Dakkhina Stupa
Encyclopedia
Dakkhina Stupa also called Dakkhina Tupa is a 2nd century BC stupa
built over the cremated ashes of King Dutugemunu. The Bhikkhus of the Sagalika sect resided here. It was constructed by Uttiya, a Minister of King Valagamba, in the Ancient Sacred city of Anuradhapura
, Sri Lanka
. King Kanittha Tissa had build an alms hall, King Gottabhaya built an uposathagaraya, where the bhikkhis assembled for the ceremony of confession, while King Agbo I constructed a large building. Human bones collected at the site were sent to France for scientific analysis, which revealed that these did belong to King Dutugemunu.
For sometime by an error Dakkhina Stupa was considered the monumental tomb, King Dutugemunu had built for King Elara
, after defeating him in battle. Already in the mid-19th century it was clear that this stupa was not Elara's tomb. James Fergusson
, the renowned Scottish architect and writer, who studied and traced the history of Eastern Architecture, wrote in his book, History of Indian and Eastern Architecture, published in 1876, that this stupa was the Dakkina Stupa, and not the tomb of Elara. Although present day Tamils in Sri Lanka, do not have any links to Elara, who was a Tamil from the Chola country
, Tamil nationalists started using Elara as a historical basis/link to legitimize and authenticate their claims to a long historical presence in the island.
The Sinhalese and the archeological department of Sri Lanka, have been accused of renaming the stupa, while it was already an established fact, under the British rule, at least by 1876, that the stupa was not the tomb of Elara.
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
built over the cremated ashes of King Dutugemunu. The Bhikkhus of the Sagalika sect resided here. It was constructed by Uttiya, a Minister of King Valagamba, in the Ancient Sacred city of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.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...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. King Kanittha Tissa had build an alms hall, King Gottabhaya built an uposathagaraya, where the bhikkhis assembled for the ceremony of confession, while King Agbo I constructed a large building. Human bones collected at the site were sent to France for scientific analysis, which revealed that these did belong to King Dutugemunu.
For sometime by an error Dakkhina Stupa was considered the monumental tomb, King Dutugemunu had built for King Elara
Elara
Elara may refer to one of the following:*Elara , a moon of Jupiter*Elara , the mother of Tityas in Greek mythology*Elara , an ancient Sri Lankan king...
, after defeating him in battle. Already in the mid-19th century it was clear that this stupa was not Elara's tomb. James Fergusson
James Fergusson (architect)
James Fergusson , was a Scottish writer on architecture.-Life:Fergusson was born at Ayr, the son of William Fergusson an army surgeon. After being educated first at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, and then at a private school in Hounslow, he went to Calcutta as a partner in a mercantile house...
, the renowned Scottish architect and writer, who studied and traced the history of Eastern Architecture, wrote in his book, History of Indian and Eastern Architecture, published in 1876, that this stupa was the Dakkina Stupa, and not the tomb of Elara. Although present day Tamils in Sri Lanka, do not have any links to Elara, who was a Tamil from the Chola country
Chola Kingdom
Chola was a powerful southern kingdom. They were mentioned in both great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. They were believed to have some link with the Sivi or Sibi clan, situated along with the Sindhu Sauviras. In the time of recorded history, Chola kingdom grew into a powerful empire...
, Tamil nationalists started using Elara as a historical basis/link to legitimize and authenticate their claims to a long historical presence in the island.
The Sinhalese and the archeological department of Sri Lanka, have been accused of renaming the stupa, while it was already an established fact, under the British rule, at least by 1876, that the stupa was not the tomb of Elara.