Thuparama: Lanka’s first dagoba adorns Anuradhapura

Situated in the heart of Anuradhapura, Thuparama is considered as the first dagoba built in Sri Lanka after the introduction of Buddhism. Arhath Mahinda, an envoy sent by King Asoka introduced Buddhism to the country during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa.

The king who met Arhath Mahinda at Mihintale was the first to embrace Buddhism. Under the patronage of the thera the king built the stupa in the 3rd century BC enshrining the collarbone of the Buddha.

He named the stupa ‘Thuparama’, the residential complex of monks. It is believed to be the residential complex of Maha Vihara, for Bhikkhunis. Earlier it was called Sangarama and later the name was changed to Thuparama because of the stupa.

[Left]: Guardstone at the entrance and [Right]: Decorated stone box

According to Mahawamsa, Thuparama was the first stupa to be built after the advent of Buddhism.

The stupa depicts dhanyagara (a grain storage). Thuparama belongs to one of the main five temples of Anuradhapura.

The king enshrined the sacred relic of the Buddha inside the stupa with great respect. The location of the stupa was where the Buddha had spent a few minutes in Samadhi pose during one of his visits to Sri Lanka.

The sacred relic of the Buddha was enshrined in a Dhathu Garba and was carried to the place of the Stupa by the royal tusker in a fabulous procession. The Basawakkulama tank supplied soil to build Thuparama and the king ordered the people to manufacture bricks by themselves. According to legend, the earth had shaken at the ceremony held to place the sacred relics. The king and the royal family members had provided many valuable items to be enshrined in the Dhathu Garba.

During an invasion of the Pandyans looted Thuparama and in 840 but king Sena II repaired it.

King Udaya II also decorated the stupa using gold and silver stripes and fixed a door to Thupagara. The Cholas invaded Thuparama again but king Parakramabahu I re-constructed both the stupa and the bodhigara.

At a glance Thuparama differs from other stupas. The stone pillars or the columns around the stupa were a part of the colonnade or the Vatadage that supported a roof, which covered the sacred edifice. Archaeologists believe that the wooden roof had been destroyed over time.

At the entrance of the Thuparama, there is a beautifully carved stone box. However, the purpose of that box remains a mystery.