Works of the stone-cutters, Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

Decorated stone pillars.

Doorway to the old rock-temple

Decorated door-posts.

Decorated door-posts.

 Granite slabs of stone have been worked by the stone-cutters two millenia ago. It looked as easy as working with wax.

Sights at Isurumuniya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

A 'Guard-stone' depicting a man carrying a pot in the right hand.

Engraving on the stone of a retaining wall.

A stylized pot containing water - an auspicious sight.

A 'Moon-stone' at the bottom of the stair-way leading to the old temple.

Isurumuniya, Sri Lanka.

The rock-temple

Elephant figures carved on the rock near the pool.

Monkey frolicking near the pool.

'The temple was built by King Devanampiya Tissa who ruled in the ancient Sri Lankan capital of Anuradhapura. After 500 children of high-caste were ordained, Isurumuniya was built for them to reside. King Kasyapa I (473-491 AD) renovated this viharaya and named it as "Boupulvan, Kasubgiri Radmaha Vehera". This name is derived from names of his 2 daughters and his name. There is a viharaya connected to a cave and above is a cliff. A small stupa is built on it. It can be seen that the constructional work of this stupa belong to the present period. Lower down on both sides of a cleft, in a rock that appears to rise out of a pool, have been carved the figures of elephants. On the rock is carved the figure of a horse. The carving of Isurumuniya lovers on the slab has been brought from another place and placed it there. A few yards away from this vihara is the Ranmasu Uyana'. - Wikipedia.

Artifacts, Jethavanaramaya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

 Seven-headed cobra, and dancing girls.

Recording of a donation?

So many stone and brick artifacts going back centuries are strewn about the place that it will need a lot of field-work in the future. Already the Archaeologists working on the project have achieved much on this project.

Jethavanaramaya, Dagoba and stone artifacts,Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

When some bhikkus expressed disagreement and dissatisfaction with opinions and decisions supported by bhikkus of Mahavihara, they had to establish separate sects. Thus they broke into Abhayagiri Nikaya and Jethavana Nikaya creating a major religious dissension.

At this critical juncture, King Mahasena strongly opposed the Bhikkhus of Mahavihara and supported the dissents because Mahavihara Bhikkhus had refused to endorse some of the ideas put forward by the King.

King Mahasena built Jethavana Stupa and 'Aramaya' on 'Nandana Uyana' in the premises of Mahavihara and ceremonially dedicated it to Tissa Thera. However, Tissa Thera's acceptance of Jethavana led to his immediate expulsion from Mahavihara and subsequent events gave birth to a new sect called 'Jethavana Nikaya'.

This Buddhsi sect flourished under the fullest royal patronage by King Mahasena who repeatedly favoured Tissa Thera to the disadvantage of Mahavihara bhikkhus.

The project of Jethavana Stupa did not near completion during the reign of Mahasena. King Keerthi Sri Meghavarna (Son of Mahasen) completed building of the Stupa partially erected by his father.

King Mahasen's Jethavana is ranked perhaps the world's most gigantic brick structure which originally had a height of 300 feet. But a part of its pinnacle (Kotha) has broken leaving a height of 252 feet to the currently renovated Stupa from its base - http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/06/17/imp04.asp