GX012007 Wessagiriya caves Complex and Ancient Forest Monastery #anuradapura #srilanka

Vessagiriya Monastery The remains of 23 caves with drip ledges that the monks used can be seen on two rock formations at Vessagiriya. Remains of many buildings had been found around the site, among which there were remains of an image house (pilima geya), dagoba, and refectory (monk’s dining room). Bricks recovered from the dagoba had Sinhalese characters from the 10th and 11th centuries. Also, there are the remains of a rare type of circular building devoid of any statues or pedestals. Although the purpose of this building is still a mystery, archaeologists have found seventy rare coins while excavating this building.Religion & Belief This site has housed 500 priests who received ordinances from the great thero Mahinda, who brought Buddhism to the country in 250 BC. This is another site in Anuradhapura that is not visited by most of the pilgrims. Therefore, this area still seems unspoiled up to now. Vessagiriya is made in the form of Pabbatha Vihara architecture. Archaeologists believe that Pabbata Vihara was built by merging with a natural rock formation. These are built by arranging several rectangular building areas (courtyards) at different levels surrounded by water. In the upper courtyard itself are the four sacred buildings arranged in a specific order. In the ancient architecture book “Manju Sri Bhashitha Vastuvidyawa” (මඤ්ජු ශ්‍රී භාෂිත වාස්තුවිද්‍යාව) written in Sanskrit, these buildings and standards are well explained. The basic feature of pabbatha vihara monasteries is a large rectangular precinct or sacred quadrangle that contains the four major shrines: a stupa, a bodhighara, a patimaghara, and a prasada, which has been identified as the uposathaghara. Such monasteries in Anuradhapura are; #tourism #touristdestination #touristattraction #touristplace #temple #caves #complex #ancient #ancienthistory #vihara #monks #monastery #buddhism #buddhistteachings