Other great Stupas
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Abhayagiri dagaba
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King Devanam Piya Tissa built the Thuparama dagaba to enshrine relic.
This was the oldest Stupa built in Sri Lanka. Originally it was in the
shape of a heap of paddy but as restorations were done in later years,
it took the form as seen today. It has a diameter of 59 feet 6 inches
(18.1 m) at the base. As the name suggests, Thuparama comprised a 'Stupa'
and an 'arama,' a residential complex. Ruins of such a complex can be
seen within an area of over 3 acres (12,000 m2) around the 'Stupa.'
The 'Stupas' built later on were much larger than the Thuparama. King
Dutugemunu (161-137 BC) built the Mirisaveti which has a diameter of 168
feet (51 m) at the base. When the Abhayagiri dagaba was originally built
by King Vattagamani (Valagamba - 103 BC) it was not very large but later
enlargements made it larger than the Mahathupa. King Mahasena (276-303
CE) is credited with building the largest of them all - the Jetavana,
which has a diameter of 367 feet (112 m) at the base. Though the present
height is estimated at 232 feet (71 m), the original height is supposed
to have been 160 cubits.
The main feature of Jetavana is its foundation, which goes all the
way to the bedrock and 250 feet (76 m) deep. The height of Jetavana and
the depth of the footing is approximately equal. Total Jetavana
structure including the foundation is much heavier and massive than the
largest pyramid of Egypt.
Large Stupas were also built at Mihintale at the site where Arahat
Mahinda met the king, Magama, Dighavapi (near Ampara), Kataragama and
other places. The builders of 'Stupas' in Sri Lanka had closely followed
the designs of such monuments built in Sanchi and other places in India.
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