Buddha is dating from the 3rd Century.
Seated under a Bo tree, depicts the Lord Buddha in the serene state of Samadhi, or deep meditation. It's not secret why the Great Indian statesman Jawaharlal Nehru found solace and strength in a photograph of this statue when he was imprisoned by the British in 1940s.
The kindness of Lord Buddha flows through the half closed eyes, Watch as as long as you like. This is the finest Meditation Buddha statue in the whole World
Dulangika Anuradha Nilagarathna...
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