MIRISAWETIYA DAGOBA
Mirisawetiya was the first dagaba built by the great king Dutugamunu. Great King Dutugamunu built the mirisa wetiya in 161 -137 BC and united Sri Lanka under one flag. Sri lankans believed that King Dutugamunu had a sceptre that contained a scared relic of the Buddha. While going to the tank "Tissawewa", for a water festival, the King has planted the scepter in a certain place. When he came back, it is said that his men could not remove the sceptre from the place. Witnessing the miracle, the King decided to build a dagaba enclosing the scepter. Thus was the creation of Mirisawetiya. The significance of the sceptre is the fact that this was the king's "victory sceptre" for his battles with Elara, and by building the Dagaba around it shows the tremendous dedication that the King had for Buddhism and his spirituality.
There are several belives about the Mirisavetiya name and most populer belive is. It is a custom among Buddhists whenever food is partaken, some of it is symbolically offered to the holy monks. In Sinhala, "Mirisaweitiya" comes from "Miris-Wetiya", which means a pod of Chillie. It is rumored that the King once forgot to offer a pod of chillie to the Monks before eating . As a token of apology, it is said that the King named the Dagaba "Mirisawetiya".
Several Kings renovate this grate budhist stupa in different intervals
King Gajabahu 1 (112-134 AC), put a new coating on mirisawetiya
and King Voharika Tissa (214-236 AC). restore the umbrella of the dagebo and built the wall around Mirisawetiya
The stupa and other buildings needed restoration after the Chola invasion and it is said that King Kassapa V (914-923 AC) did the restoration.
King Kassapa V also is said to have built a massive mansion called "The Chandana Prasada", adjoining the Temple to house the scared hair relic (keshadathu), which was supposed to have been brought to Sri Lanka during the time of King Moggalana (495-513 AC)
The Dagaba was again damaged by the recurrent Chola invasions and it is said that King Parakaramabahu 1(1153-1186 AC) did a comprehensive restoration and built the stupa to a height of 120 feet.
The last recorded renovations around that period were done by King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 AC).
The magnificent Vahalkada In the world
The Englishman call Parker saw Mirisawetiya for the first time he was not intrested about it. All he saw was a mound of trees and tangled undergrowth. Then why take an interest? well, it was the discovery of the famous western frontpiece (Vahalkada) which motivated them to continue. They say that the Mirisawetiya Vahalkada is the best of them all and is the most beautiful and the most well preserved of all Dagabas.This Vahalkada won the praise and admiration of many art historians and archeologists and is regarded as an earliest display of Sinhala Art.
Unfortunately this most admired , acclaimed and most preserved pieces of art, the Vahalkada (frontpiece) of Mirisawetiya was destroyed during the collapse of the renovation in 1987 .In 2006, The Department of Archeology, at great cost, painstakingly resorted the Vahalkada to its former glory. Please make sure that you see this remarkable piece of art
The magnificent Vahalkada In the world
The Englishman call Parker saw Mirisawetiya for the first time he was not intrested about it. All he saw was a mound of trees and tangled undergrowth. Then why take an interest? well, it was the discovery of the famous western frontpiece (Vahalkada) which motivated them to continue. They say that the Mirisawetiya Vahalkada is the best of them all and is the most beautiful and the most well preserved of all Dagabas.This Vahalkada won the praise and admiration of many art historians and archeologists and is regarded as an earliest display of Sinhala Art.
Unfortunately this most admired , acclaimed and most preserved pieces of art, the Vahalkada (frontpiece) of Mirisawetiya was destroyed during the collapse of the renovation in 1987 .In 2006, The Department of Archeology, at great cost, painstakingly resorted the Vahalkada to its former glory. Please make sure that you see this remarkable piece of art
The newly restored vahalkada, as seen on January 2009. Pic by Thusha