ANURADAPURA KINGDOM

Anuradhapura Kingdom

This is a world famous kingdom because of its well designed sanitary systems, gardens, temples and this kingdom was the capital of tha country for centuries.

King Pandukabhaya - From 437 BC to 367 BC

King Pandukabhaya who was mentioned in Thammanna Kingdom is Unmada Chithra's son. He could take the throne from his uncles and got all the tribes and royalists under his throne. He built the first reservoir called "Abhayavapi" and shrines for "Chithraraja" and "Kalawela" who were his protectors. He was married to the princess "Swarnapali", his sister in low and ruled the country for great 70 years.

Then his son King "Mutasiwa" becomes the ruler of the country and he rules the country for peaceful 60 years (367 BC - 307 BC ). Well known "Mahamewna Uyana" is an initiative of King "Mutasiwa". Next king was Mutasiwa's son "Dewanampiyatissa".

King Dewanampiyatissa - From 307 BC to 267 BC

This is the greatest time period in Sri Lanka's history because of the arrival of Buddhism. He had an early friendship with King "Ashoka" who ruled a province in India, and king Ashoka sent Buddhism to SriLanka as a gift. For this purpose he sent his son "Mahinda" thera and another five monks called "Ittiya" "Uththiya" "Sambala" "Baddhasala" and "Sumana" samanera.

According to "Mahavansa" story, King "Dewanampiyatissa" was out for hunting and he has met Mahinda thera and others near "Mhintale". Then the king and his followers have been converted to Buddhism.

"Mihintale"

The location of Mahinda thera's arrival

After the conversion to Buddhism, lots of temples, dageba's were built. The first dageba of the country is "Thuparamaya" which was built by king Dewanampiyatissa enshrined Lord Buddha's collarbone. Another temple constructed by him is the ancient temple "Isuruminiya".

    

The next important incident is the arrival of "Sri Maha Bodhiya" which is a sapling from the original Bodhi tree under which Lord Buddha became enlightened.

It was brought by Theri "Sangamiththa", daughter of King Ashoka from India and it was planted in 288 BC, in Anuradhapura by king Dewanampiyatissa. It is the known oldest tree in the world.

Sub Kingdom - Magama