Heritage

Anointing Pavilion : Abhisheka Mandapaya of Abhayagiri Monastery (අභයගිරි ආරාමයේ අභිෂේක මණ්ඩපය)

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Anointing Pavilion : Abhisheka Mandapaya of Abhayagiri Monastery (අභයගිරි ආරාමයේ අභිෂේක මණ්ඩපය)

Abhayagiri Stupa belongs to the aramic complex of Abhayagiriya Viharaya which was constructed in the reign of King Vattagamini Abaya (commonly known as King Valagamba) in the 1st Century BC.

Outside the outer wall of the Abhayagiri Stupa lies 4 ponds on the four sides of the stupa. They have been built to drain the rainwater out of the main stupa area without flooding the maluwa area. The southern pond is quite large and has been fully restored. This pond lies to the left of the current main access path to the stupa and clearly visible from this road.

Next to this pond lies a collection of conserved ruins which very few notices. This is the Anointing Pavilion (called Abhisheka Mandapaya in Sinhala) of the Abhayagiri Monastery.

It belongs to the type described as snanagraha (bathing house) described in the Bodhicharyavatara. It had been the practice to anoint the Buddha statues with fragrant water as Mahayana rituals. Such festivals are held even today in Sri Lanka. It is conducted once a year at the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura and is performed every Wednesday at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and is known as the Nanumura festival.

Built in the late Anuradhapura period, the stone pavilion and where the water vessels and the images were placed and the drains carrying the water out of the mandapa are visible even today.

Abayagiri Stupa The circular pond at the entrance

References

Wikramagamage, C., (2004). Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.97.

Also See

Anuradhapura – The city of the God Kings

Map of Anointing Pavilion : Abhisheka Mandapaya of Abhayagiri Monastery

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Driving Directions to Anointing Pavilion : Abhisheka Mandapaya of Abhayagiri Monastery

Anuradhapura can be reached through many routes from Colombo. The two main routes are through Puttalam (Puttalama) and through Kurunegala. Travelling from Puttalam, you will pass the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main routes to Anuradhapura. The most common route is through Dambulla. The other route is through Galgamuwa. Out of all the routes, the most commonly used is the Kurunegala-Dambulla route (Route 2).

Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura
Through : Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo : 210 km Travel time : 4.30- 5.00 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Through : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala – Dambulla Distance from Colombo : 223 km Travel Time : 4.30- 5.00 hours Driving Directions : see on Google maps
Route 03 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route from Kandy to Anuradhapura
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Narammala – Wariyapola – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo :203 km Travel Time : 4.30- 5.00 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Through : Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo :136 km Travel Time : 3.5 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map

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