The Golden Sands of Ruwanwelisaya 🙏🤍

If I say that the first thing that catches anyone's eye and brings instant peace to the soul when stepping into the sacred city of Anuradhapura is the sight of the Ruwanwelisaya, I am definitely not wrong. This Great Stupa is a place of incomparable sacredness not just for us Sri Lankans, but for Buddhists all over the world. Today, I decided to talk about the uniqueness of this majestic stupa and the immense pride it brings us.


A Golden Mark in History

Ruwanwelisaya goes down in history as the greatest masterpiece of King Dutugemunu. The King was unable to see the stupa fully completed within his lifetime. Yet, this sacred ground was so holy that he spent his last moments gazing at the stupa as he passed away.

When talking about the Great Stupa, there are a few things we simply cannot forget:

• Swarnamali Maha Seya: Folklore says the stupa got its name as a tribute to a tree-nymph named "Swarnamali" who lived in a Ran-Telambu tree on that very site.

• The Sacred Relics: It is believed that the largest collection of the Lord Buddha's relics in the world is enshrined within this Great Stupa. That is why it is as venerable to us Buddhists as the living Buddha Himself.

Art and Engineering Technology

This is a place that showcased the skills of our ancient Sinhalese artists and engineers to the whole world.

• The Elephant Wall (Eth Pavura): The wall of elephants surrounding the stupa symbolizes them holding up the great structure. It clearly highlights the majesty of our ancient sculpture art.

• The Bubble Shape (Bubbulakara): Looking at this creation, shaped like a water bubble, brings an incredible sense of calmness to the mind.

The spiritual bliss you feel when sitting on the compound of Ruwanwelisaya on a moonlit night, with a cool breeze blowing while listening to the chanting of "Sadhu", is hard to put into words. We must protect places like this where our past heritage, art, and Buddhist philosophy are woven together.

Don't forget to leave a comment below sharing your own experiences of visiting Ruwanwelisaya!🙏🤍

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