Mirisawetiya Dagoba, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

'Mirisawetiya was the first dagaba built by the great king Dutugamunu. Great King Dutugamunu built the mirisa wetiya in 161 -137 BC and united Sri Lanka under one flag. Sri lankans believed that King Dutugamunu had a sceptre that contained a sacred relic of the Buddha. While going to the tank "Tissawewa", for a water festival, the King has planted the scepter in a certain place. When he came back, it is said that his men could not remove the sceptre from the place. Witnessing the miracle, the King decided to build a dagaba enclosing the scepter. Thus was the creation of Mirisawetiya. The significance of the sceptre is the fact that this was the king's "victory sceptre" for his battles with Elara, and by building the Dagaba around it shows the tremendous dedication that the King had for Buddhism and his spirituality'. 

'There are several believes about the Mirisavetiya name and most populer belive is. It is a custom among Buddhists whenever food is partaken, some of it is symbolically offered to the holy monks. In Sinhala, "Mirisaweitiya" comes from "Miris-Wetiya", which means a pod of Chillie. It is rumored that the King once forgot to offer a pod of chillie to the Monks before eating . As a token of apology, it is said that the King named the Dagaba "Mirisawetiya"' – Web-link:-

http://anuradhapura.weebly.com/mirisawetiya.html

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

Bird's nest in the spire of a Dagoba, Demetamalvihare, Buththala, Sri Lanka.