On full moon day of Vesak in the eighth year of Our Blessed One’s enlightenment, the Tathagata visited this holy place with five hundred monks therefore it is known as one of the 16 Noble Places
Significance of Kelaniya
In the eighth year of enlightenment, while the Supreme Buddha was residing in Jetavanarama, King Mani Akkitha of the Naga tribe went to the Supreme Buddha and worshiped wholeheartedly.
Blessed One asked for the reason why King Mani Akkitha came to visit Supreme Buddha, the king replies saying: “Oh, Great Sage during the Nagadeepa war I saw you, listened to Dhamma,if the Supreme Buddha didn’t visit Sri Lanka on that day we could have been ashes by now. Out of compassion for us, the Supreme Buddha came to Nagadeepa,calmed our minds and taught us the dhamma. When the Supreme Buddha came to Mahiyanganaya and gave Sumana Saman god hair relics we saw and we rejoiced. Oh great Sage we come from Sri Lanka we all have gone for Refuge to the Noble Triple Gem. On the day which the Supreme Buddha came to Nagadeepa I invited Oba Wahanse to come to Sri Lanka for a third time, Oh Great Sage I remembered it and that’s the reason I came to India, Great Sage tomorrow is Vesak Full moon poya day,May Supreme Buddha Visit Sri Lanka tomorrow on the Vesak Full Poya. Out of compassion May Supreme Buddha visit my palace.”
Mani Akkitha Naga King worshiped Supreme Buddha wholeheartedly and left to Sri Lanka, He gathered all and told them “ Our great teacher the Supreme Buddha is coming to Sri Lanka for the third time tomorrow let us all go to Kelaniya and fill our life with merits
Mani Akkitha King arranged Kelaniya beautifully, arranged white sand in all of the places where the Kelaniya Stupa is situated today, made mansions out of jewels, made a beautiful pavilion out of blue jewels for the Buddha and around it made another 500 magnificent chairs for the Great Arahants. The king also decorated Kelaniya with many types of fragrant flowers.
The Great Sage along with Sariputta Maha Rahatan Wahanse, Moggalana Maha Rahantan Wahanse, Kassapa Maha Rahatan Wahanse, Bakkula Maha Rahantan Wahanse, Anurudha Maha Rahatan Wahanse and another 495 Arahants, arrived on the morning of a Vesak full moon Poya day to the city named Kelaniya.
Just as the Moon and the Stars twinkle in the sky, the Supreme Buddha sat in the jewel pavilion along with 500 Great Arahants.
Mani Akkitha Na King offered various foods to the Supreme Buddha.
After having Dana Supreme Buddha preached Dhamma to all the people while being seated under the jewel pavilion.
The Maha Stupa is built in this same location.
May my homage be to the meritorious land blessed by the Supreme Buddha, the sacred footprints of the great Arahants crowning the Maha Brahma and where the Kelani Maha Stupa is located
How to worship
- Turn off phones and remove caps and shoes before entering the stupa.
- Worship the Stupa wholeheartedly from the moment you enter, with the thought, “The seat which Our Blessed One seated and preached Dhamma to the Naga tribe is enshrined in this stupa. May my homage be to Gautama Supreme Buddha….”
- You can bring water, flowers, incense sticks, and offer to the seya.
- You can chant Pirith, meditate, and make a wholesome wish to be free of lust, anger, and delusion and attain Nibbana during the Gautama Buddha’s Dispensation.
Stanzas to worship Kelaniya
ආයාචනාය මණිඅක්ඛිමහෝරගස්ස
යස්මිං නිසීදි භගවා මණිමණ්ඩපස්මිං
තත්ථෙව කාරිතමිදං මණිපීඨයුත්තං
කල්යාණී චෙතියමහං සිරසා නමාමිĀyācanāya maṇi akkhimahoragassa
Yasmiṃ nisīdi bhagavā maṇimaṇḍapasmiṃ
Yattheva kāritamidaṃ maṇipīṭhayuttaṃ
Kalyāṇī cetiyamahaṃ sirasā namāmi
Directions to Kelaniya
From Colombo: About 30 minutes (9.9 km) Via A1 and Biyagama Road
Open All day
Contact Information: 0112 911 505
