Jetavanarama Monastery (Anuradhapura) | World's Largest Brick Structure
Jetavanarama Monastery (Anuradhapura) | World's Largest Brick Structure Jethavanaramaya , also known as Denanaka or Dena Vihara/Dena Vehera (Sinhala: ජේතවනාරාමය; Tamil: ஜேத்தவனராமயா), is an ancient Buddhist monastery situated east of Abhaya Wewa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The colossal Stupa of this monastery is considered the largest brick structure in the world (Held & de Panthou, 2001; Lokeshwara et al., 2023; Ranaweera, 2004; Ranaweera & Abeyruwan, 2006) History The temple founded by Mahasena The Jetavana monastery is a creation of King Mahasena (276-303 A.D.), the first Sinhala king who embraced Mahayana Buddhism (Bopearachchi, 2020; Jayasuriya, 2016; Nicholas, 1963; Senanayaka, 2020; Wikramagamage, 2004). According to the chronicle Mahavamsa, Mahasena who was against to Maha Vihara fraternity destroyed some of its buildings and used the materials to build new structures at Abhayagiri Viharaya (Jayasuriya, 2016). Ignoring the protests of Maha Vihara monks, the king established the Jetavanaramaya within the precincts of the Maha Viharaya and offer…