The Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the Sacred, Historical & Beautiful cities of Sri Lanka. It located in North Central Province, around 200 Kms away from Colombo. It was the kingdom of Sri Lanka during 437 BC to 1018 AC. The first King was Pandukabhaya & he made it his capital and developed it into prosperous City. According to the Chronicle Mahawanasa, Anuradhapura was called by that name after the minister Anuradha, one of the Minister of King Vijaya, established this village during 543 – 503 BC. Therefore, this village named as “Anurapura”.  Later on it converted into “Anuradhapura”. Anuradhapura belongs to area called “Pihiti”, which is one of the regions of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka was into three regions as “Ruhunu, Maya, Pihiti” It remained as the capital city for 15 centuries and was a prominent political and trade centre in South Asia during this period.

During the King Devanampiya Tissa (247–207 BC) ruling period, the religion Buddhism reached Sri Lanka. That became the great importance to country. Around 250 BC, King Asoka became the Emperor of India and became a Buddhist. His son and the daughter were ordained as a Bhikku and a Bhikkuni (Buddhist priest and a nun named Mahinda and Sangamitta) and became Arhat. [Mahinda is called Mihindu in Sinhalese]. Emperor Asoka sent nine Buddhist delegations to nine countries. Due to the close links with the King Devanampiya Tissa, Emperor Asoka sent his Son as one of the delegations comprising Arhat Mahinda to Sri Lanka. 

Emperor Asoka introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka in 247 BC., by sending his son Arahath Mahinda Thera and his followers. They converted Devanampiya Tissa and his ministers and other nobles to Buddhism. The ordinary people were also converted to Buddha’s teachings and Buddhism spread thereafter and became the way of life of the whole island. Soon Anuradhapura became a great and glittering city in old Sri Lanka.

Arahath Mihidu met the King Devanampiya Tissa at a place called Mihintale on a Poson (Month of June) Full Moon day and embraced Buddhism after a dialogue among the two. Arahath Mahinda spent rest of his life in Sri Lanka and with the patronage of the King, started the Gauthama Buddha Sasanaya (Buddhist order of the Lord Gauthama Buddha) in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Sangamiththa thera, came to Sri Lanka with the right (Southern) branch of the sacred Bodhi tree, where Buddha attained enlightenment. This was brought by “Sangamitta Thera” in 3rd century B.C. The Bodhi branch was received with respect by the King Devanampiya Tissa and was planted in the terrace prepared for it in Mahameuna garden Anuradhapura. This is treated as the oldest living tree in the world in documented history and it is a place respected by Buddhist’s from all around the world. This named as “Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi". 

The Kingdom of Anuradhapura

After King Devanampiya Thissa, several kings rule this kingdom. Time to time this kingdom faced to South Indian invasions. That was to befall it repeatedly for more than 1000 years. King Elara, who came from South India, ruled the kingdom of region “Pihiti” during 205 – 161BC. The Son of the King Kawanthissa, Dutugemunu led an army from a refuge in the far south to recapture Anuradhapura kingdom. King Dutugemunu (161–137 BC) united the all regions (Ruhnu, Maya, Pihiti) as country under one flag & set in motion a vast building program that included some of the most impressive monuments in Anuradhapura today. 

Other kings who followed him included Valagamba, who lost his throne in another Indian invasion but later regained it, and Mahasena (AD 276–303), the last ‘great’ king of Anuradhapura, who was the builder of the colossal Jetavanarama Dagoba. During this time vast monastery complexes and some of the tallest buildings in the ancient world were built for example Jetavanaramaya, Maha Vihara and Abhayagiri. The Jetavanaramaya dagoba is treated as the tallest brick structure in the world. As Anuradhapura city was in dry zone rulers constructed large lakes to irrigate paddy lands and also to supply water to the city and also it had the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world.

Anuradhapura kingdom lasted one thousand and four hundred years until it was invaded by South Indian Chola forces in 1017AD. It was a very wealthy city which created a unique culture and a great civilization. Today Anuradhapura is one of the world’s major archaeological sites. The architectural remains can still be seen and gives a glimpse of what had been the country at that time.