Tissa Maha Vihara - the great stupa of the South

by Rupa BANDUWARDENA

Sakyamuni Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, after attaining Enlightenment and realising the gift of eternal truth, was mainly concerned with spreading the message of the Dhamma to humanity for the welfare and happiness of all living beings.

He had predicted that His supreme gift to the universe will be welcomed, protected and adorned in Sri Lanka. True to His vision and foresight, after the introduction of the Dhamma, this paradise isle became a Dhammadweepa.

The kingdom of Devanampiyatissa became the cradle of Buddhism and in addition to the doctrine, the associated forms of arts, sculpture and architecture reached all four corners of the island.

The royalty utilised these arts to create magnificent Buddhist structures, reflecting the proud culture of the island. They are a tribute to the rulers' devotion to the new faith.

Tissa Maha Vihara is one such creation in the deep South which displays the island's proud history and cultural heritage. Going back to its origin, the great stupa reveals the amazing historical background of Buddhist traditions, ancient chronicles and archaeological evidence and shows that it was the largest chaitya in the island at the time, built by King Kavantissa as far back as the Third Century BC, in the area known as Magama, one of the principal settlements in the region of Ruhuna.

Powerful monarch

It is traditionally credited to Kavantissa, a powerful monarch and sovereign ruler whose reign was marked by very important events. Mahanaga, the brother of King Devanampiyatissa, was appointed the sub-king (Yuwaraja) of Ruhuna.

History records that Ruhuna was a very prosperous area then. The great stupa was built by Mahanaga's grandson - King Kavantissa who is further distinguished as the father of King Dutugemunu, the national hero, the first king to liberate and unify the island.

One is reminded of Dutugemunu's mother, the charming Viharamaha Devi and the legend of the tsunami. The first recorded tsunami occurred in Kelaniya and compelled the king to send his daughter afloat to sea, to save his subjects. The ship carrying the beautiful princess landed in Magampura where she became the queen of King Kavantissa. A large statue of Queen Viharamaha Devi is found in the premises of the great stupa, reminding one of the glorious past of Ruhuna.

Splendid location

Historically, Tissamaharama's importance was as a prosperous agricultural centre. Endless acres of paddy land tell us of the ancient splendour of the area: of the hard work of the people and the performance of the royalty.

Tissa Weva, believed to be one of the earliest reservoirs, built by King Kavantissa, giving life to the green surroundings, spreads its grace as a royal construction. Everybody saw it as a city of abundance with the great stupa standing in the centre, playing a dominant role in the religious life of the ancient Sinhala peole as well as the present residents.

Unique in human history, much care has been taken to ensure the strength right round the stupa; walls of great strength and height had enclosed the chaithya. Its architecture is certainly something you wouldn't find anywhere else in the region. It bears a strong resemblance to the stupas built in Anuradhapura.

The stupa is of a massive height, and reaches up to the blue sky with clouds floating around it. This is an impressive and majestic sight. Its cone-shaped top with brick and stone architecture at the bottom could be seen from afar.

The chaitya, enshrining the Buddha's sacred relics, gives one a feeling of piety and serenity.

There had been gates on all four sides, the outer area is covered with paddy fields and there is a cool breeze blowing across. Thanks to the royal patronage in early history, today this sacred site has become a place of worship not to be missed by Lankan Buddhists.

In fact, the stupa draws pilgrims from all four corners of the island.

This is a sacred venue in which the people of the South take much pride and remains a notable ornament in Southern Lanka, possessing the most sacred Lalata Dhathu of the Buddha. There is a special Pali stanza to venerate and worship the chaitya.