DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0218
Chap. VIII.
ANURADHAPDRA.
I!).".
procession-paths, and that their walls were sculptured, both inside
and outside, with an amount of stone decoration which none of these
Ceylonese topes could display, even in painting, by any arrangement
we can now understand.
There is still another—the Saila dagoba—within the limits of the
city, but so ruined that its architectural features are undistinguisliable,
though tradition would lead us to suppose it was the oldest in the
place, belonging to a period even anterior to Sakya Muni. The spot
at all events is said to have been hallowed by the presence of Kasyapa,
the preceding Buddha.
Besides these, there are on the hill of Mehentele, a few miles to
the north-east of the city, two important relic-shrines: one of the first
class, erected on its summit to cover a hair that grew on the forehead
of Buddha over his left eyebrow. The other, on a shoulder of the hill
immediately below this, is of the same class as the Thuparamaya; a
small central building surrounded by concentric rows of granite pillars,
which, as appears to have been usual when this mode of decoration
was employed, rose to half the height of the central mound
There are, in addition to these, a great number of topes of various
sorts scattered over the plain, but whether any of them are particularly
interesting, either from their architecture or their history, has not been
ascertained, nor will it be till the place is far more carefully surveyed
than it has yet been.
There is another ruin at Anuradhapura, which, if a little more
perfect, would be even more interesting than those topes. It goes
by the name of the Lowa Maha Paya, or Great Brazen Monaster}'.
We have a full account in the 'Mahawanso' of its erection by the pious
king Duttagaimuni (b.c. 161),1 according to a plan procured from
heaven for the purpose—as well as a history of its subsequent destruc-
tion and rebuildings.
When first erected it is said to have been 100 cubits or 225 ft.
square, and as high as it was broad; the height was divided into nine
storeys, each containing 100 cells for priests, besides halls and other
indispensable apartments. Nearly 200 years after its erection (a.d.
30) it required considerable repairs, but the first great disaster occurred
in the reign of Mahasena, a.d. 285, who is said to have destroyed it
utterly.2 It was re-erected by his son, but with only five storeys
instead of nine; and it never after this regained its pristine magnifi-
cence, but gradually fell into decay even before the seat of govern-
ment was removed to Pollonarua. Since that time it has been
completely deserted, and all that now remains are the 1600 pillars
which once supported it. These generally consist of unhewn blocks of
granite about 12 ft, high ; some of the central ones are sculptured, and
1 ' MahiiwaDso,' Tumour's translation, p. 163.
1 Loc. cit., p. 23S.
o 2
ANURADHAPDRA.
I!).".
procession-paths, and that their walls were sculptured, both inside
and outside, with an amount of stone decoration which none of these
Ceylonese topes could display, even in painting, by any arrangement
we can now understand.
There is still another—the Saila dagoba—within the limits of the
city, but so ruined that its architectural features are undistinguisliable,
though tradition would lead us to suppose it was the oldest in the
place, belonging to a period even anterior to Sakya Muni. The spot
at all events is said to have been hallowed by the presence of Kasyapa,
the preceding Buddha.
Besides these, there are on the hill of Mehentele, a few miles to
the north-east of the city, two important relic-shrines: one of the first
class, erected on its summit to cover a hair that grew on the forehead
of Buddha over his left eyebrow. The other, on a shoulder of the hill
immediately below this, is of the same class as the Thuparamaya; a
small central building surrounded by concentric rows of granite pillars,
which, as appears to have been usual when this mode of decoration
was employed, rose to half the height of the central mound
There are, in addition to these, a great number of topes of various
sorts scattered over the plain, but whether any of them are particularly
interesting, either from their architecture or their history, has not been
ascertained, nor will it be till the place is far more carefully surveyed
than it has yet been.
There is another ruin at Anuradhapura, which, if a little more
perfect, would be even more interesting than those topes. It goes
by the name of the Lowa Maha Paya, or Great Brazen Monaster}'.
We have a full account in the 'Mahawanso' of its erection by the pious
king Duttagaimuni (b.c. 161),1 according to a plan procured from
heaven for the purpose—as well as a history of its subsequent destruc-
tion and rebuildings.
When first erected it is said to have been 100 cubits or 225 ft.
square, and as high as it was broad; the height was divided into nine
storeys, each containing 100 cells for priests, besides halls and other
indispensable apartments. Nearly 200 years after its erection (a.d.
30) it required considerable repairs, but the first great disaster occurred
in the reign of Mahasena, a.d. 285, who is said to have destroyed it
utterly.2 It was re-erected by his son, but with only five storeys
instead of nine; and it never after this regained its pristine magnifi-
cence, but gradually fell into decay even before the seat of govern-
ment was removed to Pollonarua. Since that time it has been
completely deserted, and all that now remains are the 1600 pillars
which once supported it. These generally consist of unhewn blocks of
granite about 12 ft, high ; some of the central ones are sculptured, and
1 ' MahiiwaDso,' Tumour's translation, p. 163.
1 Loc. cit., p. 23S.
o 2