Mirisaveti Stupa
Sri Lanka
On the seventh day of the re-establishment of Anuradhapura as the Capital of Lanka after defeating Elara, the Indian invader who ruled Anuradhapura for 55 years, the King proceeded to the Tissa Wewa followed by a state retinue to celebrate an aquatic festival maintaining a custom observed by his predecessors.Kings attire and his imperial sceptre (kunta) which had a scared relic of Buddha inside, was kept at a place close the Tissa Wewa. When he returned to his surprise the sceptre was it was stuck to the ground and no one could retrieve it. So the king seeing this miracle decided to erect a stupa on that spot to enshrine the sceptre itself.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Mirisaveti Stupa
Welcome to the Mirisawetiya Stupa. As you look upon this imposing white dome, you are witnessing the very first monumental construction undertaken by King Dutugamunu, the great unifier of Sri Lanka, immediately following his…
Listen in the app2The Infallible Scepter
The core of the Mirisawetiya Stupa is defined by the legend of the scepter. The royal standard was the ultimate symbol of Dutugamunu's authority, especially potent after his long, bloody campaign to unite the island under…
Listen in the app3The Masterful Vahalkadas
Walk toward any of the four cardinal points to examine the Vahalkadas, or frontispieces. These stone structures projecting from the dome are the artistic highlights of Mirisawetiya. …
Listen in the app4The Monastic Ruins
Turn your back to the stupa and look at the surrounding grounds. Mirisawetiya was not just a standalone monument; it was the center of a massive monastic complex. …
Listen in the app5The Red Brick Restorations
Look up at the dome. You will notice areas where the white plaster has weathered away, exposing the red kilned bricks beneath. …
Listen in the app6The Elephant Tethering Posts
As you walk the sandy courtyard, keep an eye out for massive, rough-hewn stone posts firmly embedded in the ground, some with holes bored through them. These are widely believed to be ancient elephant tethering posts. …
Listen in the app7The Sand Court and Devotion
Observe the wide, sandy courtyard (the Maluwa) surrounding the stupa platform. This sand is deliberately maintained. …
Listen in the app8Mirisaveti Stupa
As we conclude our visit to Mirisawetiya, we reflect on a monument born from a fascinating mix of imperial triumph and personal guilt. King Dutugamunu built this massive structure not just to house a relic, but to atone for a…
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What is Mirisaveti Stupa?
Mirisaveti Stupa is a place in Sri Lanka with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 8.3350, 80.4106 |
| Last updated |
