Abhayagiriya Stupa: Thirteenth of Sixteen Sacred Places in Sri Lanka

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 නමාමි

Kata navamaṇikamme, dhātugabbe suramme
Kanaka vasabhakucchiṃ, dhātuyā pūrayitva
Vihitamabhayaraññā, Dhamma lekhaṃ ṭhapetvā
Abhayagirivihāre , cāruthupaṃ namāmi.