Anuradhapura I Mihintalaya – 8th & 9th August 2014

This time we visited Anuradhapura to redeem vows given at the Sri Maha Bodhiya for our second child, Ranu. We all were there with both parents. A very close relative, Sunil Bappa’s house was arranged for accommodation and decided to visit Anuradhapura Atamasthanaya, Mihinthalaya, Malwathu Oya (which is very closer by their house) and other relatives’ houses as usual. (Two years before, we had been to Thanthirimale). 

 “Dayata Kirula” train was booked and it was scheduled to come at 7.45 a: m: to Gampaha. It was our first trip on train with Dula & Ranu. We reached Anuradhapura at around 11.30 a: m: about an hour late and directly went Sunil Bappa’s house in Vijayapura. Train journey was very relaxing and Dulithi was thrilled. It was a 2nd class compartment; sheeting, toilets and space were ok. 

Malwathu Oya is close to Sunil Bappa’s home. A place called “Abagas Mankada” is the closest point, which is ½ Kilometers. Wije Bappa and I went there before the lunch. Even-though drought was for several months, there were some water in the Matwathu Oya. Then we all went a place called “Ho gana Mankada” in the Malwathu Oya, which was 2 kms away from Sunil Bappa’s home. What a beautiful place it was and I never thought there was such an amazing place in this area. There were grown Kubuk Trees in the middle of the river on a rock and in the banks beside. The day, we visited river was trickle because of no rain over the months and it was moving listlessly over the stones and the rock but it should had been swollen and flowed faster before. That proved signs on the banks beside the river and the name “Ho Gana”. We did not bath or swim but enjoyed the beauty and tranquility of the place. 

After lunch, we left to visit Eight Sacred Places, “Atamastana” as usual and scheduled to worship and redeem vows at the Sri Maha Bodhi Vihara. However there were no time to visit all sacred places but visited; Jethawanaramaya Stupa, Kuttam Pokuna (not a eight sacred place), Samadhi Buddha Image (not a eight sacred place), Abhayagiri Stupa, Anointing hall (not a eight sacred place), Sandakada pahana, well known Moon-stone (not a eight sacred place), Lankarama Stupa, Thuparamaya Stupa, Ruwanmali Stupa and Sri Maha Bodhiya and finally had a look on Hospital of Maha Viharaya (only the structure) in the dark. Lowamahapaya and Mirisa Vatiya Stupa were not worshipped.

Following web link provides more information about Atamasthanaya:- http://panhinda.sirisaddharmaya.net/the-concept-of-atamasthana/ 

 

We had the dinner at Sunil bappa’s home and had a long chat until midnight. This was very memorable time with Sunil Bappa, Wije Bappa etc, which brought me to all gold days’ memories of Nimal Bappa, Kade Bappa etc.     

Second day the Journey was started to Mihintalaya, which was about 15kms from Anuradhapura. It was planned to start early in the morning and return back before 1 a’ clock. As we all know Mihintalaya is the place where presence Buddhism was inaugurated in Sri Lanka. I have been into Mihintalaya in my childhood and it was more than 20 years before. Mihintalaya is not an isolated mountain peak but there are several sacred places and monuments in Mihintalaya and its surround.  

There is a stairway to the summit made out of granite and it leads the way to this sacred place and ruined large monastery. Unlike in Anuradhapura Puja Town, there were lots of Rilawas (toque macaque - an endemic animal to Sri Lanka), I took close-ups of them. Somewhere in the middle of the stairway there is a shilalipi in brahmi letters, which is protected. Once worshiped Main Stupa, we climbed “Aradana Gala”, a rock where the Mahinda Thero landed. There are iron railings to climb the top of the rock and it was windy. Dulithi was very scared and didn’t go to the top. (Ranu was not taken, she was too small). Mihidu Seya is another Dagaba in Mihintalaya, which was built by King Upathissa. Maha Stupa, Ambagasthala Dagaba, The Refectory are sacred places in main summit of the Mihintalaya mountain.            

 

Another stairway, rather narrow foot path goes down from the other side of the mountain was to the Cave of Arahant Mahinda, which is called “Mihidu Guhawa”. This was the place where Mahinda Thero accustomed to rest. There was another Vihara on the summit close to this narrow foot path, which exhibited some relics/Dathu. I took a photograph of it but not inquired about it.

Once you go to the main summit of the Mihintalaya, there is another small mountain, which is the highest peak in Mihintalaya, at the top this, a ruined Sthupa can be seen, which is identified as Eth Vehera Dagaba built by King Naga. A panoramic view can be seen the entire Mihintalaya-Anurdhapura area.

There are lots of stupa and archeological structures and places can be found in Mihintalaya complex; some unnamed small Dagabas, Sinha Pokuna, Kaludiya Pokuna, its monastery and many more are there.

We returned around 1 o’clock and had the lunch from a small boutique on the way back to Anuradhapura. We’ve not visited other relations houses but visited “Some mama’s” (who arranged transport to visit Atamastana & Mihintalaya). Dayala Kirula train was late by one hour and left at 5.20 from Anuradhapura. We reached home at around 9.15 in the night.       

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