The arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
began at Mahintale in 247BC.
O ne day King Devanampiya Tissa was following a deer in a forest near the hill at Mihintale, east of the great city of Anuradhapura, then capital of Sri Lanka. On rising ground he met Emperor Ashoka’s son Arahath Mahinda.
Mahinda was a Buddhist missionary monk and he stopped to talk with the King, allowing the deer to go and the two of them to continue their conversation.
Mahinda persuaded the King that all mammals, birds and other creatures enjoy an equal right to live in this land, wherever they may wish. The land belongs to all the people and all the animals. The King is only the temporary ruler and not the owner of this land.
The monk’s words impressed the King and he was persuaded to take Buddhism as his belief and renounce animal hunting. Mahinda also advised King Devanampiya Tissa to designate Mihintale and the surrounding jungle area as a sanctuary for wildlife.
Thus the first Wildlife Sanctuary on earth was established in 247BC.
And that same first Sanctuary for animals in human history still exists in Sri Lanka.
Except now, it has been joined by many more.
The Mihintale Wildlife Sanctuary is managed by Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation with a history going back over two thousands years. Apart from the wildlife sanctuary, King Devanampiya Tissa built a fine Buddhist temple in Mihintale. He also built a monestary and 68 caves for the monks to reside in and it remains the site of one of the oldest hospitals in the world. At the foothill of Mihintale, ruins of the ancient hospital with medical baths can still be seen.
Sri Lanka.
So much more than you can see
in a lifetime.
Click on any of the smaller photographs below, to enlarge the image and see the caption.
Pansala at Anuradhapura
Ruwanweliseya Stupa. The most sacred stupa in Sri Lanka at Anuradhapura Scared City.
