Karaneeya Meththa Suthraya කරණීයමෙත්ත සූත්රය

Sri Lankan King Dutugemunu

Dutugamunu, also known as Dutthagamani duṭṭhagāmaṇī and Gāmaṇī Abhaya, was a Sinhalese king of Sri Lanka who reigned from 161 BC to 137 BC.

 How Gemunu became Dutugemunu

 Prince Gemunu wanted to launch a battle against Elara. With this idea in mind he decided to set out with his forces and marched to Kasatota. He remembered what his father, King Kavantissa had told him - that he should not war with Elara because the time was not right. After reaching his destination Prince Gemunu thought he will force his father to start an attack against Elara. So, he sent a message to his father. He wanted his father's permission to cross over to the other side of the Mahaweli river. When King Kavantissa heard what his son had done, he was alarmed. He sent a message to his son saying that Elara had a strong army with over a million soldiers. After reading the message, the Prince sent a message back to his father ridiculing him and calling him a woman for not allowing him to go ahead with the war. Together with this message he sent his father a pair of bangles and a dress. The King was angry. He ordered his men to arrest the Prince and to bring him back. He ordered a golden chain to bind and keep his son prisoner. After hearing this, the Prince fled to Gilimale (close to Ratnapura) and went into hiding. In disguise he made his way to Kotmale and lived with a farming family. The behavior and disobedience of the King made the people call him Dutta Gamini (Dutu Gamunu or wicked Gamini) Prince Tissa was then put in command of the King's army.

ANURADHAPURA KINGDOM

ANURADHAPURA KINGDOM

Anuradhapura (Sinhalese: අනුරාධපුරය ; ) is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central Province, Sri Lanka and the capital of Anuradhapura District. Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Sri Lankan civilization.

The city,  the center of TheravadaBuddhism for many centuries. The city lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

It is believed that from the fourth century BC until the beginning of the 11th century AD it was the capital of the Sinhalese. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).

Country	Sri Lanka
Province	North Central Province
District	Anuradhapura
Established	4th century BC
Government
• Type	Municipal Council
Area
• City	7,179 km2 (2,772 sq mi)
• Urban	36 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation	81 m (266 ft)
Population
• City	50,595
• Density	2,314/km2 (5,990/sq mi)

  Atamasthana

·         Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

·         Ruwanwelisaya

·         Thuparamaya

·         Lovamahapaya

·         Abhayagiri Dagaba

·         Jetavanarama

·         Mirisaveti Stupa

·         Lankarama

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi  is a Sacred Fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be the right-wing branch (southern branch) from the historical Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at BuddhaGaya in India under which Lord Buddhaattained Enlightenment. It was planted in 249 BC,and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. Today it is one of the most sacred relics of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka and respected by Buddhists all over the world.

The other fig trees that surround the sacred tree protect it from stormsand animals such as monkeys, bats, etc.

Ruwanwelisaya

The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa in Sri Lanka, considered a marvel for its architectural qualities and sacred to many Buddhists all over the world. It was built by King Dutugemunu, who became lord of all Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola KingElara, was defeated. It is also known as Mahathupa, Swarnamali Chaitya,Suvarnamali Mahaceti  and Rathnamali Dagaba. Also King Dutugemunu didn’t live to see its completion of dagoba but his final sight as he lay on his deathbed could be a false bamboo-and-cloth finish was placed around the dagoba to show his ‘completed’ masterpiece.

Today, after incurring much damage from invading Indian forces, it rises 55m, considerably less than its original height; nor is its form the same as the earlier ‘bubble’ shape. A limestone statue south of the great dagoba is popularly thought to be of King Dutugemunu.