TravelsWithLobo's video: HOW BUDDHISM CAME TO SRI LANKA - RUWANWELISAYA STUPA - JAYA SRI MAHA BODHI - - ANURADHAPURA

SRI LANKA 2020 - THREE WEEK EXPLORER - Vlog 10 - Anuradhapura, is the ancient capital of Sri Lanka. In the surrounding area are located several Buddhist holy sites that are profound to the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Join me as I visit Ruwanwelisaya Stupa and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. ---------------------------------------- TIME CODE 0:00 Introduction - Anuradhapura 1:00 Buddhism in Sri Lanka Ashoka the Great – Mahinda - Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura 1:59 Ruwanwelisaya Stupa Biggest Collection of Buddha Relics 6:48 Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Oldest Living Planted Tree in the World Sanghamitta – Ashoka’s Daughter 11:00 My Tender Feet – Excruciating Pain --------------------------------- Ruwanwelisaya Stupa The Ruwanwelisaya is a stupa and a hemispherical structure containing relics, in Sri Lanka, considered sacred to many Buddhists all over the world.[1] Two quarts or one Drona of the Gothama Buddha's relics are enshrined which is the largest collection of his relics anywhere.[2] It was built by King Dutugemunu[3] c. 140 B.C., who became King of all Sri Lanka after a war in which the Chola King Elāra (Ellalan) was defeated. It is also known as "Mahathupa", "Swarnamali Chaitya", "Suvarnamali Mahaceti" (in Pali) and "Rathnamali Dagaba". This is one of the "Solosmasthana" (the 16 places of veneration) and the "Atamasthana" (the 8 places of veneration in the ancient sacred city of Anuradhapura). The stupa is one of the world's tallest ancient monuments, standing at 103 m (338 ft) and with a circumference of 290 m (951 ft). The original stupa had been about 55 m (180 ft) in height and was renovated by many kings.[4]The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda in Sagaing, Myanmar is modelled after this stupa.[5] The Mahavamsa contains a detailed account on the construction and the opening ceremony of the stupa. The stupa was a ruin in the 19th century. After fundraising efforts by a Sinhalese bhikkhu, it was renovated in the early 20th century.[6] The Ruwanveli Seya Restoration Society was founded in 1902 and the final crowning of the stupa took place on 17 June 1940.[6] Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Buddhists on the Island have had a practice of visiting and paying homage to the most sacred Bodhi tree. It is an annual custom for pilgrims from far-away villages to visit the city of Anuradhapura and to pay homage to the Sri Maha Bodhi. The caretaker of this site provides various offerings on a daily basis. The Buddhists in general have a strong belief that offerings made to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi have produced significant and positive changes in their life. It has also been customary for many Buddhists to make a special vow before the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi for the safe delivery of their babies without malformations and for many other cures. It has also been a long tradition among farmers around Anuradhapura to offer the Sri Maha Bodhi tree the rice prepared from their first paddy harvest. They strongly believe that such offerings lead to a sustained paddy production with the least sufferings from drought as well as pest attacks, including elephant damage. In the 3rd century BC, it was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta Theri (Pali; Skt.: Sanghamitra), the daughter of Emperor Asoka and founder of an order of Buddhist nuns in Sri Lanka. In 288 BC[4][6][7][8] it was planted by King Devanampiya Tissa on a high terrace about 6.5 m (21.3 ft) above the ground in the Mahamevnāwa Park in Anuradhapura and surrounded by railings. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi (Sinhala: ජය ශ්‍රී මහා බොධිය) is a sacred fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India under which Buddha attained Enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC,[1][2][3] and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.[4] 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 storms and animals such as monkeys, bats, etc.[citation needed] In April 2014, the government banned all construction within 500 metres (1,600 ft) of the tree. Only construction that obviously will not harm the tree will be allowed.