Somawathiya Chaitya

Somawathiya Chethiya, Sri Lanka

The Somawathiya Chaitya[1] is a Buddhist Stupa situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Chaitya premises is called the Somawathiya Rajamaha Viharaya.[2][3]

The Somawathiya Chaitya[4] is located within the Somawathiya National Park[5] on the left bank of the Mahaweli River,[6] 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. ↑ Hundreds and thousands of devotes participate in Hiru Shraddhabhi Vandana at Somawathiya sacred premises
  2. ↑ Miraculous Somawathi Chaitya
  3. ↑ President opens access road to Somawathiya
  4. ↑ Access road to Somawathiya redone
  5. ↑ Chandrasena passes the buck Clearing of forest for banana growing
  6. ↑ President participates in religious functions at Somawathiya temple, Agbopura Rajamaha Viharaya

Other reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 20, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.