Atamasthana

Atamasthana, translating to "Eight Sacred Places" in Sinhala, represents a collection of eight highly revered Buddhist sites located in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. These sites are central to Sri Lankan Buddhism, as they are believed to be locations where Gautama Buddha set foot during his legendary visits to the island. The concentration of these sacred spots in Anuradhapura underscores the city's profound historical and religious importance as a former capital and a cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

History and Significance

The ancient city of Anuradhapura, where the Atamasthana are situated, was founded around 350 BC and served as the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom for over 1,300 years. During this extensive period, it evolved into a preeminent center for Buddhist learning and practice, significantly influencing the island's architecture and religious landscape. The establishment of Buddhism in Sri Lanka is deeply intertwined with these sites, particularly the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, which is a sapling from the sacred Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The arrival of this sapling in the 3rd century BC, brought by the Buddhist nun Sangamitta, marks a pivotal moment in the island's religious history.

Major rulers played a crucial role in developing and preserving these sacred locations. King Devanampiya Tissa, for instance, built the Thuparamaya in the 3rd century BC to house a relic of the Buddha's collarbone. Later, King Dutugemunu, after defeating South Indian invaders, endowed the site with magnificent monuments such as the Ruwanwelisaya, Mirisaveti Stupa, and Lovamahapaya, re-establishing Buddhism's prominence. Despite periods of decline and abandonment following invasions, the archaeological significance and spiritual importance of Anuradhapura and its Atamasthana have led to its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

The Eight Sacred Places

The eight sites that constitute the Atamasthana are:

• Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi: A sacred fig tree, believed to be a southern branch of the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. It is considered the oldest living, human-planted tree with a known planting date.
• Ruwanwelisaya: A massive stupa, also known as Mahathupa or Swarnamali Chaitya, built by King Dutugemunu. It is renowned for its architectural grandeur.
• Thuparamaya: The first dagaba (stupa) built in Sri Lanka, constructed by King Devanampiya Tissa to enshrine the Buddha's right collarbone. It is historically significant as the earliest monument chronicled in Sri Lanka.
• Lovamahapaya: Also known as the Brazen Palace or Lohaprasadaya, this was a large monastic building with a bronze-tiled roof, built by King Dutugemunu. Only its foundation and rows of pillars remain today.
• Abhayagiri Dagaba: A prominent stupa and the centerpiece of the Abhayagiri Vihara, a major monastic center that was a hub for a sect studying both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. It was once a very extensive ruin complex.
• Jetavanaramaya: A stupa constructed by King Mahasena, believed to enshrine a part of the Buddha's sash or belt. When built, it was one of the tallest monuments in the world.
• Mirisaveti Stupa: Built by King Dutugemunu after defeating King Elara, its construction is attributed to a moment of self-punishment after realizing he had partaken in a meal without offering it to the Sangha.
• Lankarama: A stupa built by King Valagamba, which, like Thuparamaya, shows evidence of a circular Vatadage (reliquary chamber) that once encircled it.

Together, these sites form the core of Anuradhapura's sacred geography and continue to be vital pilgrimage destinations for Buddhists worldwide, preserving the legacy of the Buddha's presence and the early history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.