Kaparamula in Abhayagiri Monastery

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Ruins of Kaparamula Pirivena in Abhayagiri Monastery
Photograph by : manusha de silva

By the mid-Anuradhapura period, Buddhist education was distributed among 8 institutes. Galathurumula (Selantharamula) (ගලතුරුමූල – සේලන්තරමූල), and Wilgammula (Sarogamamula) (විල්ගම්මූල – සරෝගාමමූල) were part of the Maha Viharaya Aramic Complex. Dakunu Mula (දකුණුමූල) and the Senviradmula (සෙනෙවිරද්මූල) were part of the Jethawanarama Aramic Complex. Uthurumula (උතුරුමූල), Kaparamula (කපාරාමූල), Mahanethpamula (මහනෙත් පාමූල) and Wahadumula (වහඳුමූල) were part of the Abhayagiri Aramaic Complex. Together, they have been called the Ashtamula (අෂ්ටමූල) and is mentioned multiple times in the Mahawamsa.

Kaparamula is said to be the oldest Pirivena center of the Abhayagiri Complex. According to the plaque put up by the archaeological department, this pirivena has been specially reserved for the foreign Bhikkus who had come to this international Buddhist center for their studies.

Towards the latter part of the Anuradhapura period, the Abhayagiriya had surpassed the Maha Viharaya in popularity and Uthurumula and Kaparamula had been the two primary Buddhist learning centers. The popularity of these two centers continued even during the Polonnaruwa era.

According to Mahawamsa, the Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, the Kaparamula was established during King Dathopatissa II (659-667) as the Kapuru Mula Pirivena. Mahawansa again records that King Sena I (833-853) had donated a building to this pirivena when he was the Maha Epano before taking up the throne. King Kashyapa IV (898-914) gifted two pirivena buildings called Mahakapara and Kudakapara to Pararamula according to the Pujawaliya.

One can assume that the Kaparamula had been quite a large pirivena complex by the time of Kashyapa V (914-923 CE), since his rock inscription describes the orderly distribution of water to the bhikkus in Kaparamula indicating an orderly administration of this institution. Another inscription notes an image house being donated to Kaparamula by Yasodhara, a daughter of King Vijayabahu I (1070-1110 CE) of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom.

Today among the many buildings you will find the ruins of the main residential unit, a Bodhigara (Bodhi Tree Shrine), twin ponds and the boundary walls.

Kaparamula Pirivena in Abhayagiri Monastery

Ruins of of the twin ponds at Kaparamula Pirivena in Abhayagiri Monastery

References

Ranasinghe, R.H.I.S., 2007. The importance of Malayatana as education centers in Sri Lanka: until the 13th century A.D. Sarada, 2(7), pp.223-229.
Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.156

Also See

Anuradhapura – The city of the God Kings
Solosmasthana – The Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites Hallowed by Buddha
Atamasthana – The Eight Sacred Sites in Anuradhapura

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Driving Directions to Anuradhapura

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Bus

Anuradhapura can be conveniently reached by bus, train, or private transport. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate from the Colombo Fort Main Bus Station. In addition, luxury buses departing from various locations in Colombo travel via Anuradhapura to Vavuniya and Jaffna; these require advance online booking and generally operate overnight, arriving at their final destinations early in the morning.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Train

Five daily trains operate from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Anuradhapura. Typically, the first train departs at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m. The journey takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the number of stops made by the particular service.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Car or Van

Anuradhapura can be accessed from Colombo via several routes, with the two primary corridors running through Puttalam and Kurunegala. The Puttalam route passes the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main approaches: the more commonly used route via Dambulla and an alternative route via Galgamuwa. Among all options, the Kurunegala–Dambulla route (Route 2) is the most frequently used.

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 Maps	Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 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 Maps	Through: Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 136 km Travel Time: 3.5 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps