|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
Anurādhapura
Anurādhapura. City of Sri Lanka located in the northern part of the country which, from around the 4th century bce, was the capital of the island. According to legend the city was founded by King Paṇḍukābhaya. It is the site of important historical monasteries such as the Mahāvihāra, the Abhayagiri, and the Jetavana. It is here that the branch of the original Bodhi Tree brought to the island by Sanghamittā was planted to become what now is popularly believed to be the oldest tree in the world. In the 10th century ce, because of repeated attacks from India, the capital was moved to Polonaruva. Ordinations of south-east Asians were still being carried out in the 13th and 14th centuries, but the city was abandoned as a monastic site after its destruction by the Portuguese. It probably remained a pilgrimage centre for some time but was not reclaimed from the jungle until the 19th century.
|
|
|
Cite this article
DAMIEN KEOWN. "Anurādhapura." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "Anurādhapura." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Anurdhapura.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "Anurādhapura." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-Anurdhapura.html |
|
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura or Anarajapura , city (1995 est. pop. 40,000), N central Sri Lanka, on the Aruvi River. Rice plantations and vegetable gardens surround the city, which is famous chiefly for its vast Buddhist ruins and as a pilgrimage center. Founded in 437 BC, it was the capital of a Sinhalese kingdom and a Buddhist center until the 8th cent. AD, when, after a Tamil invasion, it was abandoned in favor of Pollonarrua. Ruins include several colossal stupas (some larger than the pyramids of Egypt), a temple hewn from rock, and the Brazen Palace (so called from its metal roof). A sacred bo tree at Anuradhapura was grown from a slip of the tree at Bodh Gaya, India, under which Buddha reputedly attained enlightenment. The Archaeological Survey of Sri Lanka has its headquarters in the city. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Anuradhapura." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Anuradhapura." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Anuradha.html "Anuradhapura." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Anuradha.html |
|
Anurādhapura
Anurādhapura. Capital of Sri Lanka until 10th cent. CE. The Mahāvihāra monasteries were established here, along with many temples and stūpas. Of particular importance are the two great dagobas, Ruwanweli and Thūparāma. A branch or cutting of the Bo tree (under which the Buddha became enlightened) was planted in the 3rd cent. BCE, which survives to the present as (reputedly) the oldest tree in the world.
|
|
|
Cite this article
JOHN BOWKER. "Anurādhapura." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Anurādhapura." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Anurdhapura.html JOHN BOWKER. "Anurādhapura." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Anurdhapura.html |
|
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka Founded in the 5th century bc, it was named ‘Anuradha's Town’ after Anuradha, a senior official of Prince Vijaya, with pura. It was a kingdom from the 3rd century bc to the 10th century ad and capital of Sri Lanka from the 4th century bc to the 11th century ad.
|
|
|
Cite this article
JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Anuradhapura." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Anuradhapura." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Anuradhapura.html JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Anuradhapura." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Anuradhapura.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
