The Ruwanweliseya, an architecturalmarvel
The Ruwanweliseya is a stupa in Sri Lanka considered a marvel for its
architectural qualities. It is sacred to Buddhists all over the world.
 It
was built by King Dutugemunu who united the island after defeating the
Chola King Elara. It is also known as Mahathupa, Swarnamali Chaitya,
Suvarnamali Mahaceti (in Pali) and Rathnamali Dagaba.
This is one of the Solosmasthana (the 16 places of veneration) and
the Atamasthana (the eight places of veneration in the ancient sacred
city of Anuradhapura). The stupa is one of the world's tallest
monuments, standing at 338 feet (103 m) and with a circumference of 950
ft (290 m).
Buddha's relic
After the Buddha's Parinibbana, His relics were enshrined and
worshipped in stupas by Princes of eight countries two quarts in each
country. The two quarts of relics that were enshrined in the village
according to the Buddha's determination, destined to be enshrined in the
Great Stupa Ruvanveli. King Dutugemunu who, on the full-moon day of the
months of June-July, under the constellation of Uttarëha, would
officiate in the ceremony for the enshrining of the relics in the Great
Stupa, worshipped the Sangha (Order of Bhikkhus) on the day before the
full-moon day, reminded them that the following day was the appointed
day for the enshrining of the relics and requested them to give him the
relics. The Sangha ordered the novice Arahat Soõuttara, who was gifted
with the six supernormal faculties, to bring the relics, which Arahat
Soõuttara manages to bring and offer to the Sangha.
Then King Dutugemunu received from the Sangha the Buddha's relics
upon his head in a casket and departed from the golden pavilion in the
midst of manifold offerings and honours made by gods and Brahmas.
He circumambulated the relic-chamber three times, entered it from the
east, and when laid the relic-casket on a silver couch one koñi worth,
that was arranged in the north side. An image of the Buddha was then,
according to the Buddha's determination, created in the lion's reclining
posture (Phaseyya), and all the relics were enshrined within that image.
When the enshrining of the relics in the Great Stupa Ruvanveli was
completed, the two novices Uttara and Sumana closed the relic-chamber
with the stone-blocks that were previously hidden to be used as a lid.
In the Thupavamsa numerous types of beings attended the enshrinement
of the relics into the Mahathupa; including the Naga king Mahakala who
until recently guarded them. The relics were to be placed atop a golden
throne crafted by Visvakarman the divine artificer; the throne brought
by Indra.
Brahma offers his invisible umbrella of sovereignty, with the king
Dutthagamani offering his own. The Arahat Indagutta creates a metal
canopy over the universe, so that Mara will not interfere, as Bhikkhus
chanted the sutra pitaka. Dutthagamani ceremoniously enters with the urn
atop his head; but as he is about to place the urn on the golden throne,
the relics rise into the air and form the Buddha, with each of the 32
major signs and 8 lesser signs of a great man. In this form he performs
the twin miracle of fire and water, fulfilling the fifth of his death
bed resolutions. One hundred and twenty million gods and humans gain
arhatship from this experience.
The relics returned to the urn and they were laid to rest and the
chamber sealed with 40 metre stone slabs.
"The relic-chamber shall not shake even by an earthquake; flowers
such as jasmine that were offered on that day shall not wither till the
end of Buddha Gotama's Dispensation; the lamps that were kindled with
ghee-oil shall not be extinguished; the clay that was mixed with perfume
and sandalwood shall not dry; even a single scratch shall not appear
within the relic-chamber; stains shall not appear in any of the golden
goods that were offered.
All this occurred by the determination-power of all Arahants present.
They determined also that inimical persons should not to even see the
relic-chamber. Furthermore, by order of king Dutugemunu, the people of
Sri Lanka enshrined, along with many other objects such as golden and
silver caskets, thousand more of the Buddha's relics over the
relic-chamber."
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