THUPARAMA STUPA

                             

       Thuparama Temple was the first stupa in Si Lanka.

Constructions and Significance

• Built: Thuparamaya is believed to be the first Buddhist dagoba constructed in Sri Lanka.
• Date: It dates back to the 3rd century BCE during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa.
• Purpose: The stupa was built to enshrine the right collarbone relic of Buddha, brought by Mahinda Thero, who introduced Buddhism to the island.
• Blessed Site: According to the Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka), Buddha himself blessed this location during his third visit to Kelaniya in Sri Lanka.
• Sacred Ranking: Thuparamaya is one of the Solosmasthana (Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites) and an Atamasthana .

Architectural Features

  

  

• Stupa: The stupa was initially built in the form of a paddy heap (Dhanyakara).
• Vatadage: King Vashaba later added a unique architectural feature called the Vatadage (also known as Stupaghara or Stupa House). It completely housed the stupa and had a roof supported by concentric circles of decorated stone pillars.