Somawathiya Chaitya

Somawathiya Chaitya
සෝමාවතිය විහාරය
Basic information
Location Somawathiya National Park, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates 08°07′15.16″N 81°10′07.9″E / 8.1208778°N 81.168861°E / 8.1208778; 81.168861Coordinates: 08°07′15.16″N 81°10′07.9″E / 8.1208778°N 81.168861°E / 8.1208778; 81.168861
Affiliation Buddhism
District Polonnaruwa
Province North Central Province
Heritage designation Archaeological protected monument[1] (7 July 1967)
Architectural type Buddhist Temple

The Somawathiya Chaitya[2] is a Buddhist Stupa situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Chaitya premises is called the Somawathiya Rajamaha Viharaya.[3][4]

The Somawathiya Chaitya[5] is located within the Somawathiya National Park[6] on the left bank of the Mahaweli River,[7] and is believed to have been built long before the time of Dutugamunu enshrining the right canine Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. It is attributed to the reign of King Kavan Tissa - Dutugemunu’s father - who ruled Magama. Somawathiya is therefore much older than Ruwanwelisaya, Mirisawetiya Vihara or Jetavanaramaya.

The stupa is named after Princess Somawathi, the sister of King Kavantissa, and the wife of regional ruler Prince Abhaya. The prince built the stupa to enshrine the right tooth relic of the Buddha, obtained from Arahat Mahinda, and named the stupa after the princess. Upon completion of the stupa and other constructions, the prince and princess handed over the temple to Arahat Mahinda and other monks.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Protercted Monument List 2012-12-12" (PDF). Department of Archaeology. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Hundreds and thousands of devotes participate in Hiru Shraddhabhi Vandana at Somawathiya sacred premises
  3. ↑ Miraculous Somawathi Chaitya Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ President opens access road to Somawathiya Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Access road to Somawathiya redone
  6. ↑ Chandrasena passes the buck Clearing of forest for banana growing
  7. ↑ President participates in religious functions at Somawathiya temple, Agbopura Rajamaha Viharaya Archived 2014-09-12 at the Wayback Machine.

Other reading

  • "Scholar explores one of world's oldest Buddhist Cultures". missouristate.edu. 2013.
  • "Attractions in Habarana". srilankahotelsonline.com.
  • "Over half a million attended to pooja Somawathiya pilgrims marooned by floods". Island. 2010-05-10.
  • "Somawathiya". srilankaholidays.net. 2014.
  • "Sharp increase in income from national parks". Dailynews. 2012-12-29.
  • "Govt adopting only populist policies for people's welfare - President". priu.gov.lk. June 12, 2014.
  • "Across the river the elephants came!". Sunday Times. 6 October 2015.
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