Somawathiya Chaitya

Somawathiya Chaitya
සෝමාවතිය චෛත්‍ය (Sinhala) சோமாவதிய சைத்யா (Tamil)
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
District	Polonnaruwa
Province	North Central Province
Location
Location	Somawathiya National Park, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Shown within Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates	08°07′15.16″N 81°10′07.9″E
Architecture
Type	Buddhist Temple

The Somawathiya Chaitya (Sinhala: සෝමාවතිය චෛත්‍ය, Tamil: சோமாவதிய சைத்யா) is a Buddhist Stupa situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Chaitya premises is called the Somawathiya Rajamaha Viharaya.

The Somawathiya Chaitya is located within the Somawathiya National Park on the left bank of the Mahaweli River, and is believed to have been built long before the time of Dutugamunu enshrining the right canine Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. It is attributed to the reign of King Kavan Tissa - Dutugemunu's father - who ruled Magama. Somawathiya is therefore much older than Ruwanwelisaya, Mirisawetiya Vihara or Jetavanaramaya.

The stupa is named after Princess Somawathi, the sister of King Kavantissa, and the wife of regional ruler Prince Giri Abhaya. The prince built the stupa to enshrine the right tooth relic of the Buddha, obtained from Arahat Mahinda, and named the stupa after the princess. Upon completion of the stupa and other constructions, the prince and princess handed over the temple to Arahat Mahinda and other monks.

Gallery

• 
  Approach Road
• 
  The interior of the Stupa
• 
  Bodhi Tree at Somawathiya

See also

• Ancient Constructions of Sri Lanka
• Atamasthana
• Buddhism
• Mahawamsa

Other reading

• "Over half a million attended to pooja Somawathiya pilgrims marooned by floods". Island. 2010-05-10.
• "Sharp increase in income from national parks". Dailynews. 2012-12-29.
• "Govt adopting only populist policies for people's welfare - President". priu.gov.lk. June 12, 2014.
• "Across the river the elephants came!". Sunday Times. 6 October 2015.