Anuradhapura Kingdom information

Kingdom of Anuradhapura
අනුරාධපුර රාජධානිය (Sinhala)
*Anurādhapura Rājadhāniya*
அனுராதபுர இராச்சியம் (Tamil)
*Anurātapura irācciyam*
Kingdom of Anuradhapura අනුරාධපුර රාජධානිය (Sinhala); Anurādhapura Rājadhāniya; அனுராதபுர இராச்சியம் (Tamil); Anurātapura irācciyam
437 BC–1017 AD
	Flag of King Dutugamunu (161-137 B.C.), as depicted in the Dambulla Viharaya cave no.2
	Kingdom of Anuradhapura Principality of Malaya (Maya Rata) Principality of Ruhuna (Ruhunu Rata)
Capital	Anuradhapura; 8°21′0.000″N 80°23′1.000″E / 8.35000000°N 80.38361111°E
Common languages	Sinhala, Tamil
Religion	Majority; Theravada Buddhism (from 267 BC); Hinduism (~267 BC); ; Minority:; Eastern Christianity:; Nestorianism (since 5th century AD); Saint Thomas Christianity (since 1st century AD); ; Islam (since 7th century AD); Judaism (since 9th century AD); Mahayana Buddhism ; Jainism
Government	Monarchy
Monarch
• 437 BC-367 BC	Pandukabhaya
• 982–1017	Mahinda V
Historical era	Anuradhapura period
• Established	437 BC
• Disestablished	1017 AD
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Kingdom of Tambapanni
Chola Empire

This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.

Anuradhapura Kingdom (Sinhala: අනුරාධපුර රාජධානිය, translit: Anurādhapura Rājadhāniya, Tamil: அனுராதபுர இராச்சியம்), named for its capital city, was the second established kingdom in ancient Sri Lanka related to the Sinhalese people. According to the Mahāvaṃsa, it was founded by King Pandukabhaya in 437 BC, whose authority extended throughout the country.^[11]

Buddhism played a major role in the Anuradhapura period, influencing its culture, laws, and methods of governance.^{[N 2]} The society and the culture were revolutionized when the faith was introduced during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa; this cultural change was further strengthened by the arrival of the Tooth Relic of the Buddha in Sri Lanka and the patronage extended by her rulers.^[12]

During the Anuradhapura era, the country was invaded by South Indians several times. Rulers such as Dutthagamani, Valagamba, and Dhatusena are noted for defeating South Indian invaders and unifying the country. Other rulers such as Sena II are notable for dispatching forces to the South Indian mainland, and gaining several victories such as the sacking of Madurai in 862.

The kingdom was largely based on agriculture, hence the construction of irrigation works was a major achievement of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, ensuring water supply in the dry zone and helping the country grow mostly self-sufficient. Several kings, most notably Vasabha and Mahasena, built large reservoirs and canals, which created a vast and complex irrigation network in the Rajarata area throughout the Anuradhapura period. These constructions are an indication of the advanced technical and engineering skills used to create them. The famous paintings and structures at Sigiriya; the Ruwanwelisaya, Jetavana stupas, and other large stupas; large buildings like the Lovamahapaya; and religious works (like the numerous Buddha statues) are landmarks demonstrating the Anuradhapura period's advancement in sculpting.

^ Seneviratna, Anuradha (1983). Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla: Caves of infinite Buddhas. Central Cultural Fund. p. 9.
^ Godakumbura, C.E. (1969). History of archaeology in Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol XIII). p. 36. We all agree with Deraniyagala when he considers that the defacing of the lion depicted upon Dutugemunu's flag in the famous Dambulla frescoes as a national loss. This, so far as we know, is the only ancient representation of the lion-flag of the Sinhalese.
^ De Silva, K.M (2005). A History of Sri Lanka. Penguin Books India. p. 100. ISBN 9558095923.
^ De Silva 2014, p. 58.
^ "The downfall of the Anuradhapura kingdom and South Indian influences" (PDF). Retrieved 3 January 2018.
^ https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/a-brief-history-of-christianity-in-sri-lanka/
^ https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/a-brief-history-of-christianity-in-sri-lanka/
^ https://5pillarsuk.com/2021/03/21/the-muslims-of-sri-lanka-from-harmony-to-persecution/
^ Siriweera (2004),p. 250
^ >Mendis (1999), p. 104
^ "The Consecrating of Pandukabhaya - King Pandukabhaya". 8 October 2011.
^ Perera (2001), p.45

Cite error: There are <ref group=N> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=N}} template (see the help page).

[1] Seneviratna, Anuradha (1983). Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla: Caves of infinite Buddhas. Central Cultural Fund. p. 9.

[2] Godakumbura, C.E. (1969). History of archaeology in Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol XIII). p. 36. We all agree with Deraniyagala when he considers that the defacing of the lion depicted upon Dutugemunu's flag in the famous Dambulla frescoes as a national loss. This, so far as we know, is the only ancient representation of the lion-flag of the Sinhalese.

[4] De Silva, K.M (2005). A History of Sri Lanka. Penguin Books India. p. 100. ISBN 9558095923.

[FOOTNOTEDe_Silva201458-5] De Silva 2014, p. 58.

[6] "The downfall of the Anuradhapura kingdom and South Indian influences" (PDF). Retrieved 3 January 2018.

[7] ttps://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/a-brief-history-of-christianity-in-sri-lanka/

[8] ttps://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/a-brief-history-of-christianity-in-sri-lanka/

[9] ttps://5pillarsuk.com/2021/03/21/the-muslims-of-sri-lanka-from-harmony-to-persecution/

[10] Siriweera (2004),p. 250

[11] >Mendis (1999), p. 104

[12] "The Consecrating of Pandukabhaya - King Pandukabhaya". 8 October 2011.

[14] Perera (2001), p.45

Anuradhapura Kingdom information

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