Tantirimale monastery, (towards) Anuradhapura, North Central Province, SL

Raw data

"Built in the Third Century BC and used by King Devanampiyatissa as a one-day stop to Arahanth Theri Sangamitta on her way to Anuradhapura, Tanthirimale seems to have developed from a small temple to a large monastery by the end of the Anuradhapura period. […] When King Devanampiyatissa first visited the temple in Tanthirimale, it was known by another name - Thivanka Bamunu-Gama. It was confirmed by a rock inscription near the ancient Bodhi tree at sight, which states that one of the first eight offshoots of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi was planted at Thivanka Bamunu-Gama. […]

It seems to have been a developed city in the turn of the Third Century BC since King Devanampiyatissa also chose to plant one Bodhi at Tanthirimale out of the first eight shoots to spring off from Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. Thus the Bodhi tree can count nearly 2300 years of existence and is still standing proud."
http://amazinglanka.com/heritage/tantirimale/tantirimale.php

Input by: GitaG Sep 20 2013

Tantirimale is located 36 km northeast of the city of Anuradhapura in the north central dry plains of Sri Lanka.
[…]
Tantirimale monastery can be reached by Anuradhapura-Mahavillachchiya road: 27 km along road is Sri Wimalagnana road to the right. Tantirimale is located another 18km onwards the turn. The motorable road from Anuradhapura has made Tantirimale a popular place of pilgrimage among the Sinhalese Buddhists of Sri Lanka.
[…]
The Tantirimale monastery is a vast panoramic site having sprawling extensive boulders spreading over 250 acres in the midst of thick forest covers. The climb and the walk around the caves and restored ruins is a pleasant experience. Walking to the right and reaching the top of the rock, we reach the Bodhi tree, one of the first eight offshoots of the original Bo-sapling brought to Sri Lanka during the time of King Devanampiyatissa in the third Century BC."
http://www.lanka.com/sri-lanka/tantirimale-monastery-sri-lanka-946.html
Input by: tmciolek Sep 20 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 20 Sep 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 2 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Tantirimale monastery, SL.

General location of the Tantirimale monastery, SL.
Lat 8.52316 Long 80.28828
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=8.52316+80.28828+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Tantirimale%20monastery,%20SL)&ll=8.52316,80.28828&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name


2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Sri Lanka: North Central Province

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names


4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 8.52316 Long 80.28828 - based on visual identification of the general site Tantirimale in maps/satellite imagery & Panoramio photographs, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 20 Sep 2013.

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

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

MBM chrono-tag: <=0200 - tmciolek 20 Sep 2013
<=0200 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

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

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

  • [missing data]

18. Known monks and nuns associated with this monastery


19. Available Printed Literature

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

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