Kantaka Cetiya | Stupa of Oldest Frontispieces Kantaka Cetiya , also known as Kanthaka Dagoba/Chethiya (Sinhala: මිහින්තලය කණ්ඨක චේතිය), is a Stupa located in the ancient Buddhist complex monastery of Mihintale , Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. The Stupa is notable as it has the best and the most ancient ornamental frontispieces (Vahalkada) found in the country (Jayasuriya, 2016; Wikramagamage, 2004).
History This Stupa is believed to have been constructed during or soon after the reign of King Devanampiyatissa [(247-207 B.C.) Nicholas, 1963]. According to Mahawamsa, Devanampiya Tissa had refurbished sixty-eight caves (present Ataseta Len )
in the neighbourhood of the Kantaka Cetiya for the use of the monks
headed by Arhat Mahinda. During the reign of King Lanja Tissa
(119-109 B.C.), a Chatra stone (a stone umbrella) had been added to the
Stupa (Nicholas, 1963; Wikramagamage, 2004). King Mahadhathika Mahanaga (9-21 A.D.) held a great festival at this site which became known as the Giribhanda festival (Nicholas, 1963). In the 8…
