Mahavihara of Anuradhapura, Buddhist monastery in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
The Mahavihara of Anuradhapura is a large monastery complex in northern Sri Lanka, made up of stupas, temples, meditation halls, and ancient ponds spread across a broad area. The structures are mostly stone and are arranged around courtyards and footpaths that link the different sacred sites within the grounds.
The monastery was founded in the 3rd century BCE under King Devanampiya Tissa, shortly after Buddhism was brought to Sri Lanka by a mission sent from the court of Emperor Ashoka. Over the centuries it was destroyed and rebuilt several times before the city was eventually abandoned in the medieval period.
The Mahavihara was for centuries the main center of Theravada Buddhist thought, and monks traveled from across Asia to study and copy texts here. Today, visitors can watch pilgrims in white clothing walking around the sacred sites and leaving flowers or incense as offerings.
The site covers a large area, so it is best to wear comfortable shoes that are easy to remove, as some shrines require bare feet. Visitors should also bring clothing that covers the shoulders and knees, as this is required at all religious sites within the grounds.
Within the grounds stands the Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred fig tree grown from a cutting taken from the tree under which the Buddha is said to have reached enlightenment. This tree has been tended without interruption for over 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest living trees with a documented history in the world.
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