The Stūpas of SriLanka

Under the Stūpas of Sri Lanka, there are as follow: (1) Ruvanveliseya in Anuradhapura Bubbulākāra Kirivehara and Rankotvehera in Polonnruva. (2) Kelaniya Stūpa Dhānyakāra Thūpārāma also had this shape at the beginning. Abhayagiri and Jetavana stūpas earlier had this shape. (According to Roland Silve) (3) Demalamahāseya in Polonnaruwa had this shape. Padmākāra(According to Prof. Paranavitana). (4) Mahiyāngana stupa Ghantākāra. (5) Kirivehera of Kataragama and Somavati Stūpa Ghatākāra (According to Roland Silva). The development and the expansion of Residential Units gave rise to the establishment of monuments of worship. The striking feature during the Anuradhapura period is the pre-dominance of the stūpa over the entire religious architecture. During the pre-Buddhist era,there were two stupas in Sri Lanka. One was at Mahiyāngana. The other called Girihanduseya was at Tiriyaya.

Thūparāma

The first stūpa in SrinLanka was accepted as Thūparāma constructed by king Devanampiyatissa (250 – 210 B.C) According to tradition,the collar bone of the Buddha is enshrined in this stūpa. The Thūpavaṃsa mentions that at the beginning it took the shape of a heap of paddy – Dhānyakāra. Later, due to repairs at various times, today it stands according to restoration. King Vasabha constructed a Cetiyaghara.

Mahāthūpa (Ruwanweliseya)

The Mahāthūpa now referred to as Ruvanveliseya was built by king Dutugemunu. This stūpa gained a prominent place among all the other stūpas. The stūpa took the shape of a bubble – Bubbulākāra. The matrix of this stūpa was bubble shaped. King Saddhatissa built the square structure above the matrix (Harmikā) and also Chatra. King Amandagamini Abhya is said to have placed a second Chatra above it. King Sanghatissa provided a ring of crystal – Vajra Cumbaka on the top of the Mahāthūpa and fixed four gems at the four sides of the square structure. read more

Mirisaveti Stūpa

It also belongs to Mahāvihāra Complex. It is said to have been built enshrining the king sector containing relics. The stūpa is 160 ft in height. The super structure – the above dome had now disappeared. But the body of the stupa is well preserved. It is very important for the study of temple – architecture in Sri Lanka due to the presence of Vāhalkada. Even today one Vāhalakada is best preserved. The purpose of these Vāhalkadas is rather obscure. They serve the purpose of screens for the flight of steps – ascending the terraces.

Abhayagiri Stūpa

Abhyagiri Stūpa is not of the same gigantic which is preserved in later times. According to historical records,it was engaged in subsequent occasions,the stupa finally reached a height of 300 ft at the base. The base mouldings of stone of the Abhayagiri are partly ornamented with a design of lotus petals. King Vohārikatissa placed a Chatra upon the stūpa at Abhaygiri. On the pavements of Abhayagiri Dāgaba there are fragments of pillars have been found.

Jetavana Dāgaba

                   It was built by king Mahāsena is 400 feet in height. Even today it is the third largest building in the world. All these stūpas discussed above belong to the non-systematic monastic groups. There is also at Anuradhapura a systematic type of monastery called Pabbata Vihāra. The stūpas of this type of monasteries are rather small. During the Polonnaruva period, there have been stūpas different from Anuradhapura. The design of Polnnaruva stūpas exhibit innovation but they have retained the bubble shaped stūpa with minor modification. The stūpas of Polonnaruva can be categorized as follows. The bubble shaped stūpas are Rankotvehera,Kirivehera,Menikvehara and Pabaluvehera. The Vatadage type can be seen in Demalamahaseya. The stepped pyramidal stūpa can be seen at Satmahal Prāsāda.