Sandagiri Monastic Complex of Tissamaharama (සඳගිරි ස්තූපය)

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According to the Great Chronicle Mahavamsa, when the Sri Maha Bodhi was brought to Sri Lanka by Theiree Sangamitta, members of the ‘Kshethiya‘ clan of ‘Chandana Grama‘ were present at Anuradhapura taking part in the celebrations. It is now accepted that the ‘Chandana Grama’ is the area now known as Sandagiriya.

Emperor Asoka also sent various relics as gifts to the Sri Lankan king Devanampiyathissa (250-210 BCE). It is believed that they were handed over to his youngest brother Mahanaga, a regional king in the Ruhuna. The King Mahanaga built Sanadagiri Stupa enshrining these relics and a rare conch shell in the 3rd century BCE. This shell was later enshrined in the Tissamaharama Dageba. Therefore this stupa is believed to be the oldest stupa in the southern part of the country.

However, According to the information furnished by the historical chronicles, this monastic complex was founded by King Mahanaga or King Kakavannatissa (Kavantissa). King Vijayabau I (1070-1110) restored this viharaya (Nicholas, 1963). Based on the archaeological evidence, this stupa had been built in the early half of the 3rd century BCE.

Nearby inscriptions record land donations to this temple by the Kings Bathikabhaya and Vasaba.

The temple is built on a 200×200-foot platform. The floor is tiled with bricks. Only about 1/2 of the stupa remains today. The circumference of the stupa is 340 feet (103 meters) and the current height is 60 feet.

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.

To the southwest of the stupa lies a large bodhigara (bo tree house) which has been conserved recently. A large building structure surrounding the bo tree has been unneatened. The square cavity at the centre marks where the Bo tree had lain.

All the ruins which had been discovered around the Sandagiri  Stupa have been displayed around the well maluwa. These include “Siri Pathul Gal” (footprint of Buddha carved in rock slabs), objects of veneration in the 2-3rd century BCE before the Buddha statues were used.  A large The granite Yupa Kanuwa (යූප කනුව) and the pinnacle (ගල් ඡත්‍රය)  of the ancient stupa which was built before the development of Devatha Kotuwa architecture in stupas is also on display. A replica of how this stupa would have looked 2000 years ago is also displayed on the maluwa.

References

  1. Nicholas, C. W. (1963). Historical Topography of Ancient and Medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series Volume VI Special Number, p.61
  2. Parker, H., (1909). Ancient Ceylon. 1st ed. London: Luzac, p.445.
  3. Somadeva, R., (2006). URBAN ORIGINS IN SOUTHERN SRI LANKA. Doctoral Thesis in Archaeology. Uppsala University.
  4. මාලිංග අමරසිංහ, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පුරාණ ස්තුප

Also See

Map of Sandagiri  Stupa  of Tissamaharama

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travel Directions to Sandagiri  Stupa

Route from Colombo to Sandagiri  StupaRoute from Weerawila Junction to Sandagiri  Stupa
Through : Avissawella – Ratnapura – Pelmadulla – Udawalawe – Tanamalwila – Tissamaharama
Distance : 225 km
Travel time : 5 hours
Driving directions : see on google map
Through : Demarawewa – Tissamaharama
Distance : 10 km
Travel time : 10 minutes
Driving directions : see on google map

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