Arankele hermitage, (near) Ibbagomuwa, North Western Province, SL

Raw data

"The Arankele monastery was improved upon by King Jettatissa. The Arankele forest land was chosen as the suitable place, considering the security it provided. The land is surrounded by the ancient Dolukanda, Dunkanda and Madukanda mountains and are full of trees with medicinal and timber value. After King Jettatissa, King Mahasena and King Buddhadasa too added their touch to the monastery. […]
Eighteen Bhikkhus attached to the Arankele Maliyadeva Senasana continue [in 2011s - tmc] with their meditation using the new and old meditation apartments available to them.
http://www.srilankaheritages.com/arankele.html

"Arankele Forest Monastery […] 25 kilometres from Kurunagala via the village of Ibbagamuva.
[…]
Arnakale : Nothing is known about the history of Arankale other than it was a monastery of the Pansakulika sect, not even its ancient name is remembered."
www.angelfire.com/in4/visitsl/cities/arnakele/arnakele.htm

"Arankele, 24km north of Kuruneglala (west of the Ibbagamuwa - Moragolla gama Rd) has a 6th century cave hermitage up a forested hillside. Ancient Brahmi donative inscription have revealed meditation halls, stone-faced double platform structures and ambulatories for the Tapovana  (Forest-dwelling) sect of austere Buddhist hermits here. Typically, the platforms aligned east-west, with the entrance porch to the east, would be bridged by a large monolith. The smaller of the double platform structure here was probably divided into nine 'cells' or monks' dwellings the roof being supported on columns."
http://www.mysrilanka.com/travel/history/arankele.htm

Input by: tmciolek, Sep 24, 2012

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 23 Dec 2012

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Arankele hermitage, SL.

General location of the Arankele hermitage, SL.
Lat 7.64204 Long 80.41597
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=7.64204+80.41597+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Arankele%20hermitage,%20SL)&ll=7.64204,80.41597&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Arankele hermitage

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Sri Lanka:North Western Province

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

  • [missing data]

6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village

7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

8. The settlement's coordinates

9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Theravada

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag 0500-32p 0533-66p 0567-99p - tmciolek 23 Dec 2012
  • 0500-32p 0533-66p 0567-99p dated-e

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • [missing data]

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • archaeological, inscriptions

16. Additional notes

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Available Printed Literature

  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

end of page

0500-32p0533-66p0567-99p200macavedated-ehermitageplacesect.pansakulikasouth-asiasri-lankatrad.theravada
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