Jetavanarama Alms-Hall or The Refectory of Jetavanaramaya (Sinhala: ජේතවනාරාම දාන ශාලාව, බත් ගේ) is a ruined building located in the ancient monastery premises of Jetavanaramaya in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. It was the place where the daily alms were provided for the monks who lived in the monastery (Wikramagamage, 2004).
The building
The building is smaller when it is compared to other refectories at Anuradhapura (Jayasuriya, 2016; Wikramagamage, 2004). The central courtyard of the building is paved with stone slabs and a large canoe/trough used to serve rice for monks is found within it. Stone troughs similar to this have also been found in the alms halls at Inner City, Abhayagiriya, Maha Viharaya, and Mihintale.
There is a rectangular Pokkharani (pond) near the refectory building. It may have supplied water for the refectory and other needs of the monks.
References
1) Jayasuriya, E., 2016. A guide to the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. Central Cultural Fund. ISBN: 978-955-613-312-7. pp.43-44.
2) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.137.
2) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.137.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 22 March 2022