Ruwanweliseya stupa is located in Anuradhapura. This is one of the main pilgrimages of Buddhists in Sri Lanka. This is a stupa. It is hemispherical in shape. White washed Ruwanweliseya stupa is one of the most distant sights in Anuradhapura.
This is a beautiful and calm place. However, crowded in Poya days and weekends. Ruwanweliseya stupa is historically important to the world. It is the most worshipful stupa in Sri Lanka. Other names of this sacred place are “Mahaseya”, “Rathnamali stupa”, “Swarnamali Stupa” and “Maha Stupa”. Most of the visitors who visit Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree also visit here.
History of Ruwanweliseya Stupa
King Dutugemunu of Sri Lanka created Ruwanweliseya stupa. Dutugemunu is a famous ancient king who united Sri Lanka once in her history. Further, he took many actions to protect the Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Constructing Ruwanweliseya stupa is one of the best.
Ruwanweliseya stupa is created in 140 B.C. However, it became a ruined structure during the history. This great place found again in 19th century. The stupa again recreated to it’s same size and shape in 1940.
Buddhists believe that sacred relics of Lord Buddha housed here. Moreover, Ruwanweliseya stupa is 103m high and has a circumstance of 290m.
History says that the original stupa, which created by King Dutugemunu, was only 55m in height. However, after that many kings renovated this great structure.
Arhat Buddhist monks supervised construction of Ruwanweliseya stupa. According to the history, Ruwanweliseya sunk 7 times during the construction. King Dutugemunu worried on this. But the Buddhist monks told him it was sunken because the basement should strong enough to hold this amazing structure. He believed it and started constructions again.
However, the king could not live until the completion of the stupa. King Dutugemunu was went to die. He said his younger brother; he needs to see the complete construction before his death. King’s brother tried hard but he could not complete the structure before the king’s death.
Therefore he covered the stupa by white clothes seems like completed and bring the king to the site with the bed he laid. Finally, he shows his elder brother king Dutugemunu, as he completed the stupa. King was happy and died on the site.
Buddhists believes king Dutugemunu has reborn as a god.
Importance of Ruwanweliseya for Buddhists
Buddhists believe that, large number of Lord Buddha’s Sacred Relics housed inside the Ruwanweliseya. Further, this is the largest Lord Buddha’s Sacred Relic store of the world. Buddhist people also believe that, all of the Lord Buddha’s Sacred Relics get together to Ruwanweliseya at the end of the world. Then make a figure of Buddha on the top of the stupa and attend to Nibbana.
Related reading:
Ancient statue of king Dutugemunu
