Ruwanweliseya | Sri Lanka's Most Venerated Stupa Ruwanweliseya (Sinhala: රුවන්වැලිසෑය; Tamil: ருவான்வெலிசாய), also known as Mahathupa (The Great Stupa), Ratnamali/Swarnamali Stupa , is a gigantic Stupa situated in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is considered the most venerated Buddhist Stupa in the country because of the strong traditional belief that it contains a large quantity of corporeal relics of the Buddha [(Mahavamsa, Chap: XXXI) Geiger, 1986; Wikramagamage, 2004]. History
The Ruwanweliseya Stupa was constructed in Maha Viharaya premises by King Dutugemunu [(161-137 B.C.) Jayasuriya, 2016; Wikramagamage, 2004]. Topped up to a height of 120 cubits (180 ft./54.86 m), it was the largest Stupa in the country at the time (Nicholas, 1963; Wikramagamage, 2004). Construction of the Stupa
The Stupa has been built at a site that is said to have been consecrated by the Buddha (Nicholas, 1963). After introducing Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C., this site was marked by an inscribed pillar set up by King Devan…
