Jetavanaramaya
Encyclopedia
The Jetavanaramaya is a stupa
, located in the ruins of Jetavana Monastery in the sacred world heritage city of Anuradhapura
, Sri Lanka
. King Mahasena
(273-301 AD) initiated the construction of the stupa following the destruction of Mahavihara
, his son Maghavanna Ithe construction of the stupa. A part of a sash or belt tied by the Buddha
is believed to be the relic that is enshrined here.
The structure is significant in the island's history for it represents the tensions within the Theravada
and Mahayana
sects of Buddhist monks, it is also significant in world history as one of the tallest structures in the ancient world. The height of the stupa is 400 feet (122 m) and was the tallest ancient stupa in the world, the structure is no longer the tallest however it is the largest with a volume of 233000 square metre. At the time of its completion the structure was the third tallest structure in the world behind the Great Pyramids of Giza. Approximately 93.3 million baked bricks were used in its construction; the engineering ingenuity behind the construction of the structure is a significant development in the history of the island. The sectarian differences between the Buddhist monks also are represented by the stupa as it was built on the premises of the destroyed Mahavihara
, which led to a rebellion by a minister of king Mahasena
.
This stupa belongs to the Sagalika sect. The compound covers approximately 5.6 hectares and is estimated to have housed 10,000 Buddhist monks. One side of the stupa is 576 ft (176 m) long, and the flights of stairs at each of the four sides of it are 28 ft (9 m) wide. The doorpost to the shrine, which is situated in the courtyard, is 27 ft (8 m) high. The stupa has a 8.5 m (28 ft) deep foundation, and sits on bedrock. Stone inscriptions in the courtyard give the names of people who donated to the building effort.
was consecrated as king by monk Sanghamitta, under the monk's influence king Mahasena brought about a campaign against orthodox Theravadins
dwelling in Mahavihara
. The differences between the orthodox Theravadins
and heterodox Mahayanists
escalated to an extent to which a penalty was established to any person providing alms (food) to monks dwelling in Mahavihara. The Mahavamsa
quotes Sanghamitta: `The dwellers in the Mahavihara do not teach the (true) vinaya, we are those who teach the (true) vinaya, O king',.
The Mahavihara was eventually abandoned. The monks dwelling at the premises moved to Malaya
and Ruhuna
, this followed by the pillaging of Mahavihara by Snaghamitta and minister Sona, all valuable were transferred to Abhayagiri
vihara. The pillaging prompted a rebellion by minister Meghavannabhaya, the minister raised an army from Malaya
and set camp by the Duratissaka tank. King Mahasena marches an army to meet minister Meghavannabhaya, where negotiations ensue the night before the battle and the king apologizes for the pillaging and agrees to build a vihara at the grounds of Mahavihara, the Mahavamsa quotes the king: I will make the vihara to be dwelt in yet again; forgive me my fault,. Sanghamitta was assassinated by a labourer on the instructions of a wife of the king, following his demise and the construction of parivena by Meghavannabhaya marked the return of monks to the site of Mahavihara.
Thus the construction of Jetavanaramaya began and offered to the monk Tissa, but the monk was accused of a grave offence upon investigation and proof by a minister, monk Tissa was disrobed and expelled from the order. The dakkinagiri monks were then entrusted with the premises of Jetavana Vihara.
Finely crushed dolomite lime stone, sieved sand and clay provided the bonding material for the bricks, the clay employed was pliable and thus accommodates movement within the structure. One of the sides of the brick was roughened to trap the bonding slurry thus limiting lateral movement. The stupa was then covered with lime plaster, the plaster used contained seashells, sugar syrup, egg whites, coconut water, glues, oils, plant resin, sand, clay and pebbles the plaster also provided water proofing for the structure. the Mahavamsa also mentions the use of copper sheets over the foundation and arsenic dissolved sesame oil to prevent insect and plant intrusions inside the stupa. It is estimated that Jetavanaramaya took 15 years to complete and would have required a skillful workforce of hundreds, including brick makers and masons.
. A pasada constructed by king Sena I was destroyed by fire, king Agghabodhi VI constructed and added a new pasada.Chola invaders during the reign of king Udaya IV destroyed the gold images of Buddha by king Sena, repairs were completed by king Mahendra IV.
Juma, a Sri Lankan merchant, presented king Silakala with a Mahayana
book Dhammadatu brought from Benares, king Silakala held a festival annually in celebration of Dhammadatu. Monks of Mahavihara has boycotted the festivals citing the Mahayana origins of the book, but was later persuaded by Abhayagiri monks to participate in the festivities. The leadership of the Mahavihara was later accepted during the reign of king Aggabodhi I, following the defeat of a public debate between the monks.
committee. The approval was subsequently canceled as the monk decided to settle down, Palannaruwe Sobita therto sought and received permission to continue clearing the premises but approval was once again canceled when the monk initiated the collection of contributions. However the monk refused to leave, following the legal procedures which ensued the monk was forced to leave.
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
, located in the ruins of Jetavana Monastery in the sacred world heritage city of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura Kingdom
The Anuradhapura Kingdom , named for its capital city, was the first established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka. Founded by King Pandukabhaya in 377 BC, the kingdom's authority extended throughout the country, although several independent areas emerged from time to time, which grew more numerous...
, 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 Mahasena
Mahasena
*Mahasena, A Hindu deity known from Kushana and other coins and inscriptions*Mahasena, A historical king of Sri Lanka who ruled from 275 to 301 CE.*Mahasena, A legendary king of Sri Lanka, who legend says ruled Sri Lanka while Buddha visited the island....
(273-301 AD) initiated the construction of the stupa following the destruction of Mahavihara
Mahavihara
The Mahavihara was for several centuries the center of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was founded by king Devanampiya Tissa in his capital Anuradhapura. The Mahavihara was the place where Theravadin orthodoxy was established by monks such as Buddhaghosa...
, his son Maghavanna Ithe construction of the stupa. A part of a sash or belt tied by the Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
is believed to be the relic that is enshrined here.
The structure is significant in the island's history for it represents the tensions within the Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
and Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
sects of Buddhist monks, it is also significant in world history as one of the tallest structures in the ancient world. The height of the stupa is 400 feet (122 m) and was the tallest ancient stupa in the world, the structure is no longer the tallest however it is the largest with a volume of 233000 square metre. At the time of its completion the structure was the third tallest structure in the world behind the Great Pyramids of Giza. Approximately 93.3 million baked bricks were used in its construction; the engineering ingenuity behind the construction of the structure is a significant development in the history of the island. The sectarian differences between the Buddhist monks also are represented by the stupa as it was built on the premises of the destroyed Mahavihara
Mahavihara
The Mahavihara was for several centuries the center of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was founded by king Devanampiya Tissa in his capital Anuradhapura. The Mahavihara was the place where Theravadin orthodoxy was established by monks such as Buddhaghosa...
, which led to a rebellion by a minister of king Mahasena
Mahasena
*Mahasena, A Hindu deity known from Kushana and other coins and inscriptions*Mahasena, A historical king of Sri Lanka who ruled from 275 to 301 CE.*Mahasena, A legendary king of Sri Lanka, who legend says ruled Sri Lanka while Buddha visited the island....
.
This stupa belongs to the Sagalika sect. The compound covers approximately 5.6 hectares and is estimated to have housed 10,000 Buddhist monks. One side of the stupa is 576 ft (176 m) long, and the flights of stairs at each of the four sides of it are 28 ft (9 m) wide. The doorpost to the shrine, which is situated in the courtyard, is 27 ft (8 m) high. The stupa has a 8.5 m (28 ft) deep foundation, and sits on bedrock. Stone inscriptions in the courtyard give the names of people who donated to the building effort.
Conception
Following king Jettha Tissa's death his brother MahasenaMahasena
*Mahasena, A Hindu deity known from Kushana and other coins and inscriptions*Mahasena, A historical king of Sri Lanka who ruled from 275 to 301 CE.*Mahasena, A legendary king of Sri Lanka, who legend says ruled Sri Lanka while Buddha visited the island....
was consecrated as king by monk Sanghamitta, under the monk's influence king Mahasena brought about a campaign against orthodox Theravadins
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
dwelling in Mahavihara
Mahavihara
The Mahavihara was for several centuries the center of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was founded by king Devanampiya Tissa in his capital Anuradhapura. The Mahavihara was the place where Theravadin orthodoxy was established by monks such as Buddhaghosa...
. The differences between the orthodox Theravadins
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
and heterodox Mahayanists
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
escalated to an extent to which a penalty was established to any person providing alms (food) to monks dwelling in Mahavihara. The Mahavamsa
Mahavamsa
The Mahavamsa is a historical poem written in the Pali language, of the kings of Sri Lanka...
quotes Sanghamitta: `The dwellers in the Mahavihara do not teach the (true) vinaya, we are those who teach the (true) vinaya, O king',.
The Mahavihara was eventually abandoned. The monks dwelling at the premises moved to Malaya
Malaya Rata
Malaya Rata is the mountain areas of central Sri Lanka. History says, Malaya Rata was ruled by local kings or nobles under the guidance of the kings of Anuradapura.- See also :* Provinces of Sri Lanka* History of Sri Lanka...
and Ruhuna
Ruhuna
Ruhuna is a region of southern Sri Lanka. It was the centre of a flourishing civilization and the cultural and economic centres of ancient Sri Lanka, Magama, Tissamaharama and Mahanagakula , were established here....
, this followed by the pillaging of Mahavihara by Snaghamitta and minister Sona, all valuable were transferred to Abhayagiri
Abhayagiri Dagaba
Abhayagiri vihāra is situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most extensive ruins in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage cities in the nation. Historically it was a great monastic centre as well as a royal capital, with magnificent monasteries rising to many...
vihara. The pillaging prompted a rebellion by minister Meghavannabhaya, the minister raised an army from Malaya
Malaya Rata
Malaya Rata is the mountain areas of central Sri Lanka. History says, Malaya Rata was ruled by local kings or nobles under the guidance of the kings of Anuradapura.- See also :* Provinces of Sri Lanka* History of Sri Lanka...
and set camp by the Duratissaka tank. King Mahasena marches an army to meet minister Meghavannabhaya, where negotiations ensue the night before the battle and the king apologizes for the pillaging and agrees to build a vihara at the grounds of Mahavihara, the Mahavamsa quotes the king: I will make the vihara to be dwelt in yet again; forgive me my fault,. Sanghamitta was assassinated by a labourer on the instructions of a wife of the king, following his demise and the construction of parivena by Meghavannabhaya marked the return of monks to the site of Mahavihara.
Thus the construction of Jetavanaramaya began and offered to the monk Tissa, but the monk was accused of a grave offence upon investigation and proof by a minister, monk Tissa was disrobed and expelled from the order. The dakkinagiri monks were then entrusted with the premises of Jetavana Vihara.
Design and Construction
As the largest ancient stupa constructed and one of the tallest ancient structures in the world, the structural ingenuity and engineering skills employed for the construction are significant. The foundations of the structure were 8.5m deep and the size of the structure required bricks which could withstand loads of up to 166 kg. The solid foundation lay on bed-rock and the dome was constructed of full and half bricks and earth fill, the unique shape of a perfect ellipsoid allowed for stress and thus allowed the construction of the large structure. The Mahavamsa describes the foundation laying, where fissures were filled with stones and stamped down by elephants whose feet were bound with leather. The bricks used for the construction were a significant development of ancient Sri Lankan engineering, the bricks used for Jetavanaramaya had a composition of 60 percent fine sand and 35 percent clay , the bricks could withstand 281 kg/in2. Linear elastic finite element analysis under self weight produced a maximum compressive stress of 839 kPa at the bottom centre, thus the maximum stress in the dome is ten times less than what the bricks could withstand.Finely crushed dolomite lime stone, sieved sand and clay provided the bonding material for the bricks, the clay employed was pliable and thus accommodates movement within the structure. One of the sides of the brick was roughened to trap the bonding slurry thus limiting lateral movement. The stupa was then covered with lime plaster, the plaster used contained seashells, sugar syrup, egg whites, coconut water, glues, oils, plant resin, sand, clay and pebbles the plaster also provided water proofing for the structure. the Mahavamsa also mentions the use of copper sheets over the foundation and arsenic dissolved sesame oil to prevent insect and plant intrusions inside the stupa. It is estimated that Jetavanaramaya took 15 years to complete and would have required a skillful workforce of hundreds, including brick makers and masons.
Late History
The Jetavanaramaya was under the monks of the Sagalika sect, the Sagalica sect was closely linked with the Abhyagiri viharaya, towards the end of the Anuradhapura period Jetavana had developed into one of the three fraternities of the island along with Mahavihara and Abhyagiriya. The fraternities were united during the reign of king Parakramabahu IParâkramabâhu I
Parākramabāhu I was king of Sri Lanka from 1153 to 1186. During his reign from his capital Polonnaruwa, he unified the three sub kingdoms of the island, becoming one of the last monarchs in Sri Lankan history to do so...
. A pasada constructed by king Sena I was destroyed by fire, king Agghabodhi VI constructed and added a new pasada.Chola invaders during the reign of king Udaya IV destroyed the gold images of Buddha by king Sena, repairs were completed by king Mahendra IV.
Juma, a Sri Lankan merchant, presented king Silakala with a Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
book Dhammadatu brought from Benares, king Silakala held a festival annually in celebration of Dhammadatu. Monks of Mahavihara has boycotted the festivals citing the Mahayana origins of the book, but was later persuaded by Abhayagiri monks to participate in the festivities. The leadership of the Mahavihara was later accepted during the reign of king Aggabodhi I, following the defeat of a public debate between the monks.
Conservation
Until 1909 the colossal structure was covered with shrub jungle, monk Kumbuke Dhammarama of Sailabimbaramaya temple of Gammanpita received approval to clear the stupa and the court from the AtamasthanaAtamasthana
Atamasthana or Eight sacred places are a series of locations in Sri Lanka where the Buddha had visited during his three visits to the country. The sacred places are known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa and...
committee. The approval was subsequently canceled as the monk decided to settle down, Palannaruwe Sobita therto sought and received permission to continue clearing the premises but approval was once again canceled when the monk initiated the collection of contributions. However the monk refused to leave, following the legal procedures which ensued the monk was forced to leave.
See also
- Ancient stupas of Sri LankaAncient Stupas of Sri LankaThe stupa is considered an outstanding type of architectural creation of ancient Sri Lanka. Under the influence of Buddhism there occurred several changes in the field of architecture in Sri Lanka. The stupa commands a prominent place among these changes...
- List of tallest structures built before the 20th century
- Timeline of three tallest structures in the worldTimeline of three tallest structures in the worldThis is the timeline of the 3 highest man-made structures in the world that have the strength to carry more than their own weight.- Overview :...
- Ancient Constructions of Sri LankaAncient Constructions of Sri LankaThe Ancient Sinhalese excelled in the construction of tanks or reservoirs, dagobas and palaces, as evident from the ruins which displays a rich variety of Architectural forms.-Irrigation Works:...
- Architecture of ancient Sri LankaArchitecture of ancient Sri LankaThe architecture of ancient Sri Lanka displays a rich variety of architectural forms and styles, varying in style and form from the Anuradhapura Kingdom to the Kingdom of Kandy. Ancient Sri Lankan architecture mainly grew around religion, styles of Buddhist monasteries were in excess of 25...
- Architecture of Sri LankaArchitecture of Sri LankaThe architecture of Sri Lanka displays a rich variety of architectural forms and styles. Buddhism had a significant influence on Sri Lankan architecture, since it was introduced to the island in 3rd Century BC...
- RuwanwelisayaRuwanwelisayaThe Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Sri Lanka, considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world. It was built by King Dutugemunu, who became lord of all Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elara, was defeated...
- AtamasthanaAtamasthanaAtamasthana or Eight sacred places are a series of locations in Sri Lanka where the Buddha had visited during his three visits to the country. The sacred places are known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa and...
- Mahawamsa