Ancient hospital, Mihinthale, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

A 'Beheth Oruwa' S - 'Medicine boat'. The patient was immersed in medicinal oils in this bath carved out of granite.

1. Heinz E Müller-Dietz (Historia Hospitalium 1975) describes Mihintale Hospital as being perhaps the oldest in the world.(Wikipedia).

2. Vedahala - the Hospital at the foot of the mountain at Mihintale

With the growth of the community of monks and the pious laymen, there arose the inevitable need of a hospital. The first hospital at Mihintale was founded by King Sena the second (853-887 AC) at Mihintale. The identification was based on a tenth century inscription found at the site.

Today, the ruins of a hospital with its layout restored can be seen at the entrance to the site of Mihintale. At the entrance to the hospital is the outer courtyard that consists of four rooms: consulting room; room for preparation and storage of medicine; room for hot water baths. At the end of the outer courtyard, to the north is the main building: the quadrangular courtyard having a small shrine in the center. The rooms are arranged on a two high platforms on all four sides of the Central Courtyard. The rooms face the shrine which is in the Courtyard. The area of each room is about 100 square feet. The rooms open onto an inner Verandha making all cells accessible.

Archeological excavations have unearthed clay wares and blue colored jars. These jars are another evidence of the cultural and trade connections with Iran and Sri Lanka at such an ancient time.

http://www.lanka.com/sri-lanka/mihintale-940.html

Mihinthale, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, beginnings 2nd Century BC..

An old retaining wall.

Cap-stones for use over doorways

The Stupa on top of Mihinthale.

'Kanthaka Chaithya', Mihinthale, Sri Lanka.

A cave donated by a Naga

The Chaithya.

A 'Vahalkade'

Kantaka Chethiya was renovated in 1930's to the current status. When this stupa was discovered, it has been a just a mound of earth covered by various debris. This has been known as the Kiribadapavu Dagaba, Kiribat Vehera, or Giribhanda during this time. But a stone inscription found close by has identified the original name of this stupa as Kantaka Chethiya. It is unknown who built this stupa but it is said that the King Lanjatissa (119-109 BC) has built a stone mantel built for this stupa. Therefore we can assume that the stupa was built prior to 119 BC. The present stupa is 425 feet in diameter and is about 40 feet high. This stupa is most popular for one of the most well preserved vahalkada which can be seen today. Vahalkada is a special architectural feature which are four projective front pieces on the four sides of the stupa. The southern vahalkada is the best preserved. This gives a excellent example of the design of vahalkada at the very early periods. The band of 'Ghana' figures on top the structure take special place in most buddhist buildings. They are also called 'Vamana' figures or 'Bahirawa' figures. They are sort of mythical dwarfs in various amusing positions. In this structure on has a horse head, another bear head, another monkey head, and some are standing on the head. They also carry various musical instruments in their hands. The most significant Ghana figure here is the one with the elephant head who carry no musical instrument. Historian Professor Paranawithana believes that this is the very first form of the God Ghana, a very popular god in Hinduism. This god is now represented by a elephant head and 4 arms. The paintings on the southern vahalkada also takes a special place in the Sri Lankan History. Except for Sigiriya Frescos, Mihinthale is one of the very few places that frescos belonging to earliest periods can be seen. One such set of paintings was found inside the relic chamber of Giribanda Stupa which is now in the Mihinthale Museum. The other is the paintings on the southern vahalkada. These are painting of lions but most of them has been faded away. Primarily red and yellow colours has been used for these paintings.

http://www.srisalike.com/Ruins/Anuradhapura/Mihinthalawa%20Complex/Kantaka%20Chethiya.aspx

On the A9 highway - Rambewa to Medawachchya, Sri Lanka,16th December 2012.

Past Mihinthale at Rambewa.

Entering Medawachchya

The highway is 90% compete and was a pleasure to travel in. The regular luxury buses from Colombo go with hardly a bump on the completed parts of this highway.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9HUdSUclTw

'Mihinthale', Sri Lanka.

'Mihinthale', a few Kilometers from the ancient city of Anuradhapura, has a strong religio-historical tradition in Sri Lanka. It was the hillock on which the King Devanampiya Tissa out on a deer hunt, met the son of King Asoka - the Rev. Mahinda. After an oral IQ test which was administered to Tissa and which Tissa passed, he was given instructions in Buddhist philisophy. This happened more than 2000 years ago. This place is a place of pilgrimage to Buddhists in the Island.

The Rev. Mahinda later an 'Arahant'  was born to a lady of the 'Vaisya' (trader) cast, when the young Asoka was the Governor of Ujjain (present Bombay,) during Asoka's fathers reign. Mahinda's mother could never become the Queen, because of the difference in caste. But Asoka the Emperor did not forget his son in Ujjain. When he started his missionary activities he chose his son the now Rev.Mahinda to lead the mission to the distant and famous Isle of Sri Lanka. There he became a legend in the establishment and propagation of Buddhism.