Anuradhapura · Abhayagiri Vihara | Sri Lanka 🇱🇰

🌈🌈Anuradhapura · Abhayagiri Vihara, the place where Master Faxian copied sutras. It is located in the north of Anuradhapura, about 4 kilometers away from the Mahavihara area in the center of the ancient city. The temple was built by King Vattagamani Abhaya. This Sinhalese king ascended the throne in 103 Ab but was expelled by the Tamils after only 5 months.🌙🌙 🏖️🎫He took refuge in a cave in Dambulla in the south, which led to the construction of another World Cultural Heritage site, the Dambulla Cave Temples. In 89 AD, he regained his ruling power and built Abhayagiri Vihara on the basis of a Jain temple in the north of the capital. This marked the victory of Buddhism over Brahmanism and Jainism, and was even more a symbol of the revival of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. 💖💖 🍟🍟The temple was named after his name "Abhaya", which literally translates to "Abhayagiri Vihara" (with "giri" meaning a small hill). It was also during this period that the Tripitaka (the Buddhist canon) began to be recorded in written form.🦷 😊😊It is said that this first happened at Aluvihare in central Sri Lanka: monks gathered to recite the Tripitaka and recorded it on palm leaves in Pali. Later, due to the need for dissemination, some Buddhist scriptures were commented on in Sanskrit and may have developed different interpretations — which was considered unacceptable by the mainstream "Mahavihara". Thus, some monks took Abhayagiri Vihara as a stronghold, established their own sect, and stood in opposition to Mahavihara. 💞💞 Mahavihara adhered to orthodoxy and defended Theravada Buddhist ideas; while Abhayagiri Vihara was inclusive, so Mahayana Buddhism was also accepted and developed here.💕☺️ 🐟🐟🌻In the 5th century AD, Faxian, a monk from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, traveled to Sri Lanka after more than 10 years of journey. He copied sutras at Abhayagiri Vihara for two years and brought back many Mahayana scriptures that were not available in the East. ✨ 🌿🌿The relevant situation was recorded in "Record of the Buddhist Kingdoms". At that time, Abhayagiri Vihara was in its heyday, with, it is said, 5,000 monks. The stupa was over 100 meters high (now still over 70 meters); the Tooth Relic arrived in Sri Lanka in the 4th century (and is still a national treasure to this day) and was enshrined at Abhayagiri Vihara for 3 months every year. Even now, Faxian's deeds are still remembered by the temple.☔☔ According to records, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Abhayagiri Vihara established a profound connection with China, with frequent religious and academic exchanges. In addition, it also established similar ties with Java and Kashmir, with its influence breaking through national borders.🌤️🌤️ 🎁🎁 However, like Jetavanarama, in the 12th century, King Parakkamabahu I exclusively respected Mahavihara. A large number of monks from Abhayagiri Vihara were laicized or merged into Mahavihara, ending the situation of "three temples coexisting" in Anuradhapura.🏖️🏖️ It was not until the 19th century that it became known to the international world again🏵️🏵️ #ArchitecturalArt#Travel#SriLanka#Anuradhapura#Buddhism#Temple#Heritage#AbhayagiriVihara#Stupa#History