Jetavana Monastery

SRI LANKA, North Central Province, Anuradhapura

The monastery derives its name from the Pali word Jotivana, which is the place where Mahinda, the son of King Asoka (reigned circa 269–232 BCE), had taught the Dharma for seven consecutive days. It was built by King Mahasena (reigned 276–303). It was one of three monastic complexes to be built in Anuradhapura, and is comparable in status to the Mahavihara and the Abhayagiri Vihara. The funeral for Mahinda, the founder of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, was held here. As part of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
Although it is smaller than Abhayagiri Vihara, occupying an area of approximately 80 ha, the buildings and layout are almost identical. The current monastery complex is the result of gradual expansion during the six centuries after it was founded. In addition to the massive stupa for which it is famous, other structures include an image house, an assembly hall, a chapter house, and monks’ quarters. There is also a garden with Bodhi trees. The dormitory consists of five buildings and could accommodate up to 3,000 monastics. The stupa has a height of approximately 120 m, and a diameter at the base of 102 m. It is composed of approximately 93 million bricks and is to date the world’s largest masonry structure.
Numerous artifacts of immense cultural value have been excavated from the site during restorations carried out by the Central Cultural Fund. These include artifacts of Sri Lankan, Indo-Graeco, Indian, Mediterranean, and Chinese origin, including coins, intaglios, seals, glass fragments, beads, ceramics, jewelry, carvings in stone and ivory, and bronze statues. The most important find was a set of seven gold plates engraved with an excerpt from the Mahayana Prajnaparamita Sutra. These artifacts are currently on display at the monastery’s museum.