Abhayagiri Temple was a major monastery and educational site of Theravada Buddhism and has been visited by The Supreme Buddha on his third visit to Sri Lanka.
Significance of Abyagiriya Stupa
- Supreme Buddha on his third visit to Sri Lanka, spent time on this meritorious land with 500 Arahants.
- After King Sadatissa (the brother of King Dutugemunu) a king named Walagamba ruled Sri Lanka
- When Anuradhapura was attacked by the tamils, King Walagamba fled to the forest for safety.
- The carriage that the King was riding was too heavy because of this the carriage was slowing and the Tamil army was catching up.
- Anula Devi decided to get of the carriage and help the king.
- The Tamil army saw Anula Devi and captured her.
- When the king was traveling to the North a Niganta named Giri shouted saying, “Look the sinhala king is fleeing away”.The King heard this, kept it in his mind and traveled on.
- Later the King Walagamba defeated the Tamils and ruled Sri Lanka once again.
- The King remembered the place where the Niganta named Giri was residing and decided to build a stupa there.
- A big seya named Abhyagiriya was built and offered to the Buddha Sasana.The relics of the Buddha was enshrined inside a golden statue of a cow
Places to Visit
- Abhayagiri Dagaba – It is the second largest temple built in Sri Lanka. Built by King Walagamba
- Samadhi Buddha Statue-It is a Buddha statue made to represent the Supreme Buddha’s qualities.
- Patakha stupa
- Abayagiri dana hall- A dana hall that was built for the Sangha.
- Elephant pond- A pond that was used by the Sangha
- Kuttam pond- It is a pond that was offered to the Sangha.
- Lankarama Stupa- A seya built for the Maha Sangha, and later the relics of the Supreme Buddha was enshrined.
Stanzas to worship Abhayagiriya
කත නවමණිකම්මේ , ධාතුගබ්බේ සුරම්මේ
කනක වසභකුච්ඡිං, ධාතුයා පූරයිත්ව
විහිතමභයරඤ්ඤා, ධම්ම ලේඛං ඨපෙත්වා
අභයගිරිවිහාරේ , චාරුථුපං නමාමිKata navamaṇikamme, dhātugabbe suramme
Kanaka vasabhakucchiṃ, dhātuyā pūrayitva
Vihitamabhayaraññā, Dhamma lekhaṃ ṭhapetvā
Abhayagirivihāre , cāruthupaṃ namāmi.
Directions to Abhayagiriya
From Colombo: About 5 hours (213 km) Via the A28
From Matara: About 6 hours (343 km)Via Southern Expressway
From Ruwanweliseya About 8 minutes (3.1 km)Through Sangamiththa Mawatha