5/5 WA Gayan C C. 3 years ago on Google
Abhayagiri
Vihฤra
was
a
major
monastery
site
of
Mahayana,
Theravada
and
Vajrayana
Buddhism
that
was
situated
in
Anuradhapura,
Sri
Lanka.
It
is
one
of
the
most
extensive
ruins
in
the
world
and
one
of
the
most
sacred
Buddhist
pilgrimage
cities
in
the
nation.
Historically
it
was
a
great
monastic
centre
as
well
as
a
royal
capital,
with
magnificent
monasteries
rising
to
many
stories,
roofed
with
gilt
bronze
or
tiles
of
burnt
clay
glazed
in
brilliant
colors.
To
the
north
of
the
city,
encircled
by
great
walls
and
containing
elaborate
bathing
ponds,
carved
balustrades
and
moonstones,
stood
"Abhayagiri",
one
of
seventeen
such
religious
units
in
Anuradhapura
and
the
largest
of
its
five
major
viharas.
One
of
the
focal
points
of
the
complex
is
an
ancient
stupa,
the
Abhayagiri
Dagaba.
Surrounding
the
humped
dagaba,
Abhayagiri
Vihara
was
a
seat
of
the
Northern
Monastery,
or
Uttara
Vihara
and
the
original
custodian
of
the
Tooth
relic
in
the
island.
The
term
"Abhayagiri
Vihara"
refers
not
only
to
the
complex
of
monastic
buildings,
but
also
a
fraternity
of
Buddhist
monks,
or
Sangha,
which
maintained
its
own
historical
records,
traditions
and
way
of
life.
Founded
in
the
2nd
century
BC,
it
had
grown
into
an
international
institution
by
the
1st
century
AD,
attracting
scholars
from
all
over
the
world
and
encompassing
all
shades
of
Buddhist
philosophy.
Its
influence
can
be
traced
to
other
parts
of
the
world,
through
branches
established
elsewhere.
Thus,
the
Abhayagiri
Vihara
developed
as
a
great
institution
visโaโvis
the
Mahavihara
and
the
Jetavana
Buddhist
monastic
sects
in
the
ancient
Sri
Lankan
capital
of
Anuradhapura.
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