| Anuradhapura | |
 |
|
  Anuradhapura
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Sri Lanka |
| Province | North Central Province |
Anuradhapura, (අනුරාධපුර in Sinhala, அனுராதபுரம் in Tamil), is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island For the region of Burkina Faso, see Centre-Nord Region. North Central Province ( Sinhala: Uturumeda Palata) is a Sinhalese or Sinhala (සිංහල ISO 15919: siṁhala ˈsiŋhələ earlier referred to as Singhalese) is the language of the Sinhalese Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island
The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Colombo ( Sinhala:, ˈkoləmbə Tamil: கொழும்பு is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. For the region of Burkina Faso, see Centre-Nord Region. North Central Province ( Sinhala: Uturumeda Palata) is a Malvathuoyaa river of historic significance in Sri Lanka, connecting the ancient sea port Mahathitha (Mannar ( see History of Sri Lanka) to Anuradhapura, the capital
Founded in the 4th century BC, it was the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom until the beginning of the 11th century AD. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²). Anuradhapura is also significant in Hindu legend as the fabled capital of the Asura King Ravana in the Ramayana. In Hinduism In Hinduism, the Asura ( Sanskrit: असुर are a group of power-seeking deities sometimes referred to as Demons or sinful For the South Indian film see Ravana (film. Ravanaa, also transliterated as Raavana, Ravan or The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki
Contents |
Anuradhapura The City
Protohistoric Iron Age
Although according to historical records the city was founded in the 5th century BC, the archaeological data put the date as far back as the 10th century BC. The 5th century BC started the first day of 500 BC and ended the last day of 401 BC. Very little evidence was available about the period before the 5th century BC (i. e. the protohistoric period), though excavations have revealed information about the earlier inhabitants of the city.
Further excavations in Anuradhapura have uncovered information about the existence of a protohistoric habitation of humans in the citadel. The protohistoric Iron Age which spans from 900 - 600 BC, marked the appearance of iron technology, pottery, the horse, domestic cattle and paddy cultivation. In the time period 700 -600 BC the settlement in Anuradhapura had grown over an area of at least 50 ha. The city was strategically situated of major ports northwest and northeast, it was surrounded by irrigable and fertile land. The city was also buried deep in the jungle providing natural defence from invaders.
Lower Early Historic period
The Lower Early Historic period spanning from 500 - 250 BC, is studied on the lines of the chronicles. During this time King Pandukabhaya formally planned the city, with gates, quarters for traders etc. The city at the time would have covered an area of 1 square kilometre which makes it one of the largest in the continent at the time.
Beginnings
| Sacred City of Anuradhapura* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
 |
|
| State Party |  Sri Lanka |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, vi |
| Reference | 200 |
| Region† | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1982 (6th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO. |
|
The layout of Anuradhapura as described in the Mahavamsa:
- "He laid out four suburbs as well as the Abhaya-tank, the common cemetery, the place of execution, and the chapel of the Queens of the West, the banyan-tree of Vessavana and the Palmyra-palm of the Demon of Maladies, the ground set apart for the Yonas and the house of the Great Sacrifice; all these he laid out near the west gate. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex As of 2008 there are a total of 878 World Heritage Sites located in 145 "State Parties" Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, Australia and the Pacific ( Australia) A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex The Mahavamsa, ("Great Chronicle " is a historical poem written in the Pali language of the kings of Sri Lanka. " Mahavamsa X, trans. Wilhelm Geiger
- "A hermitage was made for many ascetics; eastward of that same cemetery the ruler built a house for the nigantha Jotiya. Wilhelm Ludwig Geiger (1856-1943 was a German Orientalist in the fields of Indian and Iranian languages (. . . ) On the further side of Jotiya's house and on this side of the Gamani tank he likewise built a monastery for wandering mendicant monks, and a dwelling for the ajivakas and a residence for the brahmans, and in this place and that he built a lying-in shelter and a hall for those recovering from sickness. " Mahavamsa X, trans. Wilhelm Geiger
It is said that King Pandukabhaya made it his capital in the 4th century BC, and that he also laid out the town and its suburbs according to a well organised plan. He constructed a reservoir named Abhayavapi. He established shrines for yakkhas such as Kalawela and Cittaraja. He housed the Yaksini-Cetiya in the form of a mare within the royal precincts and offerings were made to all these demi-gods every year. He chose the sites for the cemetery and for the place of execution, the Chapel of the Western Queen, the Pacchimarajini, the Vessavana Banyan Tree, the Palm of the Vyadhadeva, the Yona Quarter and the House of the Great Sacrifice. The slaves or Candalas were assigned their duties and a village was set apart for them. They build dwellings for Niganthas, for wandering ascetics and for Ajivakas and Brahmanas. He established, the village boundaries. The tradition that King Pandukabhaya made Anuradhapura the capital city of Sri Lanka as early as the fourth century BC had been very important. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island
The administrative and sanitary arrangements be made for the city and the shrines he provided indicate that over the years the city developed according to an original master plan. His son Mutasiva, succeeded to the throne. During his reign of sixty years, he maintained Anuradhapura as his capital and further laid out the Mahameghavana Garden which was to play an important role in the early history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was in the period of his successor, his son Devanam piya Tissa, that Buddhism was first introduced this island 236 years after the passing away of the Buddha. Emperor Ashoka in India was a contemporary of Devanam piya Tissa. Historically this period is considered to extend from 250 to 210 BC. This is the point at which a kingship began and a civilization developed based on one of the most significant religions of South Asia, Buddhism. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices
Hinduism and Anuradhapura
The capital of the Rakshasa King Ravana in the Hindu epic Ramayana (The Epic of Lord Rama) is said to be situated in Anuradhapura. For the South Indian film see Ravana (film. Ravanaa, also transliterated as Raavana, Ravan or A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki Rama ( IAST: rāma Devanāgarī: राम Khmer: Phreah Ream Thai: Phra Ram Lao: Phra Lam Tagalog: The capital was burnt down by legendary Rama devotee Lord Hanuman before the epic war. Hanuman (हनुमत् sa-Latn '''Hanumat''' nominative singular sa हनुमान् sa-Latn ''Hanumān'' known also as ' Anjaneya' (son of Anjana is one of the A popular legend among the Hindus says that a layer of ash is still to be found anywhere that you dig in Anuradhapura.
Buddhism and Anuradhapura
With the introduction of Buddhism, the city gained more prominence and the great building era began. The Mahavamsa states that King Kutakannatissa built the first city wall to a height of seven cubits with a moat in front of the wall. The Mahavamsa, ("Great Chronicle " is a historical poem written in the Pali language of the kings of Sri Lanka. For the multi-touch interface see CUBIT (multi-touch. For the unit of information see Qubit. This fortification was further enlarged by raising the wall a further 11 cubits to 18 cubits by King Vasabha. The king also added fortified gatehouses at the entrances of which the ruins can be seen to date. The Mahavamsa also states that soothsayers and architects were consulted in the construction.
The great building era
The great building era was when vast monastery complexes and some of the tallest buildings in the ancient world were built. The Jetavanaramaya dagoba of the city is still the highest brick structure in the world. The Jetavanaramaya is a Stupa, located in the ruins of Jetavana Monastery in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist A brick is a block of Ceramic material used in Masonry construction laid using mortar.
The Maha Vihara was centered around the orthodox Theravadins. History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation This was founded by King Devanampiya Tissa in 249 BC. The heterdox Mahayanists founded the Abhayagiri Vihara. King Mahasena (275-310 BC) built the Jetavanaramaya located in between the Maha Vihara and the Abhayagiri Monasteries. The Jetavanaramaya is a Stupa, located in the ruins of Jetavana Monastery in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
In the suburbs of the city major monasteries with their gigantic stupas were constructed, The Maha Thupa, the Bodhi Tree and Thuparama of the Maha Vihara stood to the south of the city. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist The Ruwanwelisaya is a Stupa in Sri Lanka, considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world History The tree is said to be the southern branch of the Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi at Bodh Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment The Abhayagiri to the north, the Pubbarama to the east, the Tanovana to the north-west and the Jetavanaramaya to the south-east. The Jetavanaramaya is a Stupa, located in the ruins of Jetavana Monastery in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
The Sacred Tooth Relic was brought to the city in the reign of King Kirtisri Meghavana. The relic was deposited in a building named Dhammacakka. Since then annually it was carried in a procession to the Abhayagiri monastery after which an exposition was held.
The city grows
The city's popularity grew both as a ritual centre and as the administrative centre, a large population was attracted to the city for permanent settlement. Thus the living facilities were improved to accommodate the expanding population. King Vasabha constructed many ponds which were fed by a network of subterranean channels which were constructed to supply water to the city. Tissa and Abhayavapi tanks were built, the Nuwara weva was built and the Malwatu Oya was dammed to build the Nachchaduwa wewa which was 4408 acres (17. 84 km²) in size.
Parks were also provided in the city. The Ranmasu Uyana below the bund of Tissavapi or Tisa weva was one such, but it was strictly reserved for the members of the royal family. Health care and education were two other aspects to which the authorities paid attention. There were several hospitals in the city. In the forth century King Upatissa II provided quarters and homes for the crippled and the blind. King Buddhadasa (337-365 AD), himself a physician of great repute, appointed a physician to be in charge of every ten villages. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu ( Thai: พุทธทาสภิกขุ May 27 1906 - May 25 1993) was one of the most influential Buddhist For the maintenance of these physicians, one tenth of the income from the fields was set apart. He also set up refuges for the sick in every village. Physicians were also appointed to look after the animals. Kassapa V (914-923 AD) founded a hospital close to the southern gate of Anuradhapura. General Sena in the tenth century is believed to have built a hospital close to the ceremonial street (Managala Veediya). The history of medical care began early, for in the fourth century BC King Pandukhabaya, in the course of sanitizing the town constructed a hospital. A large workforce was entrusted with the task of keeping the city clean.
Large lakes were also constructed by the city's rulers to irrigate paddy lands and also to supply water to the city. Nuwara wewa and Tissa wewa are among the best known lakes in the city.
The great city
Anuradhapura attained its highest magnificence about the commencement of the Christian era. In its prime it ranked beside Nineveh and Babylon in its colossal proportions—its four walls, each 16 miles (26 km) long, enclosing an area of 256 square miles (663 km²) —in the number of its inhabitants, and the splendour of its shrines and public edifices. The city also had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world, situated in the dry zone of the country the administration built many tanks to irrigate the land. Most of these tanks still survive. To date, it is believed that some of these tanks are the oldest surviving reservoirs in the world today.
The city falls
| Ancient Capitals of Sri Lanka |
|---|
| Tambapanni |
| Vijitapura |
| Anuradhapura |
| Polonnaruwa |
| Sigiriya |
| Ruhuna |
| Dambadeniya |
| Yapahuwa |
| Kurunegala |
| Dedigama |
| Gampola |
| Rayigama |
| Kotte |
| Kelaniya |
| Sitawaka |
| Kandy |
The city suffered much during the earlier South Indian invasions, and was finally abandoned by AD 1017. This is a list of ancient capitals of Sri Lanka: Tambapanni Vijitapura Anuradhapura Polonnaruwa Tambapanni is a name derived from Tamira Varni or Tamirabarani (in Sanskrit) Vijitapura The original Vijithapura is the Current city of Jafna in the northern part of the country back then this city had a Port called Yapapatuna (Yapa Patuna ("Port Yapa" The second most ancient of Sri Lanka 's kingdoms Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 Sigiriya (Lion's rock is an ancient rock fortress and ruins of a castle situated in central Matale District of Sri Lanka. Yala National Park is a National park in Sri Lanka. The reserve covers 979 km² although only the original 141 km² are open to the public Dambadeniya is a destroyed ancient city situated in the North Western Province(Wayamba] province of Sri Lanka that served as the capital of Sri Lanka in the mid 13th century The rock fortress complex of Yapahuwa is situated in the Wayamba province of Sri Lanka. Kurunegala (කුරුණෑගල is the capital of the Wayamba Province, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Dedigama is an electorate in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. Dedigama's Elephant Lamp An Ingenious CreationDedigama is world famous for its elephant lamp Gampola is a town located near Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte (ශ්රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ in Sinhalese and ஸ்ரீ ஜயவர்த்தனபுரம் கோட்டே Kelaniya is a small town very close to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. Kandy ( maha nuvara, mahaˈnuərə in Sinhala, கண்டி kaṇṭi, ˈkaɳɖi in Tamil) is the English name for the city of
The city was the capital of the country continuously from the 5th century BC to AD 1017. The 5th century BC started the first day of 500 BC and ended the last day of 401 BC. Its decline began with continuous wars with the invading South Indians which made the kingdom economically poor. The city was sacked by a Chola invasion forces in 1017 and the governing capital was shifted to the relative safety of Polonnaruwa. The destruction caused to the city and its complex irrigation system was so great that the city was totally abandoned, and fell into decay for nearly a thousand years.
It was not until the 19th century that the jungle was cleared away, the ruins laid bare, and some measure of prosperity brought back to the surrounding country by the restoration of hundreds of village tanks by the British.
In ruins
The ruins consist of three classes of buildings, dagobas, monastic buildings, and pokunas. The dagobas are bell-shaped masses of masonry, varying from a few feet to over 1100 ft (340 m) in circumference. Some of them contain enough masonry to build a town for twenty-five thousand inhabitants. Remains of the monastic buildings are to be found in every direction in the shape of raised stone platforms, foundations and stone pillars. The most famous is the Brazen Palace erected by King Dutugamunu about 164 BC. King Dutugemunu ( Sinhala, දුටුගැමුණු duṭugämuṇu) also known as Dutthagamani ( Pali, duṭṭhagāmaṇī) The pokunas are bathing-tanks or tanks for the supply of drinking water, which are scattered everywhere through the jungle. The city also contains a sacred Bo-Tree, which is said to date back to the year 245 BC. The Sacred Fig ( Ficus religiosa) or Bo-Tree (from the Sinhala bo) is a Species of Banyan Fig Events By place Egypt Babylon and Susa fall to the Egyptian armies of Ptolemy III. The railway was extended from Kurunegala to Anuradhapura in 1905. Kurunegala (කුරුණෑගල is the capital of the Wayamba Province, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District.
Ancient Ruins
Ruins of Anuradhapura
Eight Places of Veneration in Anuradhapura - Atamasthana
Other structures
Queen's Palace
Other ruins
In the sacred city of Anuradhapura and in the vicinity are a large number of ruins. These have not been identified properly and many have been destroyed either by Tamil invaders or by vandals. Neither the tourists nor the pilgrims had paid much attention to these ruins and information regarding this is meager. Although Avukana is not situated in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the pilgrims never fail to pay homage to this statue.
Demographics
| Ethnicity | Population | % Of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Sinhalese | 51,775 | 91. The Sinhalese are the main ethnic group of Sri Lanka. They speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and number approximately 15 million people with the 42 |
| Sri Lankan Moors | 3,825 | 6. The Sri Lankan Moors (also called Muslims, Marakallayos or Sonagar) are the third largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka comprising 9% of the country's 75 |
| Sri Lankan Tamils | 850 | 1. Sri Lankan Tamil people ( or Ceylon Tamils, are an Ethnic group native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka who predominantly speak 50 |
| Indian Tamils | 45 | 0. The Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka are Tamil people of Indian origin in Sri Lanka. 08 |
| Other (including Burgher, Malay) | 137 | 0. The Burghers are a Eurasian ethnic group historically from Sri Lanka, consisting for the most part of male-line descendants of European colonists Malays (Melayu are an Ethnic group of Austronesian peoples predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast 24 |
| Total | 56,632 | 100 |
Source: www.statistics.gov.lk - Census 2001
See also
Maps
References
- Harischandra, B. The Avukana Buddha Statue is one of the tallest Statues of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya (Lion's rock is an ancient rock fortress and ruins of a castle situated in central Matale District of Sri Lanka. The second most ancient of Sri Lanka 's kingdoms Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Eight miles east of Anuradhapura, close to the Anuradhapura - Trincomalee Road is situated the "Missaka Pabbata" which is in height and is one of the peaks Thammannakulama located in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is the Largest Town in the Anuradhapura City Sri Lankan place name etymology is characterized by the linguistic and ethnic diversity of the island of Sri Lanka through the ages and the position of the country in the centre W. : The Sacred City of Anuradhapura, Reprint. New Delhi, Asian Educational Services, 1998.
- Nissanka, H. S. S. : Maha Bodhi Tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka : The Oldest Historical Tree in the World, New Delhi 1996, (Reprint. Vikas)
- R. A. E. Coningham. : The Origins of the Brahmi Script Reconsidered: The New Evidence from Anuradhapura, Minerva 8(2): 27-31, 1995.
- R. A. E. Coningham. : Anuradhapura Citadel Archaeological Project: Preliminary Results of a Season of Geophysical Survey. South Asian Studies 10: 179-188, 1994.
- A. Seneviratne. : Ancient Anuradhapura The Monastic City, Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. p. 310, 1994.
- S. M. Burrows, The Buried Cities of Ceylon - A Guide Book to Anuradhapura and Polonaruwa Reprint, p. 120, 1999.
External links
- Full text of the Mahavamsa, Chap.X
- The Sacred City of Anuradhapura
- UNESCO World Heritage List - Sacred City of Anuradhapura
- Anuradhapura
- The Official Website of the Ancient Tantirimale Viharaya
- Official website of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board
- Anuradhapura in AsiaExplorers
- List of traditional names for cities in the North and East
 Sri Lankan Cities |
Sri Lankan cities |
|---|---|
| Colombo (Commercial Capital) | Sri Jayewardenapura (National Capital) | Anuradhapura | Trincomalee | Jaffna | Kandy | Polonnaruwa | Galle | Batticaloa | Boralesgamuwa | Nuwara Eliya | Negombo | Kurunegala | Badulla | Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia | Moratuwa | Matara | Maharagama | Ratnapura |
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic